Taking a major step to conserve 15–20% of Punjab’s valuable groundwater, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday launched the Direct Sowing of Rice (DSR) initiative. This method not only helps prevent further depletion of groundwater but also offers significant financial benefits to farmers.
In an official statement, Chief Minister Bhagwant said his government has introduced several innovative measures to protect farmers’ interests since he took office. Promoting DSR is one such effort, and sowing under this technique has now begun. The state has set a goal to cover five lakh acres under DSR during the current Kharif season.
Chief Minister Bhagwant encouraged farmers to take full advantage of the scheme, highlighting that it supports both sustainable farming practices and groundwater conservation. He added that the government is providing an incentive of ₹1,500 per acre to farmers adopting the DSR method and has allocated ₹40 crore for the initiative in the 2025–26 budget. Farmers can register for the scheme on the online portal agrimachinerypb.com between May 10 and June 30, 2025.
Chief Minister Bhagwant noted that DSR will not only reduce groundwater use by 15–20% but also lower agricultural costs. The technique helps cut labour expenses by around ₹3,500 per acre. He urged farmers to adopt the scheme and contribute meaningfully to preserving Punjab’s natural resources.
Chief Minister Bhagwant reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing the agrarian crisis and protecting groundwater. He acknowledged that Punjab played a crucial role in making India self-sufficient in food production, though it came at the cost of depleting its soil and water. Unfortunately, he said, farming is no longer a profitable venture due to rising input costs and inadequate MSP, further deepening the crisis for farmers.