Punjab farmers’ to go for direct seeding of rice

News: Due to labour shortage, Punjab farmers are turning towards direct seeding of rice(DSR) moving away from the traditional practice — of sowing nursery and then transplanting it.

Facts:

Direct Seeding of Rice:

• DSR refers to the process of establishing a rice crop from seeds sown in the field rather than by transplanting seedlings from nursery.
  • In transplanting, farmers prepare nurseries where paddy seeds are first sown and raised into young plants.These seedlings are then uprooted and replanted 25-35 days later in the main field with standing water.
• In DSR, as flooding of fields is not done during sowing, chemical herbicides are used to kill weeds.
  • In transplanting, standing water acts as herbicide and prevents growth of weeds by denying them oxygen in the submerged stage.
• Advantage of DSR: 
  • Water savings
  • less numbers of labourers required, 
  • saves labour cost and 
  • reduce methane emissions
• Disadvantage of DSR: 
  • Seeds are exposed to birds, rats, and snails.
  • High weeds infestation
  • Non-availability of herbicides.
  • High requirement of seeds when compared to transplanting.