CM Mann Urges Farmers to Adopt DSR to Conserve Groundwater, Enhance Income
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, May 15, 2025
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has called upon Punjab’s farmers to adopt the Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) method as a sustainable alternative to traditional paddy sowing, aimed at conserving 15–20% of the state’s rapidly depleting groundwater while significantly reducing cultivation costs.
Highlighting the state government’s commitment to environmental protection and farmer welfare, Mann announced that the DSR campaign has officially commenced across Punjab. The state has set a target of bringing five lakh acres under DSR during the current Kharif season.
Under the scheme, the government will provide a financial incentive of ₹1,500 per acre to farmers who adopt the DSR method. A budgetary allocation of ₹40 crore has been earmarked for this purpose in the financial year 2025–26. Farmers can register for the scheme via agrimachinerypb.com between May 10 and June 30.
“The DSR technique not only ensures water conservation but also reduces labour and input costs by around ₹3,500 per acre. This is a double benefit for our farmers—environmentally and economically,” said the Chief Minister.
Mann stated that his government has taken several progressive steps to promote sustainable agriculture since taking office. “The exploitation of groundwater in Punjab has reached critical levels. We must act now to reverse the trend and secure the future of our farmers and generations to come,” he said.
He noted that Punjab had played a pivotal role in making India self-sufficient in food grain production, but it came at the cost of overusing natural resources like soil and water. “Agriculture today is no longer profitable due to high input costs and inadequate Minimum Support Price. This makes it even more essential to adopt cost-saving, resource-efficient methods like DSR,” Mann added.
Reiterating his government’s commitment to farmer welfare, the Chief Minister said the adoption of DSR was not just a policy push but a collective responsibility. “We owe it to our land and to our future,” he said.