Direct seeded rice farming helps reduce stress on groundwater

RAJSHAHI, June 25 (BSS): Large-scale promotion of direct seeded rice (DSR) farming process can lessen the pressure on groundwater in Barind area.

DSR is the viable option to reduce the unproductive water flows. Water scarcity, common rice cultivation and increasing labour wages trigger searching for such alternative crop establishment methods which can increase water productivity.

Scientists and researchers made this observation while addressing a crop-cutting function titled "Water Saving Paddy Farming Technology: Direct Seeded Boro Rice Cultivation" in Khidra Kasipur village under Durgapur upazila in Rajshahi district.

The Agriculture Department of the Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and National Agriculture Technology Programme (NATP) jointly organised the function to expand DSR farming mitigating the adverse impact of climatic change.

More than 100 farmers both male and women joined the programme.

Chaired by Professor Moshiur Rahman of BAU, the ceremony was addressed, among others, by Chairman of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) Dr Akram Hossain Chowdhury, Additional Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) SM Mustafizur Rahman, Deputy Director Joynal Abedeen and BMDA Seed Production Project Director ATM Rafiqul Islam.

Disseminating his expertise on the issue, Prof Rahman says direct seeded rice is the process of rice cropping where seeds sown in the field instead of transplanting seedlings from the seedbed.

Crop Intensification can be attained with less water through the system.

DSR method of rice planting offers several advantages. However, all rice cultivars are not suitable for this practice.

While sharing views on the occasion, some of the attending farmers were seen saying they started direct seeded rice because it gives better results than transplanting method and saves water and labour.

Majority of them were satisfied with the method that it is profitable and labour saving.

In his remarks, Dr Chowdhury put emphasis on devising way and means to promote the cropping system instead of transplanting rice crops as it not only minimises using of water but also reduces production cost and increases profit.