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Back to basics: COVID-19 labour crunch brings direct seeding of paddy in focus

While an estimated 10 percent of India's 44 million ha of rice is cultivated through direct seeding, the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to an increase in this practice.

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There is no nationwide official data on how much rice in India is grown through DSR. M L Jat, principal scientist with Mexico-based CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center), estimated that about 10 per cent of India’s 44 million ha under rice cultivation is through DSR.

In the past few decades, many state governments have been encouraging farmers to move to DSR because it is easier on the environment, but without much success.

Read more here: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/agriculture/back-to-basics-covid-19-labour-crunch-brings-direct-seeding-of-paddy-in-focus-72280

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