CHANDIGARH, May 27 — The Punjab government has established a target to bring 5 lakh acres of paddy cultivation under the Direct Seeding of Rice technique for the 2026-27 kharif season. Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian announced the initiative, which includes a dedicated financial layout of ₹40 crore to encourage groundwater conservation across the state.
Under the initiative, the state administration will provide an incentive of ₹1,500 per acre to participating cultivators. To streamline the process, the government has already made its online registration portal operational for the current agricultural cycle, allowing eligible farmers to sign up early for the financial assistance.
The expanded target follows measurable participation during the previous kharif period. According to official data, 23,410 farmers adopted the water-saving direct-sowing method during the 2025 season, which accounted for 2,35,899 acres of paddy. The state administration subsequently transferred more than ₹35.38 crore directly into the bank accounts of those verified participants.
“This is a farmer-led revolution in water conservation,” Gurmeet Singh Khudian stated. “The remarkable response in 2025-26 has laid a strong foundation. Now, with a ₹40-crore outlay and a target of 5 lakh acres for 2026-27, we are scaling up our commitment to save precious groundwater.”
The direct seeding method serves as a key component in local efforts to manage the regional water table. The process removes the traditional requirements for soil puddling and nursery transplantation, which alters how water is utilized on the fields.
The agriculture minister noted that the technique cuts irrigation water use by 15% to 20% while simultaneously reducing labor expenditures. This approach ensures that economic incentives match ecological urgency for the agricultural sector, Khudian added.
