Chandigarh, June 26: Punjab has registered a significant 16 percent surge in the area dedicated to Direct Sown Paddy during the current Kharif season. Official records indicate that 26,896 farmers across the state have transitioned 3.41 lakh acres of land to this specific water-conserving agricultural technique.
The expansion reflects growing momentum for the state administration’s ongoing environmental campaign to protect depleted groundwater reserves. To support this transition, the government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann enhanced the financial aid pool to Rs 40 crore for the current financial year, up from the Rs 35.16 crore distributed during the previous season. Eligible cultivators receive an incentive of Rs 1,500 per acre sent directly to their verified bank accounts.
Agriculture authorities anticipate that the total acreage will continue to climb as the primary sowing window remains active through mid-July. “This 16 percent increase is a symbol of farmers’ confidence in the Chief Minister Mann-led government’s vision for sustainable agriculture,” Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian stated, adding that the technology reduces irrigation water consumption by 15 to 20 percent while lowering labor expenses.
To facilitate smooth operations, field staff have been instructed to set up localized camps to assist cultivators with immediate digital registration and banking verification. The deadline for online portal enrollment is scheduled for June 30, with the state continuing to run extensive awareness drives and exhibitions to guide agricultural communities away from traditional, water-intensive transplanting methods.
