Mann said that the groundwater situation is in a critical state and many districts were in the red zone. Hence, it was important to save groundwater and adopt methods of paddy sowing suggested by experts that could save water. (Express Photo)To encourage farmers to take to direct sowing of rice (DSR), the Punjab government on Saturday announced a bonus of Rs 1,500 per acre to farmers who would take up the technique. This is the first time that the state government has announced a bonus to encourage farmers to take up a water-saving method of sowing.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann made the announcement in a video message. He said farmers can start sowing paddy using the direct sowing method from May 20.
आज आपकी सरकार ने धान की सीधी उपजाई करने वाले हर किसान को ₹1500/एकड़ सहायता देने का फैसला किया है
किसान साथियों से मेरी अपील- अपने दोस्तों, रिश्तेदारों को धान की सीधी उपजाई करने के लिए प्रेरित करें
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इससे धान की उपज भी बढ़ेगी और हमें मिलकर पंजाब की धरती का पानी भी तो बचाना है pic.twitter.com/7IVPHCAUiO
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) April 30, 2022
Mann said that the groundwater situation is in a critical state and many districts were in the red zone. Hence, it was important to save groundwater and adopt methods of paddy sowing suggested by experts that could save water.
The chief minister appealed to farmers to adopt the method themselves and encourage their relatives and friends to follow it. Paddy crops, sown with transplantation and flooding method, consume a lot of water. Every kilogram of paddy requires up to 3,000 litres of water.
The lowering water table has been a major issue in the state, with successive governments having expressed concerns that Punjab may turn into a desert in a few years.
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