A major transformation is taking place among paddy farmers in Ballari district, with many adopting direct rice sowing (DRS), giving up the water and labour-intensive replantation method, which they have traditionally been practising. About 10,000 hectares is expected to move to DRS method in the present kharif season.
Though DRS technology was introduced in 2013, only a few had taken to it and the total area under the method in 2016 stood at around 1,100 hectares.
A farmer will be able to save an estimated minimum 25% on his input cost and there will be reduced dependence on water under DRS. As the State stares at yet another drought and agricultural labour is scarce, this is a particularly relevant, say Agriculture Department officials.
The Tungabhadra dam has not been filled owing to failure of rain for two years, resulting in reduced flow in the river. Water was not let into canal for raising the second crop in the Tungabhadra command area.
Switchover
“There has been lot of enthusiasm among farmers to switch over to the DRS method. The department has been extending assistance and guidance to farmers, besides giving them an incentive of ₹4,000 per ha with a ceiling of only 2 ha. Going by the pace, we hope that the technology will be adopted in about 10,000 ha,” Shivanagouda Patil, Deputy Director Agriculture, told The Hindu .
There is a transformation in the command areas and in areas were paddy cultivation is being done through lift irrigation in Ballari, Sirguppa and Hosapete taluks of the district. Farmers who have reaped benefits under DRS are doubling the area, while more are keen to adopt it.
“All these years, we followed the traditional practice of transplantation for cultivating paddy with lift irrigation facility. The Tungabhadra was our main source of water. In 2015, we faced water shortage. In 2016, I switched to DRS to cultivate paddy in about 8 ha and it turned out to be a wise decision. I will cultivate 16 ha this year,” said S. Ramakrishna, a farmer in Hatcholli village
