A sustainable rice solution for India


October 19, 2021

ARTICLE

Traditional rice farming techniques in India are becoming environmentally unsustainable. Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) is an alternative resource-efficient technology that minimizes the environmental impact of rice farming while improving farmer livelihoods.

Corteva Agriscience’s integrated rice farming program helps farmers better understand and realize the benefits of DSR.

Rice farming in Asia

Rice is the staple food for more than half the world’s population. About 90 percent of all rice is grown in Asia, with more than 200 million rice farms. Consumption in most countries exceeds 100kg per person per year.

Total rice consumption in India is estimated at 102 million tons. Rice feeds over 60 percent of the population. The yield growth rate has to be maintained at 1.2 to 1.5 percent annually to meet the increasing demand in the region. Meanwhile, water withdrawal for agriculture in India has increased by 70 percent in 30 years, creating water supplies stress.

Transplantation is the most popular technique to grow rice in the region. In transplanting, seedlings are germinated in a nursery and transferred to a flooded field. Prolonged flooding increases greenhouse gas emissions.

Flooding paddy fields requires around 2,500 liters of water per kilogram of cultivated rice. This process affects the texture and composition of the soil, resulting in less groundwater replenishment and potentially leading to water scarcity issues. Recent studies suggest that the water table in some parts of India is falling by 4cm per year.

Enhancing farmer livelihoods while reducing their environmental footprint

Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) is an alternative rice growing method to transplanting. It involves spreading seeds directly into the field by hand or using machinery. DSR allows faster crop establishment, requires less intensive labor, and helps groundwater retention, protecting the water table.

Yields also improve, and the rice reaches maturity sooner, improving incomes and allowing farmers earlier access to markets.

Despite these benefits, DSR is still not widely adopted in India. This is due to a lack of access to quality inputs, such as hybrid seeds and herbicides, low levels of mechanization, and a lack of knowledge or awareness of the technology.

Corteva Agriscience introduced AcreNext to promote better understanding and adoption of DSR in India. AcreNext is an integrated program providing DSR solutions for rice farmers, including hybrid seeds, mechanized sowing services, and weed and crop management advisory.

AcreNext is currently available in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. Corteva is working on multiple public-private partnerships to drive the adoption of DSR in the region.

Showcasing the benefits of Direct Seeded Rice

Some farmers remain skeptical of new techniques and are slow to adopt new products or processes. Education and training through AcreNext are vital to unlocking the potential of DSR.

Corteva Agriscience partnered with NGO PRADAN to introduce DSR techniques in Nawoda, Bihar, where water scarcity is a significant challenge for farmers like Sunita Devi. Sunita received technical training, help with soil testing, disease pest management, and plant protection.

She also had support with farm equipment such as drum-seeders and access to crop advice throughout the growth cycle. The process allowed Sunita to reduce the time spent on labor and the costs of irrigating her crops. Yields were higher, and the rice grew quicker, increasing her profits and improving productivity. 

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