Direct seeding fails to take root in ‘dry’ dists

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, July 17

Despite having 12 out of 13 blocks in the dark zone due to over exploitation of groundwater for paddy and other crops, the authorities of both Sangrur and Barnala districts have failed to promote direct of seeding of rice (DSR) to save groundwater.

As per information all blocks of Sangrur — Bhawanigarh, Andana, Dhuri, Dirba, Malerkotla-I and II, Sherpur, Sangrur, Amargarh and Ahemdgarh — are in the dark zone. In Barnala, except Sehna block, remaining both blocks — Barnala and Mehal Kalan — are also in the dark zone. The transplantation of paddy for long time in both districts without any much-needed break has depleted the water level of this area to alarming proportions.

But still in Sangrur, the direct seeding of rice is being done in only 4,500 hectare area against the last year figure of 4,111 hectare, while in Barnala, it is 1,000 hectare this year, while last year it was around 635 hectare. Experts strongly believe that if implemented successfully, the DSR could help the authorities in preserving groundwater.

“The DSR fields needs irrigation once a week, while the traditionally sown paddy needs at least two-three times irrigation. There is an immediate need to promote DSR, but all efforts of the government are only on papers,” said Baljinder Singh, a farmer from Ladda village.

Sangrur Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO) said farmers had started realising the problem of depleting groundwater and they were trying to promote DSR across the district. Some other farmers said earlier in majority of villages, water was available at the depth of around 150 feet, but now it had gone down to around 450 to 500 feet and they do not see any future in farming.

“The area under paddy has started decreasing as farmers have understood the importance of water and DSR is the only alternative,” said Sushil Kumar, Chief Agriculture officers (CAO).