DSR farming process can reduce stress on groundwater

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RAJSHAHI, June 25, 2018 (BSS) – Large-scale promotion of direct seeded rice
(DSR) farming process can lessen the pressure on groundwater in Barind area.

DSR is the viable option to reduce the unproductive water flows. Water
scarcity, common rice cultivation and increasing labour wages trigger
searching for such alternative crop establishment methods which can increase
water productivity.

Scientists and researchers made this observation while addressing a crop-
cutting function titled “Water Saving Paddy Farming Technology: Direct Seeded
Boro Rice Cultivation” at Khidra Kasipur village under Durgapur Upazila in
Rajshahi district yesterday afternoon.

Department of Agriculture at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and
National Agriculture Technology Programme (NATP) jointly organized the
function to expand DSR farming mitigating the adverse impact of climatic
change. More than 100 farmers both male and women joined the programme.

Chaired by Professor Moshiur Rahman of BAU, the ceremony was addressed,
among others, by Chairman of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA)
Dr Akram Hossain Chowdhury, Additional Director of Department of Agriculture
Extension (DAE) SM Mustafizur Rahman, its Deputy Director Joynal Abedeen and
BMDA Seed Production Project Director ATM Rafiqul Islam.

Disseminating his expertise on the issue, Prof Rahman says DSR is the
process of rice cropping from seeds sown in the field instead of
transplanting seedlings from the nursery. Crop Intensification can be
attained with less water through DSR-based cropping system.

DSR method of rice planting offers several advantages. However, all rice
cultivars are not suitable for this practice.

While sharing views on the occasion, some of the attending farmers were
seen saying they started DSR because it gives better results than
transplanting method and saves water and labour.

Majority of them were satisfied with the method that it is profitable and
labour saving.

In his remarks, Dr Chowdhury put emphasis on devising way and means to
promote DSR instead of transplanting rice crops as it not only minimizes
using of water but also reduces production cost and increases profit.