Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) presents a potential transformative impact on the landscape of rice production. In light of the increasing demand for rice and the imperative of resource conservation, DSR emerges as an efficient, sustainable, and economically viable solution to meet global demands, while simultaneously ensuring food and livelihood security. Dr. Tasneem Mubarak, Dr. Ashaq Hussain, and Dr. Intikhab A. Jehangir, esteemed Chief and Senior Scientists at the Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops (MRCFC)-SKUAST-Kashmir, have expounded upon the scope and role of direct seeded rice technology in conservation agriculture.
Given its status as the dietary staple for more than half of the world’s population, rice assumes an indispensable role in food security, nutrition, and overall well-being. Yet, the confluence of diminishing natural resources and a burgeoning population presents formidable barriers to meeting the escalating demands for rice production. Forecasts project a 25% increase in rice production over the next 25 years to satisfy global demand, thereby necessitating the efficient management of available resources to achieve augmented yields with reduced inputs.
In response to these challenges, the scientific community has directed its attention towards resource-efficient methods of rice cultivation, with direct-seeded rice (DSR) emerging as a prominent contender. DSR entails directly sowing rice seeds in the field, thereby obviating the requirement for a nursery and subsequent transplanting. This methodology conserves resources such as water and labour, diminishes greenhouse gas emissions, and is more amenable to mechanization in comparison to traditional transplanting methods.
The approach of direct-seeded rice encompasses both wet and dry direct seeding variants, both of which offer expedited planting and maturation, resource conservation, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Dr. Tasneem Mubarak and his team at MRCFC-SKUAST-Kashmir have undertaken extensive research on DSR and have successfully developed varieties and related technologies to achieve heightened rice yields. The cultivation of Direct Seeded Rice not only conserves water and man-days, but also eliminates the labour-intensive transplanting operations, mitigates methane emissions, and permits the early harvest of the rice crop, thereby providing a sufficient window for sowing the subsequent crop.
Moreover, progress in direct-seeded rice technology has surmounted past challenges, such as sub-optimal plant population and weed infestation. The identification of new herbicides demonstrating an efficacy of over 95% underscores the effectiveness and sustainability of the DSR system for rice production.
As research on direct-seeded rice persists, it becomes evident that DSR is a fertile area of interest for rice scientists, and presents a promising solution to meet both current and future demands. The pioneering work being undertaken at MRCFC-SKUAST-Kashmir underscores the vast potential of direct-seeded rice in revolutionizing sustainable rice production.
In summation, direct-seeded rice technology furnishes a sustainable and economically viable solution to meet the mounting demands for rice production while concurrently conserving resources. As we contemplate the future of agriculture, direct-seeded rice is poised to assume a pivotal role in securing global food sustainability.
For feedback and inquiries, please contact:
Dr. Tasneem Mubarak
Chief Scientist (Agronomy)-MRCFC-SKUAST-Kashmir
Dr. Ashaq Hussain
Chief Scientist (Agronomy)-MRCFC-SKUAST-Kashmir
Dr. Intikhab A. Jehangir
Scientist (Agronomy)-MRCFC-SKUAST-Kashmir
Email: [email protected]