(Photo: Principal, CCSHAU - Kaul Campus)
More than 60 farmers attended an interactive participatory training on alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and direct-seeded rice technology conducted at the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCS HAU) Kaul Campus in Kaithal, Haryana on 07 August 2021.
AWD is a rice management practice that reduces water use by up to 30% without reducing yield and can save farmers money on irrigation and pumping costs. It also reduces methane emissions by 48%. DSR cultivation method consumes relatively less water compared to transplanted paddy and requires less labor.
CCSHAU Principal B.S. Panwar, chair of the program, said the technologies can help farmers in resolving their concerns over water shortage. The water table in Haryana, one of India’s top rice- and wheat-producing states, has dropped drastically and wells in 64 blocks have dried up. Farmers in the said areas are required to get permission from the state government to dig new wells.
Implemented by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)–South Asia Regional Centre (SARC) in collaboration with Bayer Crop Science Limited, the training covered mechanized DSR, integrated weed and nutrient management practices for DSR, potential and prospective of AWD in rice production, and package and practices for successful DSR production.
Dr. Pardeep Sagwal, an associate scientist at IRRI-SARC, provided a global, national, and regional context to the AWD and DSR technologies. CCS HAU Regional Rice Research Station (RRS-Bawal) Director Dharmveer Yadav addressed the concerns of the farmers regarding weed identification and management and proper application of herbicides.
CCS HAU RRS- Kaul Director O.P. Lathwal, , discussed the nutrient management aspects while Dr. Sandeep Rawal, a scientist at CCS HAU RRS-Karnal covered the aspects of water management using AWD.
The training was coordinated by IRRI Education Associate Manager Sumit Soni.
