Sekhpura is a small village in the Fatua block of Patna District in Bihar. Farmers of this village have been practicing traditional methods of paddy cultivation. During the transplanting peak season, many farmers faced acute labor shortages for various farm operations, leaving them with little option but to delay the transplanting of paddy seedlings. This year CSISA has been active in training farmers to introduce dry direct-seeding of rice (DSR) using zero-tillage machines, to help solve the problem of labor scarcity. Rajiv Ranjan Singh has cultivated 3 acres of land under DSR. Expressing satisfaction on the progress of his crop, he said,”We saw the demonstration of this technology in nearby village and were inspired to adopt this method. The success of my crop will surely inspire others to follow.” Fatua and Punpun block was selected as it has a vast low-land area, which is suitable for DSR. The CSISA team worked closely with many farmers of the region to help them follow the appropriate technologies, which are pre-requisites for the success of DSR. This includes: time of seeding, weed management, and irrigation-water management. Training and consultation were conducted in Fatua which involved correct seeding method using seed-drill and spray techniques of herbicide by the CSISA team. Effective ways of water management for paddy cultivation were also explained, in the wake of low rainfall registered in the region. CSISA agricultural officer Anurag Ajay said, “Following the success of DSR in Baisa of Punpun during last year, many farmers were eager to adopt this technology. Training has helped us create awareness leading to adoption of this technology.”

Besides addressing labor scarcity issues, DSR can help reduce the amount of water needed for paddy, more so at a time when there has been scant rainfall in the region.