VISIT BY ATARI DIRECTOR ZONE – X Dr. SHAIK N. MEERA TO KVK, WYRA ON 23.11.2024

The late onset of monsoon with erratic and delayed water supply postpones rice transplanting. Added to that, deficit monsoons as well as delayed and limited release of water from reservoirs is a major concern to farmers as they do not get sufficient water at right time and it is imperative for them to complete transplanting within a short time of water availability. The rice cultivators are increasingly facing water crisis in traditional rice cultivation along with challenges of increased labour cost. The transplanting of rice necessitates adequate land preparation both for nursery and main field that consume more water. It also requires 25 – 30 man days for manual establishment of the same and is dependent on soil type. In this context, direct seeded rice (DSR) involves sowing of germinated paddy seeds directly onto the field as opposed to the traditional method of growing seedlings in a nursery and transplanting them. DSR is considered a more efficient, sustainable and economically viable paddy production. Also, DSR delivers faster planting and maturing, conserves water, reduced labour cost, is more conducive to mechanization and minuses of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. As part of DSR project and for monitoring KVK mandated activities, Dr. Shaik N. Meera, Director, ATARI Zone – X, CRIDA campus, Hyderabad visited KVK, Wyra and interacted with Dr. K. Ravi Kumar, Programme Coordinator (FAC), scientists Dr. Jessie Suneetha W, Dr. V. Chaitanya and Mrs. P. S. M. Phanisri, non-teaching faculty and progressive farmers practicing DSR. The director has given valuable feedback to the staff of KVK regarding scaling of entrepreneurial activities, impactful trainings regarding popularising natural farming and successful interventions by KVK which included tailoring and kitchen gardening. The Director discussed the pro and cons of mechanisation in DSR, weed management, effectiveness of DSR in saline soils with the progressive farmers taking in their experiences.