As India grapples with growing pressure on water resources, rising labour costs, and the need to reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture, the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) on Tuesday called for transitioning to more resource-efficient cultivation practices at a conference on Direct Seeded Rice (DSR). Experts noted that DSR is emerging as a climate-smart and resource-efficient alternative capable of improving farm profitability while conserving natural resources.
FSII organised the 2nd edition of its conference on “Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) for Sustainable & Profitable Rice Production” on March 10, 2026, at NASC Complex, New Delhi. The conference brought together policymakers, scientists, industry leaders and agricultural experts to deliberate on the opportunities and challenges associated with scaling up DSR adoption across India’s rice-growing regions and to develop a strategic roadmap for accelerating its adoption.
Rice cultivation in India is increasingly coming under strain due to unsustainable groundwater extraction, particularly in the north-western rice belt. “In Punjab, groundwater extraction has reached nearly 156% of annual recharge, while Haryana stands at around 137%, indicating severe pressure on aquifers. Producing one kilogram of rice requires roughly 3,000-5,000 litres of water, making rice among the most water-intensive crops. At the same time, agriculture accounts for nearly 80% of India’s freshwater withdrawals. This underscores the urgent need to transition toward more water-efficient rice production systems,” said Ajai Rana, Chairman, Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) and CEO & MD, Savannah Seeds.
Rana said the seed industry has been actively working with research institutions and farmers to enable the adoption of Direct Seeded Rice through technological innovations.
“DSR faces a significant challenge in effective weed management. To address this, the seed industry, in collaboration with the public research system, has introduced herbicide tolerance technologies developed by both the public and private sectors, enabling farmers to manage weeds more efficiently using herbicides. During the last kharif season, nearly one lakh acres were cultivated under herbicide tolerant rice through drill-based sowing, with the highest adoption reported from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh,” he said.
He noted that emerging risks such as nematode infestation during germination are also being addressed through innovation.
Dr P K Singh, Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, said that the adoption of new DSR technologies has already begun to show encouraging results in several states. Singh added that new seed technologies and crop protection innovations will play a critical role in transforming Indian agriculture.
“We are actively looking at new biologicals, improved crop protection chemistry and next-generation seed technologies, including hybrid and gene-edited varieties. These technologies, when combined with improved agronomic practices, can become real game changers for Indian agriculture and help us move toward more sustainable farming systems,” he said.
Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Chairperson, PPVFRA and Former Secretary, DARE & DG, ICAR, said, “Direct Seeded Rice has the potential to significantly improve efficiency in rice cultivation while reducing input costs for farmers. Continued innovation in seed technologies, agronomy and mechanisation will be essential to address the challenges associated with DSR adoption and to enable farmers to fully realise its benefits.”
“We estimate that 20-60% of India’s rice area could potentially transition to DSR depending on agro-ecological conditions. With India cultivating rice on nearly 44 million hectares, even partial adoption could lead to massive savings in groundwater, energy used for irrigation pumping, and greenhouse gas emissions,” he said. Dr Mohapatra also highlighted the challenges faced by the sector in adopting new technologies. “Adoption of new technologies in agriculture has often been slow and challenging. However, collaboration between the public and private sectors will be essential to support farmers in adopting Direct Seeded Rice and fully realising its economic and environmental benefits,” he said.
Dr A K Singh, Former Director, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, added, “Rice will remain central to India’s food security, but the production systems must evolve to respond to emerging challenges related to natural resource conservation and climate change. Direct Seeded Rice offers an important pathway for sustainable intensification of rice systems, supported by strong research, improved seed varieties and effective extension services.”
Speaking at the conference, Mehat Lal Bisen, a progressive farmer from Madhya Pradesh shared his experience of adopting Direct Seeded Rice, noting that the practice has helped him reduce labour costs and water use while improving the overall efficiency of rice cultivation. The conference featured discussions on policy interventions, agronomy, weed management, seed technologies, and mechanisation required to expand the adoption of Direct Seeded Rice in India.