Corteva Agriscience Promotes DSR Technology for Sustainable Farming in India

Corteva Agriscience, a global agriculture company, is driving the adoption of Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) technology to help farmers embrace sustainable and holistic agronomic practices. DSR, a method where rice seeds are sown directly into the field rather than through traditional transplanting from nurseries, offers a range of environmental and economic benefits.

Traditional rice cultivation in India involves labor-intensive practices and significant water use, including sowing seedlings into puddled fields and flooding them to manage weeds. Corteva’s DSR technology revolutionizes this process by reducing water usage, labor requirements, and greenhouse gas emissions. Unlike conventional methods, DSR eliminates the need for continuous flooding, thus conserving water and improving soil health through minimal tilling. Farmers can save approximately 60 man-hours per acre by reducing labor costs associated with transplanting, while the efficient use of herbicides in DSR enhances yield and profitability.

While DSR offers significant benefits, there are challenges to wider adoption. Limited awareness and understanding can lead to apprehension among farmers, particularly regarding proper implementation on unsuitable soils and weed management. Corteva is at the forefront by providing agronomy expertise, technical grooming of agriculture entrepreneurship and leadership training to build confidence, and financial literacy, for agri entrepreneurs through shared value projects like our FPOs collaborations.

Subroto Geed, President – South Asia, Corteva Agriscience, stated “At Corteva Agriscience, we understand the challenges rice farmers face and acute need to promote sustainable farming. That's why we're focused on increasing Direct Seeding Rice (DSR) adoption through a multi-stakeholder approach. By bringing together diverse partners and leveraging advanced seed technology, crop protection solutions, and sustainable agronomic practices, we empower farmers with effective solutions for resilient rice production. This aligns perfectly with our vision of a future where cutting-edge technologies, collaboration with like-minded partners, and integrated sustainable practices propel us towards achieving our ambitious sustainability goals.”

Dr Raman Babu, Seed R&D Leader, South Asia, Corteva Agriscience, added, “At Corteva Agriscience, we're committed to developing innovative solutions for enhanced DSR adoption in India. Traditional rice cultivation practices are labor, water and energy-intensive, prone to erratic weather patterns, and vulnerable to pests & diseases, leading to reduced crop yields and farm profitability. Our focus remains on developing superior climate resilient DSR seed products, crop protection innovations and agronomic excellence that will contribute to solutions for water scarcity and climate variability, ultimately fostering a more sustainable and productive future for India’s rice production.”

To facilitate the adoption of DSR, Corteva provides field demonstrations, technical training and education to inspire farmers to adopt sustainable rice farming. Corteva Agriscience is committed to supporting farmers in adopting DSR technology through comprehensive agronomical support and knowledge-sharing initiatives. By promoting sustainable farming practices like DSR, Corteva aims to foster long-term agricultural sustainability and resilience.