(THE GIST OF PIB) Direct Seeded Rice

(JUNE-2024)

Direct Seeded Rice

Recently, ICAR has commercialised herbicide-tolerant (Ht) basmati rice varieties that can control weeds.

About Direct Seeded Rice (DSR):

It is a modern rice cultivation technique where rice seeds are directly sown into the field, replacing the traditional method of transplanting seedlings from a nursery.
It is an efficient, and sustainable method of rice cultivation that offers significant benefits for farmers, the environment, and the economy.
About Herbicide-Tolerant Basmati Rice: ICAR commercialised non-genetically modified (non-GM) Ht basmati rice. These varieties allow direct application of the herbicide Imazethapyr due to a mutated ALS gene.
Scientific debate: Research indicates that hand weeding at specific intervals (20 and 40 days after sowing) in DSR is more effective and yield-enhancing than the use of Imazethapyr.
ICAR’s research favours eco-friendly hand weeding over repeated herbicide applications for weed control and higher seed yield.
Weed diversity and risks: Imazethapyr targets specific broadleaf weeds (BLW), not all weed types.
Herbicide-resistant weeds may evolve, threatening rice production and food security.
Similar challenges were seen with Bt-Cotton and pink bollworm resistance.
Historical context: In the North Western Plains (e.g., Punjab, Haryana), DSR has been long used for growing Basmati rice.
Green Revolution promoted water-intensive transplanted rice, causing ecological issues.
Innovations in DSR: From 2014 to 2017, innovations in DSR at IARI Karnal led to the adoption of TAR-VATTAR technology, which uses climatic factors and effective herbicides like Pendimethalin to reduce costs and save water.