Punjab cabinet approved on 18 May 1,500 per acre incentive for farmers planting paddy using direct sowing of rice technology. total of Rs 450 crore has been set aside to provide incentives to farmers who are promoting DSR (Direct Seeding of Rice) technology, which uses less water and is more cost effective. In a meeting held here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Council of Ministers approved the incentive scheme. Mann had announced this incentive in April to help the state’s depleting groundwater level.
according to a spokesperson of Punjab The Chief Minister’s Office will encourage farmers to adopt this proven technology that requires very little water for irrigation, improves seepage, reduces dependence on agricultural labor and improves soil health. Thus the yield of both paddy and wheat increases by 5-10 percent.
The paddy seeds are drilled in the field using the DSR process, which uses a machine that completes both rice sowing and pesticide spraying at the same time. As per the customary practice, farmers raise immature paddy seedlings in the nursery before planting them in the puddle field.
The cabinet also decided to pay the financial assistance of 1,500 per acre to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), for which the Punjab Mandi Board’s ‘Anaj Kharid’ portal has already created a database of about 11 lakh farmers, which is based on their Aadhaar details, mobile numbers and Linked to bank account details.
Farmers opting for DSR will have to register themselves on a portal which will be developed in-house by a team of software developers from Mandi Board.
As per available data, last year farmers had sown paddy using DSR in 15 lakh acres.
The cabinet also approved to increase the rates of ex-gratia grant to the families of martyr soldiers. from 50 lakhs one crore.
Recognizing the gallantry services of Defense Services personnel, the cabinet also approved 40 per cent increase in cash in lieu of land and cash award to Vishisht Service awardees.
As a result, cash in lieu of land has been increased for Best War Service Medal winners. from 2 lakh 2.80 lakh for Uttam Yudh Seva Medal winners from 1 lakh 1.40 lakh for Yudh Seva Medal winners from 50,000 70,000
The amount of prizes has not been increased since 2011.
Also, the Cabinet has decided to appoint retired Patwaris and Kanungos (Revenue Officers) on contract basis against 1,766 regular posts of Patwaris.