Reinventing rice farming: A retired IAS officer’s bold solution | Fusion - WeRIndia

Punjab’s agricultural future hangs in the balance as groundwater levels decline at an alarming rate.

In a groundbreaking move, retired IAS officer Kahan Singh Pannu introduced the Seeding of Rice on Beds (SRB) technique, a water-efficient alternative to traditional paddy farming.

After leaving the administrative service in 2020, he transitioned to farming, determined to develop a sustainable solution to Punjab’s deepening water crisis.

Unlike conventional flooding methods, SRB relies on precision. Seeds are sown on raised beds, and water is applied only in furrows, cutting water use by 75%.

Trials on Pannu’s 17-acre farm in Patiala showed that SRB delivers the same yield as traditional methods—26.5 quintals per acre—without draining underground reserves.

Given that conventional paddy cultivation consumes nearly 5,000 litres of water per kilogram of rice, this innovation signals a transformative shift.

Pannu is not just promoting change; he is building tools to make it happen.

He designed an affordable SRB sowing machine. Thus, he enabled community cooperatives to share costs and farmers to adopt the technique seamlessly.

The machine simplifies planting, making SRB accessible and cost-effective.

The impact of SRB goes beyond water conservation. It reduces dependence on migrant labor by eliminating transplantation, cutting expenses for farmers.

Moreover, it curbs methane emissions from waterlogged fields, improving soil health and aiding groundwater recharge. These benefits position SRB as an ecological game-changer in rice cultivation.

Pannu’s legacy in sustainable farming runs deep. As a former Agriculture Secretary, he played a key role in drafting the Punjab Preservation of Sub Soil Water Act in 2009 and introduced Direct Seeding of Rice in 2012.

However, SRB takes efficiency to the next level, requiring even less water while delivering high yields.

With Punjab’s groundwater projected to vanish within 15 years, solutions like SRB are no longer optional, they are essential.

Pannu’s pioneering efforts offer farmers a way forward, ensuring that rice cultivation remains viable without exhausting precious water resources.

Image by icon0com from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on July 16, 2018

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1442155