Corteva Agriscience drives adoption of direct seeded rice, saves up to 30% water

BHATINDA, 15 July 2024: Corteva Agriscience, a global pure-play agriculture company, is committed to helping farmers adopt sustainable and holistic agronomic practices. Direct Seeded Rice is a method in which rice seeds are sown directly into the field as opposed to the traditional method of growing seedlings in nursery and later transplanting to farm.

Today, farmers face numerous challenges in producing abundant, healthy crops.

From the moment a seed is planted, it faces a gauntlet of challenges from diseases, insects/pests, and an unpredictable environment. Recognizing the urgent need for sustainable and innovative agricultural solutions to address these challenges, Corteva is championing the adoption of Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) technology. This transformative approach allows farmers to sow rice seeds directly into the field, bypassing traditional transplanting methods, and offers significant environmental and economic benefits.

Traditional rice cultivation methods in India require extensive labor and massive water resources, involving sowing seedlings into puddled fields and flooding them to control weeds. These methods are labor-intensive and water inefficient. Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) technology revolutionizes rice cultivation by reducing water usage, labor requirements, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Unlike traditional methods that necessitate continuous flooding, DSR significantly conserves water by eliminating the need for such practices. Additionally, DSR improves soil health and quality due to minimal tilling.  By reducing labor costs associated with transplanting, farmers can save approximately 60 man-hours per acre. Moreover, the efficient use of herbicides in DSR facilitate yield delivery and enhances 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.