IRRI, BHU workshop on ‘direct-seeded’ rice in Chandauli

Varanasi: A training cum workshop on ‘direct seeded rice’ was organised at Amra Village of Chandauli district in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Banaras Hindu University (BHU) on Wednesday.The main focus of this workshop was to train the farmers about appropriate crop establishment and management practices related to direct seeded rice (DSR). BHU’s prof UP Singh, Anirwan Nath, Divya Gupta and Sampat Nayak from IRRI-ISARC, Varanasi and 50 farmers were present in the programme. Prof. Singh discussed the important management practices for successful cultivation of DSR - varietal selection, precise crop establishment options and appropriate herbicidal use under different situations. He also sensitised the farmers for practising co-culture of Sesbania (Dhaicha) with DSR (brown manuring) and zero till DSR with residue retention in view of better weed management and soil health.On farm demonstration for DSR, seeding with multi-crop seed cum fertilizer drill and planter machine was done. Farmers showed keen interest for practicing DSR in view of rising cost and labour scarcity. A farmer from Amra village, Shashikant Rai, shared his experience of growing Sesbania and Moongbean before DSR in context to good weed control and crop performance.