Direct seeded rice: An option for enhancing the productivity, improving resource use efficiency and minimize the production cost of the Rice

A front line demonstration on direct seeded rice was conducted during kharif season of 2014 and 2015 to enhancing the productivity of rice, improving resource use and minimizes the production cost. Front line demonstration is a medium to make awareness about the technology direct seeded rice (DSR) and popularised amongst farmers. Demonstration study showed that yield attributing characters under DSR was higher compared to Farmers Practice-puddled transplanted rice (PTR). Grain yield under PTR was higher but much close to DSR. In PTR rice yield was only 5.1% higher over DSR. Economic analysis data was glaring and cost of cultivation under DSR was very low compared to transplanting. Gross return, net return and benefit cost ratio under DSR was higher compared to transplanting. Nursery and land preparation cost, transplanting, weed management and irrigation cost under transplanting was very high compared to DSR.