UP-PRAGATI Accelerator Programs (UPPAP) and KisanKraft Ltd's Role in Promoting Direct Seeded Rice (DSR)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Key Entity | KisanKraft Ltd, Bengaluru-based agri-firm |
| Project Partner | World Bank's Water Resource Group (WRG) |
| Initiative | Low methane rice project to promote Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) in Uttar Pradesh |
| Seed Partners | Delta Agri Genetics, Savannah Seeds |
| New Varieties | 15 new paddy varieties suitable for DSR cultivation |
| Benefits of DSR | Requires less water, no stagnant water needed, reduces water needs by half, decreases pesticides and fertilizers usage |
| Pilot Districts | Rae Bareli, Sitapur, Pratapgarh, Barabanki, Unnao, Ayodhya |
| Importance of Rice | India's most crucial food crop, uses largest portion of freshwater, occupies 28% of irrigated lands |
| Technological Shift | Dry Direct Seeded Rice (dry-DSR) gaining popularity due to freshwater scarcity and soil degradation |
| UP-PRAGATI Partners | 2030 Water Resources Group, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, private sector |
| Program Objective | Promote water-use efficiency and low-carbon practices in agriculture through technological and institutional innovations |
| DSR Target | Promote DSR on 250,000 hectares over the next five years across Uttar Pradesh |
| DSR Method | Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) or 'broadcasting seed technique' involves drilling seeds directly into fields |
| DSR Benefits | Saves groundwater, no nursery preparation or transplantation required, requires land leveling and pre-sowing irrigation |