Launching October 10 in Sitapur, the campaign will cover 10 states, promoting DDSR to cut water use by 50%, lower costs, and reduce methane emissions while sustaining yields.

By BL Mangaluru Bureau

KisanKraft will launch a nationwide awareness and education campaign to promote its ‘dry direct seeded rice’ (DDSR) technology. The initiative will start on October 10 from Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh, running until December 2025, across 10 states.

Ravindra Agrawal, Chairman of KisanKraft Ltd., said that direct-seeded rice (DSR) is an alternative to traditional transplanting, grown entirely on non-puddled fields without standing water, making it more efficient and sustainable.

DDSR cuts water use, input costs, and greenhouse emissions

This technology saves more than 50 per cent of water due to the absence of standing water and puddling, and lowers input costs. The technology reduces the use of pesticides, fungicides and fertilisers. It improves soil health through crop rotation and intercropping with any of the pulse crops.

Stating that the technology reduces greenhouse gas emissions, he said methane emissions are almost null compared to wetland rice, which emits 8-12 per cent of methane globally.

It yields similar results to transplanted rice for the farmers, making it a win-win for both farmers and the environment, Agrawal said.

Aiding farmers to adopt

“At KisanKraft, we are committed to promoting DSR technology across India through awareness programmes, field demonstrations of varieties developed by our research and development team with proper package of practices, and training so that farmers can confidently adopt this transformative practice,” he said.

Rice consumes an estimated 5,000 litres of water to produce just one kilogram. KisanKraft’s DDSR uses 50-60 per cent less water without compromising yield, the statement said, adding DDSR varieties mature in 110-140 days, adapt to diverse soil conditions, and are geared toward ensuring more crop per drop.

The awareness campaign will cover major farming districts across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha. Through field demonstrations, farmer training programmes, and interactive sessions, farmers will gain practical knowledge on a package of practices, including land preparation, sowing techniques, and weed management, as well as pest and disease management, for successful DDSR adoption, the statement added.

Published Date: October 9, 2025