Incentive for Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR), Punjab
Punjab pays ₹1,500 an acre to farmers who sow paddy directly in the field instead of transplanting seedlings, to save groundwater.
Run by: Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of Punjab
- Incentive
- ₹1,500 per acre
- Budget (Kharif 2026)
- ₹40 crore
- Target (Kharif 2026)
- 5 lakh acres
- Paid in Kharif 2025
- ₹35.38 crore, 2.36 lakh acres
Overview
Punjab’s water table is falling because paddy is grown in flooded fields. In the usual method, seedlings are grown in a nursery, the field is puddled with water and the seedlings are transplanted by hand. In direct seeding of rice (DSR, also called tar-wattar seeding), the seed is sown straight into the field. It removes puddling and the nursery. The agriculture minister says it cuts irrigation water by 15 to 20% and cuts labour cost by a big margin.
To push farmers towards DSR, the state pays ₹1,500 per acre. The Punjab Cabinet decided this in May 2022 and it was renewed in later seasons, including 2025 and 2026. For Kharif 2026 the state has set aside ₹40 crore and a target of 5 lakh acres, according to Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian.
In Kharif 2025, the minister said, 23,410 farmers sowed 2,35,899 acres by DSR, and over ₹35.38 crore was paid at ₹1,500 an acre into their bank accounts. For 2026 the online DSR registration portal opened in May. The Chief Agriculture Officer of Faridkot said applications would be taken until 15 June.
Registration and dates change each season. In earlier seasons, farmers gave their Aadhaar number and land details (district, tehsil, village, khewat and khasra number, and the area sown), and field officers visited to verify the sowing before payment. Check the current notice on the portal for this season’s sowing period and conditions.
What you get
The benefit as the state notifies it — nothing here is an estimate.
- ₹1,500 for every acre sown by direct seeding, paid to your bank account.
- Saves 15 to 20% of irrigation water, according to the state.
- No nursery, no puddling and no transplanting, so less labour.
- Helps slow the fall of the groundwater level that your own tube well depends on.
Who is eligible
State schemes usually state their criteria as prose rather than a checklist. This is that prose, unpacked — the department’s verification is what decides.
You qualify if
- A Punjab farmer who sows paddy by direct seeding in the season.
- Registered on the DSR portal, with land details that match the revenue record.
- The area is verified by agriculture officials. Only verified area is paid.
- Each season’s sowing dates and conditions are set in the department’s notice.
Not covered
- Area that is transplanted, not direct-seeded.
- Area not registered, or not verified, by the department.
Documents you need
Have these ready before you start — most rejections are a missing paper, not a missing right.
- Aadhaar number
- Land details: district, tehsil, village, khewat and khasra number
- Area sown by direct seeding (in kanal and marla, or bigha and biswa)
- Bank account details (payment is by direct transfer)
How to apply
Fewer steps than a central scheme, and usually one office rather than a portal.
- 1
Register on the DSR portal before sowing
Go to agrisubsidy.agrimachinerypb.com and open DSR registration. Enter your Aadhaar and land details. Register early, since each season has a closing date.
- 2
Sow by direct seeding
Follow the technical guidance from the agriculture department for the sowing period and seed treatment. Do not transplant on this area.
- 3
Field verification
Agriculture officers visit your field to check that the registered area was direct-seeded.
- 4
Receive the money
After verification, ₹1,500 per verified acre is transferred to your bank account.
If something goes wrong
Missing from the list, or payment stuck — here is the channel the department itself publishes for it.
- For registration or payment problems, meet the Chief Agriculture Officer of your district or your Block Agriculture Officer. Carry your registration receipt and land record.
- To escalate, use Connect Punjab at connect.punjab.gov.in or the helpline 1100, or any Sewa Kendra.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I get?
₹1,500 per acre of direct-seeded paddy, for Kharif 2026 as renewed by the state.
Do I have to register before sowing?
Yes. The portal takes registration before payment. The 2026 window was open until 15 June, so register early in the season.
Is the money guaranteed for all acres I sow?
No. Only area that is registered and verified is paid, and the state has set aside ₹40 crore for 2026. Sowing more than you registered will not be paid.
Why does the state pay this?
To save groundwater. Direct seeding removes puddling and nursery work and cuts irrigation water by 15 to 20%, according to the agriculture minister.
What were the numbers last year?
In Kharif 2025, 23,410 farmers sowed 2,35,899 acres by DSR and were paid over ₹35.38 crore at ₹1,500 an acre.
Where are the season’s exact rules?
On the department’s DSR portal and in the district Chief Agriculture Officer’s notice. Sowing dates, seed advice and closing dates are given each season and can change.
Facts checked against agrisubsidy.agrimachinerypb.com on 26 September 2026. editorial policy.