Perceived Constraints Related to Inputs and Production by Direct Seeded Rice Growers in Kurukshetra District

Direct seeded rice (DSR), most likely older method of crop establishment, is gaining popularity because of its low-input demand. It offers certain advantages i.e. it saves labour, requires less water, less drudgery, early crop maturity, low production cost, better soil physical conditions for following crops and less methane emission, provides better option to be the best fit in different cropping systems. Comparative yields in DSR can be obtained by adopting various cultural practices like, selection of suitable cultivars, proper sowing time, optimum seed rate, proper weed and water management. It can also be stated that soil problems related to rice and following crops can be solved with direct seeding. There are several constraints associated with shift from PTR to DSR, such as high weed infestation, evolution of weedy rice, increase in soil borne pathogens, nutrient disorders, poor crop establishment, lodging, incidence of blast, brown leaf spot etc. By overcoming these constraints DSR can prove to be a very promising, technically and economically feasible alternative to PTR. The contextual matrix and constraints associated with adoption of DSR are discussed in this paper. The study was conducted in Kurukshetra district of Haryana state. From this district, two blocks namely Thanesar and Pehowa were selected randomly. The data presented that constraints regarding input and marketing perceived by respondents was high cost of seed and 'lack of marketing facilities in village1 ranked first constraint, respectively