Direct Seeded Rice: Policy, Partnerships, and collaborative approaches to Improve Crop Resilience and Sustainable Agrifood systems

Rice is one of India's key crops and is cultivated by millions of smallholder farmers across the country. However traditional rice cultivation is labour and water intensive. Rice production is estimated to contribute to circa 2.5% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, and as a key food security crop, the sector is expected to receive additional attention with respect to supporting a just green transition. Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) has become an established alternative to TPR for many years. A tactical approach of integrating this new technology into production systems is essential to close the large gaps between actual farmers' yields and attainable yields under better management. Bayer has been working closely with India Govt. and private sector experts, regional and global ecosystem partners for a holistic approach towards scaling adoption of DSR. Bayer steered conversations with public sector (Ministry of Ag, Indian council of agricultural research), multilateral agencies IRRI/CSISA, CIMMYT, NGOs (WBCSD, TERI, WRG-World Bank) and private sector stakeholders to form suitable alliances for wider adoption of DSR. These efforts along with alliance partners have gained good traction by the Govt., several states specially UP, Odisha, Punjab and Haryana have announced wider adoption models on DSR. Bayer is also actively deliberating with ministry and ecosystem partners to develop a voluntary carbon market framework in agriculture. Bayer has recently partnered with USAID to support and co-invest in a four-year project "Scale Direct" that aims to accelerate the global efforts of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) on direct seeded rice (DSR) research and development for smallholder farmers in Asia and Africa.3 The presentation will cover aspects of Bayer's commitment to drive sustainable rice landscapes through DSR addressing GHG mitigation, soil health, water use efficiency through policy and partnership approaches.