Bhubaneswar: Bikram Sahu, a farmer from Balangir’s Shasanpali village, has embraced an innovative farming technique that has not only increased paddy yield but is also environment friendly.
Sahu’s journey commenced not with the conventional inundation of fields, a hallmark of traditional farming practices, but with a resolute decision to deviate from established norms and adopt a cost-effective irrigation technique known as “alternate wetting and drying” .
Conventional rice cultivation entails flooding of fields. However, this method, as per the experts, contributes to substantial emission of methane, a greenhouse gas. Moreover, it associates high labour cost.
In an endeavour to tackle these pressing issues, SwitchON Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental protection, introduced the revolutionary irrigation method in paddy cultivation among 13 farmers, including Sahu, in Balangir for the rabi season.
Vinay Jaju, managing director of SwitchON Foundation, said, “Our primary aim is to empower farmers by equipping them with tools, knowledge, and support to achieve success. This innovative irrigation technique has played a pivotal role in this endeavour.”
Alternate wetting and drying (AWD), a sustainable paddy cultivation technique, entails the periodic drying and re-flooding of rice fields to cut water consumption, labour costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
Sahu, having adopted this technique for his paddy cultivation, said by diligently monitoring water levels and allowing the field to dry intermittently before re-flooding, he has observed several positive transformations.
“My water usage has diminished by nearly 25% to 30%, resulting in a significant reduction in irrigation costs,” he said. “Previously, the cost of irrigation per acre ranged from Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000, but now, it has reduced to Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000,” Bikram Pradhan, another farmer, said.

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