Bathinda, March 18 -- Ahead of the kharif crop season, vice- chancellor of Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) Prof SS Gosal on Monday urged farmers to sow PR 132, a non-basmati variety, and approved irrigation techniques for sustainable farming.

Addressing farmers during the annual kisan mela organised at PAU's Bathinda-based regional research station, Gosal said PR 132 is a better variety that called for less use of fertilisers.

"Farmers should use 'tar wattar' direct seeded rice (DSR) technology and drip irrigation that could save about 70% of water as against the use of water from the tubewells. In view of the fast-depleting groundwater table, it is crucial to shift to less water-guzzling paddy crops for conserving water," he said....