Mumbai : Bayer has expanded its DirectAcres initiative to over 81,000 hectares (more than 200,000 acres) in 2026, marking a significant milestone in its efforts to advance resource-efficient rice cultivation in India. The initiative reflects Bayer’s commitment to helping farmers adapt to evolving agricultural challenges through solutions that balance productivity, farm economics and the efficient use of natural resources.
Rice cultivation in India is at an inflection point. Increasing pressure on water resources, rising cultivation costs and persistent labour shortages are challenging the viability of conventional transplanting methods. Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), which involves sowing seeds directly into the field, offers an alternative with the potential to reduce water use by up to 30-40%, greenhouse gas emissions by up to 45% and reliance on manual labour by up to 50%, compared with conventional transplanted rice. Actual outcomes can vary by geography, cultivation practice and farm conditions. Alongside these resource benefits, DSR can help lower cultivation costs, reduce drudgery and improve operational efficiency, strengthening the value proposition for farmers.
DirectAcres addresses these challenges through a cropping-system approach rather than treating DSR as a standalone technology. Bayer brings together its capabilities in Seeds & Traits, Crop Protection, Digital Farming Solutions and agronomy with tailored mechanization and digital advisory to support farmers through the transition. The model connects farmers and local agri-entrepreneurs with mechanization partners, digital advisory and public- and private-sector stakeholders, helping create the enabling ecosystem needed for adoption at scale. By addressing challenges such as weed management, machinery access and crop establishment, the initiative aims to make DSR more accessible and economically viable for smallholder farmers, while encouraging more efficient and resilient farming practices across the broader cropping system.
Commenting on the milestone, Simon Wiebusch, Country Divisional Head, Crop Science Division of Bayer for India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka said, “Reaching more than 200,000 acres is more than a growth milestone. It demonstrates that Direct Seeded Rice can be scaled across diverse geographies and farming conditions when farmers have access to the right technologies, services and support. DirectAcres brings together Bayer’s integrated capabilities across seeds, crop protection, digital solutions and agronomy to enable this transition. Our ambition is to help farmers improve profitability and operational efficiency while advancing more resource-efficient rice production in India.”
Since its pilot in 2021, DirectAcres has scaled rapidly from 3,500 hectares in 2023 to 17,000 hectares in 2024, 46,000 hectares in 2025 and more than 81,000 hectares in 2026. Its presence across Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra demonstrates the adaptability of the model across different rice-growing geographies and farming conditions. Through the initiative, Bayer aims to support farmers in navigating the transition to DSR with the right combination of technologies, agronomic expertise and on-ground support.
DirectAcres is part of Bayer’s broader regenerative agriculture ambition to advance productive, resource-efficient and resilient farming systems. Bayer will continue to expand the initiative’s capabilities and partnerships to help scale resource-efficient rice systems in India and create long-term value for farmers.
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