India, May 14 -- With the paddy nursery setting time starting from May 15, the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has recommended that farmers adopt a newly developed technique of curating raised beds to prepare nurseries.

PAU experts said that the new method readies plants for transplantation in fields in 25 days, saving five days.

Buta Singh Dhillon, an agronomist at the PAU, said this technique ensures better plant health and enhances germination of paddy seeds.

Farmers faced challenges when setting up a paddy nursery on a flat surface using the conventional method. Saplings used to take more than 30 days before they were ready for transplanting in fields. Poor plant growth in nurseries was a common complaint. The traditional meth...