Latest news with #Pannu
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
IAS turned farmer aims to check groundwater depletion
Ludhiana: Amid growing concerns about the fast depleting groundwater due to paddy cultivation in Punjab, IAS officer-turned-farmer Kahan Singh Pannu has come up with a solution that uses only 20%-25% of water for farming instead. He conducted a workshop on the technique, called seeding of rice on beds (SRB), at Ajeetval village here recently. He said it not only requires much less water, but also comparatively less quantities of weedicides and pesticides. Pannu and his team are now creating awareness about the SRB technique in villages across the state to potentially curtail the groundwater crisis that looms large. In fact, Pannu currently heads a programme for regenerative agriculture at RoundGlass Foundation. Speaking to TOI, Pannu said, "The SRB technique is an improvement of the DSR technique. Bed seeding is a well-established practice in the cultivation of maize, potatoes and vegetables. Since it helps save a lot of water, I thought of trying it for paddy as well, but there was no existing machine for it. So I got a prototype made, experimented with it for about six months, and came up with a few iterations in collaboration with National Agro Industries for making seed rice beds. " Last kharif season, he said, he used two such machines and it yielded great results in terms of saving water. Besides, it gave the same yield while using much less weedicides and pesticides. He has 12 such machines this year as they are trying to cover at least 100 places in the state. Explaining the technique, he said 18-22 inch beds can be made with the machine, with grooves as wide as one foot. Two rows of seeds, 7 to 8 inches apart, get sown in the bed with plant-to-plant distance of about 4 to 6 inches. This technique also saves labour costs as the machine sows the seeds directly. Speaking about paddy cultivation, he said currently there is no alternative to paddy. Even though paddy is not a crop that is agro-economically conducive to Punjab, but the whole ecosystem depends on wheat-paddy with assured markets and MSP and farmers have experience of growing it. So the focus had to be on how to save water, as the groundwater in Punjab is depleting. At the current pace, it won't last till 2039, as per the Central Groundwater Board statistics, he warned. Short duration varieties were developed by PAU and DSR, but more was required. Currenly, 17 mn acre ft gets recharged but in Punjab 28 mn acre ft groundwater is being withdrawn. In the traditional method, the production of a kg of rice requires 4000 litres of water. In Punjab, paddy is grown on more than 85 lakh acres which means more than 15 lakh tubewells run from June to Sept, so one can imagine the magnitude of groundwater being withdrawn, he said.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Beyond DSR, farmers adopt bed-sowing rice for water saving
CHANDIGARH: For the upcoming paddy season, while the state government is promoting Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR), some farmers are, for the second consecutive season, opting for a different method: Seeding of Rice on Beds (SRB), a variant which is also believed to be effective in saving underground water. Being propagated by former bureaucrat Kahan Singh Pannu, who served as secretary, agriculture and is an alumnus of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), the SRB technique for paddy cultivation involves direct sowing of paddy seeds on raised beds of 18-22 inch width in two rows, and water is applied in furrows of 12 inch width. Farmers in some parts of the state adopted this method last season, and even more are exploring it this time. "Punjab faces an environmental disaster with its rapidly depleting groundwater table," Pannu said, adding, "Experts predict the state's groundwater will be completely gone up to 1,000 feet deep in the next 14 years. The main cause of this crisis is the cultivation of water-guzzling paddy during summer, a practice that has the potential to annihilate the Punjab civilization in the foreseeable future." GS Dhillon, a farmer from Dhanansu village in Ludhiana, said, "With seed companies now introducing paddy varieties that work well with weedicides and herbicides, SRB is emerging as a viable option. We faced some initial challenges last time, but we hope to use that experience to achieve a better yield this season. I like to experiment on my farm and the biggest advantage of this method is that it helps save underground water. " With the Seeding of Rice on Beds (SRB) method, paddy plants meet their water needs primarily through moisture, rather than relying on standing water. Seeds are sown with a row-to-row spacing of 10-12 inches, allowing plants ample natural air, moisture, light, and space to reach their full genetic potential. This method significantly reduces water consumption, requiring only about 25% of the water used in traditional paddy cultivation. Traditional paddy cultivation, which involves creating artificial ponds of water during hot summer months when evapotranspiration is highest, requires approximately 5,000 litres of water to produce just one kilogram of rice. Pannu added that since rice is sown and grown on beds without requiring standing water, there's no emission of dangerous methane greenhouse gas into the environment. This method also keeps soil pores open, aiding in better rainwater recharging and fostering superior conditions for beneficial microbes in the root zone, thus promoting natural environmental activity. Furthermore, plants absorb less water, making them sturdier and less succulent, and consequently, more resistant to insect, pest, and pathogen attacks, he said.
Gulf Insider
20-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Oman's Golden Visas Are Turning Into A Big Hit With Global Investors
Oman is emerging as one of the top global destinations for investment-linked residency – but true to its style, the Gulf state has been going about it in an understated way. But that's all changing. It was recently that Oman announced an intensely ambitious re-development plans for Salalah, the popular tourism destination in the southern part of Oman. The re-development opens up a whole range of long-term residency possibilities in Oman – and one which is definitely going to figure prominently in the plans for the global wealthy 'who want a different vibe where they want to be'. 'The Salalah re-development is nothing short of a generational makeover for Oman and its ambitions to be a global investment spot,' said an investment advisor to high networth individuals. 'Oman offers both a 10-year visa and 5-year residency (which is renewable) for investors,' said Gorvinder Pannu, Partner in Employment at Addleshaw Goddard Oman. 'The 'golden visa' offers long-term residency for foreign investors – subject to fulfilling certain conditions. 'This program represents a significant step in Oman's efforts to attract foreign investment and create a thriving business environment.' * For the 5-year residency, the minimum investment is OR250,000, which must be made in real estate, a limited liability company or public joint stock company. (Retired expats can also qualify for the 5-year visa if they can demonstrate a fixed monthly income of at least OR4,000. * For the 10-year visa, a minimum investment of OR500,000 can be in real estate, a limited liability entity or public joint stock company. Or the investor can set up a company employing at least 50 Omani nationals (where no minimum capital is required). * Alternatively, long-term government bond deposits are also acceptable. Keep these things in mind – the applicant must be 21 years or above. The applicant must not be subject to a previous deportation order in Oman. The Golden Visa applications are to be submitted to Oman's Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion. 'Final approval vests with the Royal Oman Police, which has the authority to accept or reject applications at its discretion,' said Pannu. Now, the Golden Visa has been just the catalyst Oman's property market needed. New projects have been unveiled, with the Salalah re-development being the cornerstone initiative. Salalah has been a major tourism draw for Oman through the years, but now, through the re-development, options open up for expats to consider longer term stays through buying property there. 'Yes, Oman is a growing but remains a niche freehold market,' said Aakarshan Kathuria, CEO of RiseUp. 'Foreigners can own freehold properties in 'integrated tourism complexes'. The ownership comes with residency rights for the buyer and immediate family. 'Investment in Oman offers an excellent lifestyle appeal and decent gross returns of 5-8% in ITCs. But the secondary property market is not very active – so resales may take longer compared to Dubai or Abu Dhabi. 'Which is why Oman is more suited for long-term investments offering stable rental income.' Al Mouj Muscat: A premium waterfront community featuring villas, townhouses, and apartments with marina access. Prices range from OR500,000 to OR2 million. Jebel Sifah: A coastal resort community about 45 minutes away from Muscat. Listings show prices of a 3-bedroom villa at OR212,000. AIDA project: A high-end development located between the mountains and the sea with starting prices of OR128,000.
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Business Standard
17-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu buys Rs 4.33 cr flat in Mumbai's Goregaon
Bollywood actor Taapsee Pannu along with her sister has purchased an apartment in Goregaon West, Mumbai, for Rs 4.33 crore, according to property registration documents reviewed by Square Yards on the website of Inspector General of Registration (IGR). The transaction was registered in May 2025. According to the IGR property registration documents reviewed by Square Yards, the property is located in a ready-to-move-in residential project known as Imperial Heights. The purchased apartment features a carpet area of 1,390 sq. ft and a built-up area of 1,669 It comes with two car parking spaces. The transaction incurred a stamp duty payment of Rs 21.65 lakh and registration charges of Rs 30,000. According to Square Yards Data Intelligence, a total of 47 transactions amounting to a gross transaction value of Rs 168 crore were registered with IGR in Imperial Heights, between April 2024 to March 2025. Currently, the average registered transaction property price in the project stands at Rs. 32,170 per sq. ft. Strategically located between key commercial centres like Andheri and Malad, Goregaon West offers seamless access via the Western Express Highway, Link Road, SV Road, and the suburban railway, making it highly accessible for professionals and businesses alike. The area has emerged as a significant commercial and residential hub, with a vibrant mix of office spaces, IT parks, co-working environments, high-street retail, and malls. Taapsee Pannu is a celebrated Indian actress known for her impactful work across Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil cinema. Beginning her career as a model, she transitioned to acting with her debut in the 2010 Telugu film Jhummandi Naadam, followed by acclaimed roles in Tamil and Hindi films. Pannu is known for her roles in movies such as Pink, Mulk, Badla, and Thappad.
Express Tribune
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Khalsa leader expresses solidarity with Pakistan
The leader of the Khalistan Movement, Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, has expressed solidarity with Pakistan, stating that 20 million Sikhs stood with Pakistan. "We stand with the people of Pakistan like a brick wall. This is neither 1965 nor 1971this is 2025. We will not let the Indian Army cross Punjab to attack Pakistan," Pannu said in a statement. The Khalsa leader said India had been oppressing minorities, especially Sikhs. He said Sikh leaders had also raised their voices against India's state-sponsored terrorism. Pannu said the name Pakistan itself meant 'pure' and that India did not have the courage to attack it.
