Abstract
Rice cultivation serves as a crucial source of livelihood and food security for rural populations. However, traditional farming methods often face significant operational and environmental challenges, including high water consumption and the intense labor required for manual paddy transplanting. Rising agricultural wages, water scarcity, and climate volatility contribute to higher production costs, making traditional cultivation increasingly expensive and less profitable for smallholder farmers. This research aims to address these challenges by proposing a cluster randomized controlled trial that provides technical training on Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) technology along with climate-resilient rice variety. This approach enables farmers to substitute technology for manual labor, reducing transplanting costs and optimizing water and input use over the cropping season. The findings will contribute not only to the environmental sustainability and climate resilience of rice production but also to broader efforts in reducing rural poverty, improving farm profitability, and enhancing overall household welfare.