Experiences of Farmers in India Experiences of Farmers in ... - AgSri

Pondicherry
Paddy cultivation
64
Selvanathan
#12, Mariamman Koil St.,
Uruvaiyaru, Mangalam Po
Pondicherry -605 110
Contact:
Ms.S. Puspalatha,
Chairperson,
Ekoventure, Pondicherry
Ph: 0413-2275812
Age: 57 years
Education: X passed
Occupation(s): Agriculture
No. of years in farming: 38
Farmer Selvanathan has 16 acres of agriculture land, in that paddy is cultivated in 8
acres. He has a bore well. He applies FYM chemical fertilizers and pesticides in his
filed. His yields are about 1.5 t/acre (White Ponni) and 2.5 t/acre (Other varieties).
SRI adoption
He came to know about SRI through TRPP (Tank Rehabilitation Project, Pondicherry)
and trained by Ms. Pushpalatha, Ekovneture, a local NGO. He adopted SRI in the
year 2003 samba and started with 5 acres of cultivation. He had an experience of
11 seasons in SRI, tried varieties like I.W.Ponni (samba), ASD 19, ADT43, ADT37,
ADT46 etc. He applies FYM, chemical fertilizers and bio- fertilizers in his field. He
follows all the practices recommended in SRI. He received 5 Conoweeders from
TRPP and a Marker from Ekoventure. There was no pest problem in his field. To
control Sheath rot, he used Bavistin. He got a yield of 2.2 t/acre (I.W.Ponni) and 3.4
t/acre (Other varieties)
Innovations and modifications
Has designed a small Conoweeder to use for 3rd and 4th weeding to avoid crop
damage.
Benefits
Less seed, less water, less labour for removal of seedlings, but more grain and
straw yield.