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

Tamil Nadu
Lessons learnt
74
Subsidies are not a good idea for long-term sustainability, since farmers re-
plough and re-plant densely (conventionally) after getting the subsidy.
Good seeds and fertile soil are important and these can only be possible with
the combination of SRI and organic cultivation.
Levelling the field is very important to sustain a crop without water-stagnation.
Micro-nutrients inputs are very important for crop growth.
Comparative study
Particulars
Seed-rate
(kg/ acre)
Grain yield/acre
(1 bag = 60 kg)
Conventional
method
SRI
method Notes
16-20 kg 0.8-1.6 kg (single);
4.0-4.8 kg (double
seedling)
36-40 bags 30 bags SRI average increased
from 18 bags to 30
over 5 seasons.
Straw yield/acre – 4-5 t This has been the
constant yield since
2006.
Labourers/acre Seed bed: 2
Plucking: 6
Transporting: 1
Planting: 15
(Ladies)
Weeding: 8
Harvesting: 15
Total: 47
Total wage-cost
per season (Rs.)
No. of tillers per
sq m
No. of panicles/
tiller
No. of grains per
panicle
Germination % of
seeds
5,000 4,600
Seed bed: 1
Plucking: 3
Transporting: -
Planting: 12
Weeding: 12
Harvesting: 9
Total: 37
Less than 250 Above 250
10 – 15 40 – 60
100 200 – 300
80% 90% Very good, no empty
panicles in SRI.