SRI in Orissa - Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture ...

Box 6.1: How a progressive farmer learnt about SRI through SHGs
Mr. Deepak Mahanta is an educated progressive farmer of Kerkera village. Agriculture Department, Government of Orissa had selected him to take
part in a ‘Farmers to Farmers Training Programme’ organised at Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack. Now he is a trainer on advance farming
in that locality. He was also included in a team of 50 farmers, selected for an exposure visit to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, which was arranged
by Government of Orissa in 2003. He has 27 acres of land. Out of that 20 acres he cultivates and rest 7 acres are wasteland. Since 1991 he is
actively involved with agriculture. In the year 1998 he introduced government seeds, chemical fertilisers and transplanting method. Next year
he transplanted 5.0 acres of land. He had got 90 quintals of paddy from 5 acres (4.5t/ha), which was the highest ever yield in his life by using
conventional method. But he never heard of SRI from government officials. When his wife Kamala Mahanta became a member of Maa Saraswati
SHG, Kerkera last year, he became close to PRADAN and to know about SRI. In the year 2006 he had done SRI in an area of one acre.
The SRI demonstration in the year 2003 (Kharif) was
done in four different locations with different varieties.
Bhringarajpashi, Kadadiha, Tala Kainisari and Gouda
Champei were the villages where SRI demonstration was
done. Non-HYV varieties like Konark, Surendra, Khandagir,
Nabin, Swarnai and Lalat were then taken up. For SRI paddy
only medium land is chosen, as up land and low lands seem
to be not suitable for SRI paddy.
SRI as an Opportunity to Double
Productivity
PRADAN sees SRI as an opportunity to double productivity
and seems to be providing farmers’ food security for
8-12 months. The yields of SRI are an impressive 6-8 t/ha
(Table 6.4).
The highest number of tillers was 80 per hill and the rate
of conversion to effective tillers 40%- 70%. As tillering
goes up, the percentage of effective tillers comes down.
Application of chemical fertilizer increases the effective
tillers. The number of bold grains per panicle was 150 –
220 as opposed to 100-140 in the conventional method is.
SRI plants are healthier than conventional and withstand
longer dry spells. The fodder is almost three times more
than the conventional paddy. The average yield recorded
is shown in the Table 6.4. Though it fluctuates it is seen in
a majority fields the yield is 6.5 t/ha (2003-2006).
The results shown in Figure 6.1 were recorded in Ekghari
village under Kerkera gram panchayat of Karanjia block.
Table 6.3: Spread of SRI through PRADAN
in Orissa
Year Season Families Area (ha)
2003-04 Kharif 4 0.2
2004-05 Kharif 5 0.5
Rabi 3 0.3
2005-06 Kharif 130 13.0
Rabi 25 2.1
2006-07 Kharif 1050 105.0
Rabi 25 0.36
Table 6.4: Year-wise SRI outreach in Orissa and
average yield
Year No. of No. of Families Area (ha) Average Yield (t/ha)
Districts
2003 2 4 0.2 6.5
2004 2 8 0.8 6.0
2005 3 155 15.1 8.0
2006 4 1075 105.36 6.5
Fig. 6.1: SRI results growth status on
31st May 2007 at Ekghari
(variety-Nabin)
Traditional, 10
Improved, 18
SRI, 50
Average no.
of tillers
Traditional, 5
Improved, 10
SRI, 30
Average no.
of panicles
Traditional, 90
Improved, 140
SRI, 130
Average no.
of grains
Traditional, 75
Improved, 85
SRI, 95
Average Height
(in cm)
For wide dissemination and popularization of SRI
methods of cultivation, PRADAN is taking up many
approaches like conducting agricultural training
programs, organizing exposure visits, and proper follow
up and guidance in the field. Hands on training and
support to SHG families through VLE (Village Level
Expert) or SP (Service Provider) are being provided.
The experts of PRADAN also supervise the SRI fields.
Weeders have been provided by PRADAN to the farmers.
PRADAN is also demonstrating and sensitizing women
SHG members through guided exposure. Farmers were
Expanding Pro-poor Livelihoods through SRI: PRADAN’s Experiences in Orissa 45