SRI in Orissa - Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture ...
SRI in Orissa - Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture ...
SRI in Orissa - Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture ...
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seed was sufficient to transplant a 20 decimal ma<strong>in</strong> land.<br />
There were more surprises <strong>in</strong> store <strong>for</strong> onlookers as each<br />
hill now had as many as 30 to 36 vigorously grow<strong>in</strong>g tillers<br />
after mere 30 days of transplantation. And all these were<br />
achieved with total low cost organic management.<br />
In the meantime, the package of practice has got further<br />
boost as those farmers who doubted the technique and<br />
slightly diverted from total adoption have been proved<br />
wrong. It was seen that after four days of sow<strong>in</strong>g, seedl<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
were about one and half <strong>in</strong>ch taller if covered with straw.<br />
But <strong>in</strong> one case, where it was not covered with straw, it<br />
was just germ<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g. Then two trial fields had less tillers<br />
because farmers disbelieved dry field theory and kept<br />
stand<strong>in</strong>g water there.<br />
Serious <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> the system is develop<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> place of<br />
severe disbelief. Now, there is considerable <strong>in</strong>terest among<br />
farmers <strong>in</strong> the new system of farm<strong>in</strong>g. Abdul Usman’s<br />
demonstration field is draw<strong>in</strong>g onlookers and <strong>in</strong>terested<br />
farmers each day. Plants <strong>in</strong> his neighbour<strong>in</strong>g plots are<br />
th<strong>in</strong>ner and shorter than his fields <strong>in</strong> spite of two doses<br />
of chemical fertiliser applications. One big farmer from<br />
Padampur, the nearest town, is com<strong>in</strong>g once every week<br />
to see the progress of the crop. Usman is a very proud<br />
farmer now. The 20 decimals of land <strong>in</strong> which he has<br />
gone <strong>for</strong> <strong>SRI</strong>, is the only farm land that he has. Hence,<br />
he had quite a lot of stake <strong>in</strong> that. He was also persuaded<br />
by many to use fertiliser and chemicals. But Usman stuck<br />
to the theory and is very happy now. People have started<br />
believ<strong>in</strong>g that <strong>SRI</strong> is an answer to drought and crop loss.<br />
But they are little sceptical about its large scale adoption<br />
and possibilities.<br />
Draw<strong>in</strong>g Future Plans<br />
With the <strong>in</strong>itial success, MASS has done a potential<br />
assessment to scale up <strong>SRI</strong> <strong>in</strong> its operational fields. It has<br />
been identified that 14 villages <strong>in</strong> MASS’s area of operation<br />
<strong>in</strong> Paikmal block have tremendous <strong>SRI</strong> potential. In six<br />
villages <strong>SRI</strong> can be done <strong>in</strong> both Kharif and Rabi season.<br />
Only six farmers cultivated paddy <strong>in</strong> only about an acre of<br />
land this year. But the grow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>terest and confidence of<br />
farmers will help <strong>in</strong> large scale scal<strong>in</strong>g up and adaptation of<br />
the technique. MASS <strong>in</strong>tends to <strong>in</strong>volve as many farmers,<br />
local NGOs and government <strong>in</strong>stitutions <strong>in</strong> this process. This<br />
year was just the beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>SRI</strong> <strong>in</strong>itiative.<br />
70<br />
Towards a Learn<strong>in</strong>g Alliance: <strong>SRI</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Orissa</strong>