T M Radha
Growing paddy with less water is
possible through the System of Rice Intensification, an innovation
thats fast catching up. T M Radha reports.
"Look,
this plant
has 45 tillers. And one more here, with 53..." There is
no end to Govindaraj's excitement. Govindaraj, who has been growing
paddy for the last 20 years in Nallathangalpatti in Tiruchi, has not
seen a paddy plant producing so many tillers. He is sure he will be
able to harvest double the normal yield. He is surprised by the fact
that this has happened despite using seeds and water lesser than usual,
on his paddy crop this time. Govindaraj did not flood his field.
Instead, he irrigated it when necessary, saving about 30% of water. He
is happy that he can grow another acre of paddy with the amount saved.
There are many more farmers in and around Nallathangalpatti who are
bringing about a silent revolution in paddy cultivation - by merely
making adjustments in the way they use their resources. This
innovation, more popularly known as SRI, System of Rice
Intensification, was first developed in Madagascar, some 25 years ago,
and is gaining momentum all over.
The method is very simple. There is no need to flood paddy fields.
Instead, the soil is kept moist, facilitating better supply of oxygen
to the roots. Young, single seedlings are planted on a wider spacing to
enable better aeration and root growth. With these simple changes in
managing the crop, these farmers were able to get a higher yield of
2.5-3.0 tons per acre.
Farmers in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are slowly shifting
to this method. The AME Foundation (AMEF), a resource organisation
based in Bangalore, is helping farmers to make this transition. With
its emphasis on LEISA (Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture),
AMEF feels that SRI is one of the best innovations, which is getting
increasingly accepted by farmers for its savings on seeds and water.
SRI is a typical example of farmer-to-farmer extension, spreading new
knowledge, primarily by farmers. Farmers who have been quick in
adopting the principles are also making necessary changes to suit their
local conditions.
Aptly said by Dr Norman Uphoff, Professor, Cornell University, SRI is
not finished yet. It is a work in progress, still evolving and
improving. The very fact that SRI is a method and not a technology may
be one of the limitations for the Agriculture Department to spread it
in a typical extension mode.
Looking ahead
Irrigated rice production system needs to undergo change in the coming
years. With increasing scarcity of water and water disputes looming
large, it is high time that we look at alternative water saving
technologies. National and international research institutions are
investing a lot of time and money, but not to farmers' benefit. While
simple innovations are available at hand, we are looking at complex
technologies like Genetic Engineering to produce varieties needing less
water. On the other hand, some formal institutions are still trying to
prove, or rather disprove, SRI through their trials.
Farmers have been quick to respond to SRI, but the state governments
are yet to capitalise on its merits. If the paddy farmers of Karnataka
and Tamil Nadu adopt this water saving technique, it could probably
provide a permanent solution to the endless Cauvery dispute. Tamil Nadu
has already put its foot forward and has announced that SRI will be
taken up in the entire 61,000 ha of paddy area in Tiruchi, during the
year 2008-09. Is Karnataka listening?
http://deccanherald.com/Content/Jul222008/snt2008072180112.asp
