N-010c India - Hindu - Tn Erode District 2-24-08

Date:14/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/14/stories/2008021460010900.htm

SRI cultivation method gives good return to farmers Karthik Madhavan ERODE: Farmer M. Rajalingam of Kuppampalayam hamlet at Ezhunutrimangalam revenue village in Kodumudi block is happy. Rather excited. Assessment of paddy yield from a sample plot of 25 sq.m. suggests that he will get an average yield of 3,700 kg an acre, which is about 900 kg more than last year's. The farmer had sown IR 20 variety of paddy on 2.5 acres. Elsewhere in the village, from about 100 acres, farmers like him are expected to harvest between 3,500 and 4,200 kg of paddy an acre, which again will be more than their last year's. The bumper yield is because they had adopted system of rice intensification (SRI) method of cultivation, which allows for increased spacing between paddy saplings. The increased spacing ensures that paddy gets enough nutrients, air to produce more grains. The increased growth is not only in paddy but also the stem, which later turns into hay. Mr. Rajalingam got about 60 kg of hay from the 25 sq.m. plot. Agriculture Department officials say they propagated SRI following Collector T. Udhayachandran's instructions. From about 500 hectares of SRI in the last season, the officers increased the SRI cover to over 14,000 hectares. To help the farmers adopt the system, the officials conducted frequent meetings with the farmers and also projected the achievements of farmers who already practiced SRI. Agriculture Officer from Kangayam V. R. Ramachandran says they have conducted four meetings to convince the farmers that it would give them increased yield. However, for the officers things were not that easy going, as in the first fortnight after transplantation, there were not enough tillers as expected. "We were more nervous than the farmers because if it failed, we would not be in a position to face the farmers, for whom it is a question of livelihood," he says. However, with the rains, there were enough tillers to make both the officers and farmers happy. Joint Director of Agriculture S. Somasundaram says the Department officers are studying yield from various parts of the district, which in the initial stages is encouraging. Final result will be known in another fortnight. In the ensuing 'Navarai' season, he says, 1,000 hectares has been brought under SRI.