PRADAN, 3 CSC, Niti Bagh, New Delhi 110 049, India Tel/Fax ... · SUGARCANE INTENSIFICATION SYSTEM: AN INNOVATIVE METHOD DEVELOPED BY FARMERS IN MEDAK DISTRICT V. Shashi Bhushan,

THE LIVELIHOODS AND DEVELOPMENT MONTHLY

Pradan is a voluntary organistaion registered under the Societies’ Registration Act in Delhi.We work in selected villages in 7 states through small teams based in the field. The focus ofour work is to promote and strengthen livelihoods for the rural poor. It involves organisingthem, enhancing their capabilities, introducing ways to improve their incomes and linkingthem to banks, markets and other economic services. Pradan comprises professionally trainedpeople motivated to use their knowledge and skills to remove poverty by working directly withthe poor. Engrossed in action, we often feel the need to reach out to each other in Pradan aswell as those in the wider development fraternity. NewsReach is one of the ways we seek toaddress this need. It is a forum for sharing our thoughts and a platform to bui ld solidarityand unity of purpose. NewsReach was supported in the past by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust andFord Foundation.

NewsReach is published by the National Resource Centre for Rural Livelihoods housed inthe Pradan Research and Resource Centre. The publication of the NewsReach is beingsupported by the Aga Khan Foundation through the European Commission co-financed SCALEProgramme.

PRADAN, 3 CSC, Niti Bagh, New Delhi 110 049, India Tel/Fax : 001 2651 8619/2651 4651 4582 E-mail: [email protected]

AGA KHAN FOUNDATION

SEPTEMBER 2009 Volume 9 Number 9

NewsReach

Supported by the Aga Khan Foundation through the European Commission co- financed SCALE Programme

This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Commission. The views expressed herein are those of the writers and can therefore in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Commission or the Aga Khan Foundation.

ACTION RESEARCHSUGARCANE INTENSIFICATION SYSTEM: AN INNOVATIVE METHOD DEVELOPED BY FARMERS IN MEDAK DISTRICTV. Shashi Bhushan, Norman Uphoff, K. Suresh and M. Sudarshan Reddy write that by using the SIS methodology thefarmers in Andhra Pradesh were able to reduce costs of production and increase the sugarcane yield. V. Shashi Bhushan andSudarshan Reddy are with the Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), Hyderabad, Norman Uphoff is withthe Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development, New York and K. Suresh is with the AgriculturalResearch Station, Medak.

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REPORTPRADAN’S SRI PROGRAMME INBIHAR: AN IMPACT ASSESSMENTManu Sinha reports that the impact ofthe SRI methodology in six districts ofBihar, promoted by Pradan with thesupport of BRLP, has been positive andeffective; what is needed are continuingefforts to make it a mass sustainableprogramme. Manu is an independentconsultant and is based in Bhopal.

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 1

CASE STUDYSYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION: EXPERIENCE OF TRIBAL FARMERS FROM SOUTH GUJARATJ. P. Tripathi and Jibraj Suthariya mention that the strength of SRI lies in the fact that it is not a rigid technicalpractice but a system of principles that allows for experimentation and adaptation. J.P. and Jibraj are with theAKRSPI. J.P. is based in Ahmedabad and Jibraj is based in Netrang.

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ACTION RESEARCHPROMOTING SWI IN THE MOUNTAIN FARMS Introducing SWI in the mountainous regions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, PSI has initiated a changefrom traditional and conventional method of cultivation.

LEAD ARTICLETHE SYSTEM OF RICEINTENSIFICATION (SRI): A PRADAN EXPERIENCE Sayantan Bera states that adoptingSRI in different areas of India whererice is the main agricultural crop hasmultiple advantages, includingensuring food security for familieswith small landholdings. Sayantan isan independent consultant and isbased in Delhi.

ACTION RESEARCHTHE SYSTEM OF MUSTARD INTENSIFICATION Pravash Chandra Satpathy shares that on the lines of the system used for growing rice that originated in Madagascarsome quarter of a century ago, good management, adequate spacing and appropriate fertilization of Manikya, a varietyof mustard, has a high-potential yield and proves profitable. Pravas is based in Mayurbhanj, Orissa.

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NewsReach September 2009

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

During the period 2003–2004 to 2007–2008, agriculture recorded an annual growth of 3.7ssper cent. The share of agriculture in the GDP has registered a steady decline from 36.4 percent in 1982–83 to 18.5 per cent in 2006–07. During the period 1990–2007, the rate ofgrowth of food grain production was 1.2 per cent — much lower than the annual growthrate of population averaging 1.9 per cent during the same period. This implies a decline inper capita availability of food grains during this period.

Figures from the India State Hunger Index 2008, released by International Food PolicyResearch Institute (IFPRI), show the continued overall severity of the hunger situation in Indiawhile revealing the variation in hunger across states within India. The report also suggests aclose link between the poverty ratio and the prevalence of hunger in the states. A possibleremedial measure to lessen the incidence of hunger is to strengthen agriculture, along withmeasures to increase overall food availability and access to all segments of the population.For states with rice as the principal food crop, augmenting the status of paddy production(such as increasing the area under food grains and higher paddy yield with improved methodsof cultivation) can go a long way in ensuring year-round food security for families. The Systemof Rice Intensification, a radically innovative way of paddy cultivation that has become popularin India (and the rest of the rice growing parts of the world) holds out great promise for theexpected enhancement in rice production.

As mention by Sayantan Bera in the artilce “The System of Rice Intensification (SRI): A PradanExperience” – for a country like India where rice is the main agricultural crop (23 per cent ofthe gross cropped area falling under rice cultivation), adopting SRI will bring multifoldadvantages. SRI can ensure year-round food security for small families with small landholdings(less than an acre of land). Components of this technology have worked well under rainfedconditions; it is a boon for areas with little or no access to irrigation. This technology alsoensures efficient water management, without compromising productivity. SRI is a solution todistress migration and alienation from agriculture because it ensures year-round food security,resulting in the migrants coming back to agriculture.

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) has become immensely popular in the past few years.Farmers, Universities, Research Institutions, NGOs and many others are now engaged inreaching SRI to all the rice growing areas as they see a potential in the technology foraddressing the issue of enhancing food production. Drawing on the fundamentals of SRI, thetechnology has been extended by practitioners and researchers to other crops as well, albeit ina limited manner. Thus technologies such as Syetem of Wheat Intensification (SWI), SugarcaneIntensification System (SIS) and System of Mustard Intensification (SMI) have emerged.

In this special issue of NewsReach we are focusing on these systems of crop intensification,where we are showcasing the experiences of practitioners who have tried out the varioustechnologies and have achieved results, highlighting the successes, innovations, impact,emerging issues, of reaching out to the farmers with the new technologies.

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Lead Article: The System of Rice Intensification (SRI): A Pradan Experience

INDIA’S FOOD SECURITY AND POVERTY SITUATIONIn recent years, the Indian economy has seen unprecedented high rates of growth:the gross domestic product (GDP) recorded a growth of over 9 per cent for threeconsecutive years from 2005–2006 to 2007–2008. However, during the period2003–2004 to 2007–2008, agriculture recorded an annual growth of 3.7 per cent.The share of agriculture in the GDP has registered a steady decline from 36.4 percent in 1982–83 to 18.5 per cent in 2006–07. Yet the agriculture sector continuesto support more than half a billion people and provides employment to 52 per centof the workforce.

During the period 1990–2007, the rate of growth of food grain production was1.2 per cent — much lower than the annual growth rate of population averaging1.9 per cent during the same period. This implies a decline in per capita availabilityof food grains during this period.

The poverty figures from the National Sample Survey reveals that the rural (urban)poverty rate declined from 46 per cent (41 per cent) in 1983 to 28 per cent (26per cent) in 2004–2005. The real cause for this decline lies in the change in theparameters that are used to calculate the poverty rate. Initially, poverty lines weredefined in terms of calorie norms. All subsequent poverty lines were calculated interms of the expenditure required to purchase those calories rather than the actualcalorie intake. Therefore, official poverty figures have declined over the years asthe per capita expenditure has moved upwards. Nevertheless, an increase in percapita expenditure does not necessarily mean that households can buy thosecalories because they have other expenses to bear. In 2004–05, the fraction ofhouseholds living in rural areas with a per capita calorie consumption of less than2,400 is 79.8 per cent, up from 66 per cent in 1983. All India figures (calculatedby actual calorie intake) suggest that the proportion of the poor (consuming lessthan 2,400 calories in rural areas and less than 2,100 calories in urban areas) has increased from 64.8 per cent in 1983 to 75.8 per cent in 2004–2005.

The System of Rice Intensification(SRI): A Pradan Experience

Adopting SRI in different areas of India where rice is the main agriculturalcrop has multiple advantages, including ensuring food security for familieswith small landholdings

SAYANTAN BERA

In mid-2008, the World Bank revised theglobal poverty line from $1 a day to $1.25 aday, causing many to wake up to newfoundalarming statistics on global poverty trends.The recent World Bank study by MartinRavallion and Shaohua Chen (August 2008),based on the average poverty line of 15 ofthe world’s poorest countries, stated that thenumber of poor people in India has increasedfrom 421 million in 1981 to 456 million in2005. The Asian Development Bank revisedthe poverty line at $1.35 a day, putting theIndia poverty figures at 55 per cent of thepopulation. Whereas everyone else issweating over the financial crisis and itsimpact on India’s growth prospects, fewwords, if at all, are spent on the homegrowncrisis in food. The per person grain demand

in India has come down from 178 kg in early1990s to 157 kg in 2004–2005. This,according to some, is due to the drastic fall inthe purchasing power of the poor masses.

Figures from the India State Hunger Index2008, released by International Food PolicyResearch Institute (IFPRI), show thecontinued overall severity of the hungersituation in India while revealing the variationin hunger across states within India. Thereport reveals that not a single state in Indiais either low or moderate in terms of its indexscore and most states have a ‘serious’ hungerproblem, with the situation in MadhyaPradesh categorized as ‘extremely alarming’.The report also suggests a close link betweenthe poverty ratio and the prevalence of


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hunger in a particular state(with exceptions such asGujarat and Karnataka, whichshould have performed betteron the hunger index, giventheir levels of poverty). Statesperforming the worst in thehunger index — MadhyaPradesh (MP), Jharkhand andBihar — have poverty ratiosmuch higher than the otherstates. Linking hunger andpoverty to the status of paddyproduction in states where rice is the principal food crop throws up interestingresults. States that are better ranked in termsof hunger are mostly those with paddy yieldssubstantially higher than the all-India averagepaddy yield (such as Punjab, Kerala andAndhra Pradesh).

A possible remedial measure to lessen theincidence of hunger is to strengthenagriculture, along with measures to increaseoverall food availability and access to allsegments of the population. For states withrice as the principal food crop, augmentingthe status of paddy production (such asincreasing the area under food grains andhigher paddy yield with improved methods ofcultivation) can go a long way in ensuringyear-round food security for marginal andsmall farm households.

INTRODUCTION OF SRILe systeme de Riziculture Intensive, or theSystem of Rice Intensification (SRI), is asimple ‘process’ innovation developed by Fr.Henri de Laulanie in Madagascar in 1983.Slowly, over the last decade, this technologyhas been adopted by rice growing economiesof South Asia to ensure food security for itsfast increasing population.

The basic principle onwhich this process workscan be summarized asdeliberate modifications inthe environment on a microscale, especially in the rootzone, which rekindles andenergizes the existinggenetic potential, resultingin manifold increase in theyield. These modificationsare in terms of the level ofwater near the roots,transplantation period fromnursery to field, reducedtrauma to the seedling

during the transplantation, spacing, weedingand aeration. The changed practices withlower inputs result in improved productivity,with yields of 7–8 tonnes per hectare: aboutdouble the present world average of 3.8tonnes per hectare and more than thrice theIndian average of 2 tonnes per hectare.

For a country like India where rice is the mainagricultural crop (23 per cent of the grosscropped area falling under rice cultivation),adopting SRI will bring multifold advantages.SRI can ensure year-round food security forsmall families with small landholdings (lessthan an acre of land). Components of thistechnology have worked well under rainfedconditions; it is a boon for areas with little orno access to irrigation. This technology alsoensures efficient water management, withoutcompromising productivity. SRI is a solutionto distress migration and alienation fromagriculture because it ensures year-roundfood security, resulting in the migrantscoming back to agriculture.

Despite its potential and glaring advantages,until date, the SRI outreach has been ratherlimited in India. Almost 46 countries from


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All India figures(calculated by actual

calorie intake)suggest that theproportion of the

poor (consuming lessthan 2,400 caloriesin rural areas andless than 2,100calories in urban

areas) has increasedfrom 64.8 per centin 1983 to 75.8 percent in 2004–2005

Asia, Africa and America have been using thistechnology and reaping benefits.

COST EFFECTIVENESS OF SRISRI is a very cost effective technology. In SRI,the seed requirement is less, with only oneseedling per hill; the increased spacing betweenthese results in reduction in the expenditureincurred on seed. Additionally, SRI largelydoes not require the purchase of new seedsor the use of new high-yielding varieties. Lesstime is required to transplant the saplings intothe main field, which results in saving oflabour charges. Besides saving on seed, thesavings on chemical fertilizers depends on theexisting practice in a particular area.

SRI fields require at least two weedings, withsubstantial turning of the soil. This is done byusing a hand-operated weeding machine.

The use of a weeder machine saves around150 hours of work compared to manualweeding in an acre of land.

The relatively short 7–12 days nursery periodin SRI (compared to the over–21 days intraditional transplantation) also comes withits inherent benefits. In rainfed areas, thefarmer can decide on when to prepare thenursery with the availability/arrival of rains.This gives them an advantage ofmanoeuvering the nursery, something akin to‘playing with the rains’. Moreover, since SRInursery plots are relatively small in size, theycan be prepared within a short duration asand when the rain settles.

SRI: PROCESS COMPONENTSPradan has been promoting SRI in eight statesof central and eastern India since 2003. A


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detailed study helps us classifythe SRI process into componentssuch as land selection and landpreparation, seed selection andseed treatment, nursery bedpreparation, and transplantation.The components are as follows: w Land selection and

preparation: Medium andlowlands most suitable;drainage channels aroundthe main field to control flow of water.Augmentation of soil nutrient usingcompost and, if required, chemicalfertilizers.

w Seed rate: Only 5 kg of seeds perhectare of land.

w Seed selection and treatment:Improved short duration varieties suchas 1001, Lalat, Swarna masuri andSuper rice. After seed selection, brinewater test and Bavistin treatment.

w Nursery period and transplantation:Nursery period of 7–8 days after whichtransplantation in rows maintaining an

equal distance of 10 inches to 1 foot between hills. Only one sapling per hill asagainst multiple saplings per hillin traditional transplantation.Saplings to be transplantedwithin two hours from nurseryto main field ensuring thatminimum damage is caused tothe roots. w Soil and water

management: In SRI method, soil hasto be kept moist but well drained andaerated with a liberal application oforganic matter to support biologicalactivity.

w Weeding and hoeing: Three weedings,first after 10–12 days after transpl-antation and then in gaps of 12–15days before the canopy closes. Weedingto be done with a hand-operatedweeder machine, which will performhoeing alongside, thus aerating the soil.

w Regular monitoring: Frequent visits tothe field are required to monitor the


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Components ofthis technology

have worked wellunder rainfed

conditions; it is aboon for areaswith little or no

access toirrigation

water level; soil should be moist andaerated at all times and alternativewetting and drying may be practised ifpossible.

SRI: THE PRADAN EXPERIENCEPradan, a non-government, non-profitorganization, has been working in eight statesacross India to promote livelihoodopportunities for the poor. The majorinterventions includes promoting self helpgroups (SHGs) and introducing households tolocally suitable economic activities (such aspoultry and goat rearing, vegetablecultivation, tasar production and laccultivation, siali leaf plate making, etc.). Since2003, Pradan has been instrumental inintroducing paddy farmers to improvedtechniques of cultivation such as SRI. Overall,the broad objective is to develop and buildsustainable income generation activities forboth farm and non-farm households in ruralareas. SRI has been useful in meeting the saidobjective as a technology with widespreadapplication, utility and long-term advantagefor the resource-deprived section of society.Pradan has taken the SHG route to promoteSRI in all its field locations.

BENEFITSw SRI has been successful in rainfed areas,

with little or no access to irrigation. o Average productivity stands at 6

tonnes/ha, almost three times thenational average.

o Increased savings due to reduced expenditure on seeds, labour, etc.

w As compared to traditional method, SRIresults in an increased yield by two-three times, leading to food security.

w Substantial savings at each stage suchas low expenditure on seed and labour.

w Farmers experience indicates that SRItechnology is simple to adopt.

Hurdles, Pitfalls and Solutionsw Initial hurdle to overcome the disbelief

in a technology, which sounds ‘toogood to be true’. To tackle these issues,Pradan organizes o Exposure visits at different phases

of operation and plant growth o Video shows

o Intensive discussions with farmers, etc.

w The intensive nature of the technology(intricate use of labour, strict schedulingand high level of care) seems moresuited to small and marginalhouseholds. The challenge, therefore,lies in implementing SRI in large patchesof land owned by a single family.

w Constant hand-holding and technicalsupport is necessary so that farmers donot drop out.

w Timely availability of workable weedermachines, adequate supply of organicmanure and integration with govern-ment schemes such as NREGS andAgricultural Technology ManagementAgency (ATMA) can facilitate thestrengthening and further extension ofthe movement.

EXPONENTIAL SUCCESS: THE GAYA TIE-UPTo promote SRI in the Gaya and Nalandadistricts of Bihar, Pradan went into an


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The broad objective is to developand build sustainable incomegeneration activities for bothfarm and non-farm households inrural areas. SRI has been useful inmeeting the said objective as atechnology with widespreadapplication, utility and long-termadvantage for the resource-deprived section of society.

agreement with Bihar Rural LivelihoodPromotion Society (BRLPS), a governmentbody aided by World Bank. The primary taskof BRLPS is to promote SHGs in backwardcommunities; for livelihood promotionactivities, they tied up with Pradan,specifically to promote SRI among small and marginal farm households belonging to these SHGs.

Some key components of the project are:w The work took place with the

understanding that governmentsupport will be crucial to the project.

w The use of demonstrations sessions,skilled extension workers and extensionmaterials, workshops and exposurevisits, collective planning, shared

learning and intensive reviews, peerpressure to perform formed crucialcomponents.

w Constant hand-holding and timelytechnical support.

The results showed in the figures for 2008kharif. Six thousand one hundred sixhouseholds started SRI in about 2,080 acresof land. The average yield in Gaya wasrecorded as 8.9 tonnes/ha (for a sample of103 households) whereas in Nalanda it was7.3 tonnes/ha (for a sample of 25households). The strategy followed by theGaya team was a phenomenal success sinceSRI was initiated here as a pilot project in 2007 kharif with only 128 households in75 acres.


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CHALLENGES Weedersw SRI fields are characterized by large

number of weeds because the fieldshold relatively less water than intraditional transplanted paddy fields.Timely weeding, therefore, is anecessity. In Pradan locations, weederavailability remains a crucial problem.Often 15 to 20 households have oneweeder at their disposal and as suchhave to do manual weeding, whichtakes considerable time.

w Weeders do not work in all kinds ofsoils.

w Locally manufactured weeders areheavy to operate for the women, whoare traditionally allotted the task ofweeding.

Availability of Organic Manure w SRI needs high replenishment of soil

nutrients because the intake is veryhigh.

w Non-availability of organic manure is aproblem.

w Some farmers are apprehensive aboutusing chemical fertilizers.

w Lack of a working supply chain modelfor timely availability of inputs.

Land Husbandry and Irrigationw Promoting SRI in an undulating terrain

is often contingent on levelling the landin addition to bunding because it isdifficult for a small household to levelits own land.

w Different types of land pose constraintsto taking up SRI.


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w Most of Pradan locations undertakingSRI fall under the rainfed areas. AlthoughSRI crops are resistant to dry spells, it hasbeen noted that minor irrigation facilitiessuch as wells and ponds prove beneficial.

Partnering with the Governmentw Government participation in promoting

SRI is mostly limited to some fertilizerand seed subsidies to first time farmers.

w Until date, very little has been done bygovernment agricultural departments to replicate the SRI experience in non-Pradan locations.

COURSE OF ACTION NEEDEDw There is an urgent need to integrate

land husbandry activities with theNREGS scheme.

w Government initiative and participationshould increase. There are several waysby which the government can providea boost to promote improved ways ofpaddy cultivation. These include: o Helping farmers to create minor

irrigation facilities. o Supporting farmers by providing

fertilizers and seed subsidies during the initial years (through government departments such as ATMA).

o Helping farmers in land husbandry (such as levelling and bunding).

o Watershed activities through government programmes such as NREGS.

o Using existing government infrastructure to penetrate new areas with SRI technology can also be a successful strategy.

w Use of research and technology toovercome technical difficulties such aseffective and efficient weeders.

FINDINGS, CHALLENGES AND FUTURE STRATEGIESPradan, in its journey to meet the objectiveof ensuring sustainable development to theunderprivileged, resource-crunched sectionsof the society through farm and non-farmactivities, is constantly learning andimproving. Given below are the compiledinsights gathered from case studiesconducted at various locations (Orissa, Bihar,West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, andJharkhand) that are trying to promote SRIthrough Pradan’s support.

EXPERIENCESAmong the initial hurdles noted by the fieldpersonnel, ‘belief’ in the veracity of a newtechnology (especially in the distancebetween the hills and transplanting oneseedling per hill) was most prominent. Even after exposure visits to standing cropsand the cultivation procedure, farmers initiallytend to believe that the SRI process will takemore time and care. For a household to takeup more land under SRI can be difficultbecause the process requires adhering totimely transplantation, water management,weeding and fertilizer application, andrequires more care when preparing thenursery and monitoring the entire process. Inspite of working closely with the departments,government initiation and participation stilltakes time to be more pro-active. The difficultterrain, migration and lack of financialsupport add to the challenges.


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Government initiative andparticipation should increase. There are several ways by whichthe government can rovide aboost to promote improved ways of paddy cultivation.

AREAS OF CONCERN AND FUTURE STRATEGIESSupply of Inputs Timely availability offertilizer and pesticides remains a problem. Toaddress this:w The future plan is to supply the inputs

through the SHGs by way of a packagew Among the practices to be introduced,

the Pradan team plans to shift towardsusing more organic fertilizers asopposed to chemical fertilizers. Theseinclude vermi-compost, and a mixtureprepared from cow dung, cow urine,jaggery and three types of leaf (arak,karanj and neem)

w Partnership with governmentdepartments could prove to be ofimmense scope in the proper taking upof this technology

Availability of weeders: The quality andavailability of weeders remain major

hindrances. Whereas the Kono weeder iscostly, weeders made locally, resembling theJapanese paddy weeder, have severe qualityissues. More often than not, the teeth arebroken and rusted, angles are not madeproperly and the weeder is very heavy.Pradan is encouraging and helping SHGs topurchase weeders from the sales centre of theagriculture departments (at Rs 720).

Dropouts: In some areas, it was observedthat there was considerable number ofdropouts over the years. Inadequate monitoringby staff especially during the planning phase,involving close interaction with the SHGgroups could be possible reason. Stringentmonitoring and addressing the problems ofthe people involved in SRI on priority basiswould help in addressing the problem.

Migration and transportation: In someareas, migrant farmers come back to their


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native place only during the kharifseason because it is the peak timefor agriculture. Therefore,promotion of SRI to these ‘new’farmers through demonstrationsbecomes a problem. Sometimes thelandholdings are scattered, leadingto problems during transplantationof the seedlings from nursery tofield.

Low cost irrigation systems andfunding constraints: Although SRIhas drought resistant crops,prolonged dry spells lead to lowyields in some of the areas.Therefore, the future plans are: w To promote low-cost irrigation

structures, which the team isplanning

w To organize the farmers into acollective to coordinate farmactivities

w To extensively promote thepractice of green manuringand composting to preventsoil nutrient depletion

Promoting land husbandryactivities through availablegovernment schemes such asNREGS: In many areas, this has been one ofthe prime concerns. Tying up with thegovernment to bring the benefits of thevarious schemes to the beneficiaries in asystematic manner is to be worked upon.Apart from this, the team plans to developagri-horticulture cooperatives to facilitatesmooth supply of inputs to SRI farmers.

POLICY PERSPECTIVESThe National Food Security Mission (NFSM)was launched in 2007-08 as a centrallysponsored scheme to increase production and

productivity of rice, wheat and pulses on asustainable basis to ensure food security. The focus is on the districts with highpotential but low levels of productivity atpresent. At the district level, NFSM isimplemented through ATMA, with fundsfrom the designated state-level agency. Forenhancing paddy productivity under NFSM,first-time farmers can be reached with animproved package of practices with anassistance of Rs 2,500 (towards seed,fertilizers, plant protection chemicals, etc.) per demonstration. For a demonstration


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of SRI technology under NFSM, an assistanceof Rs 3,000 is allotted for a plot of 0.4 ha. The total target area for SRI is set at 5 millionha, about 12 per cent of the area under riceproduction.

Although NFSM has tried to incorporate in itspolicies the factors that would help inpromotion of SRI, there are areas that needurgent attention and remediation.w The intervention guideline in NFSM for

SRI notes, “SRI demonstration will beconducted under upland conditions on the fields of progressive farmershaving assured irrigation facilities.” As for kharif 2008, Pradan has successfullyintroduced SRI under rainfed conditionsto around 20,000 farmers in 20 districtsfrom eight states. It is therefore crucialfor NFSM to recognize the potential ofSRI under rainfed conditions. Severalprocess components of SRI can workwell under rainfed conditions and givean average yield of 4-8 tonnes/ha,much higher than the national averageof 2.1 tonnes/ha.

w Pradan’s experience of promoting an improved technology such as SRI in agriculturally backward districts of several states such as Jharkhand andMP needs to be taken into account.

w The benefits of a simple processinnovation such as SRI need not belimited to ‘progressive farmers’ or only‘under upland conditions with assuredirrigation’. Various governmentdepartments can boost SRI activities: o By creating minor irrigation

facilities o Providing fertilizer and seed

subsidies during the initial years (through schemes from ATMA)

o Helping in land husbandry (such as levelling and bunding) and watershed activities through programmes such as NREGS.

In addition to the experiences that SRI has performed well under rainfedconditions, there are several otherencouraging aspects: w In retrospect, most farmers have

understood the benefits of higher yieldand cost savings involved. The majorinitial hurdle, therefore, is to make newfarmers take up this technology thatsounds ‘too good to be true’. Thesolution to this has been intensiveexposure and input subsidies during theinitial years.

w One noteworthy learning from thefarmer’s perspective is that SRI processrequires more ‘care’ and is, therefore,most suited for small and marginalfarms. The challenge is to help farmersexpand SRI into large farms, whichoften hire wage laborers fortransplantation.

w On the equipment side, the availabilityand quality of weeders remains a majorbottleneck to SRI expansion.

w Experience also shows that handholdingtechnical support to SRI farmers for 2-3cropping seasons is essential to checkdropouts and dilution of the processcomponents.

w The lack of availability of organicfertilizers to replenish soil nutrients isanother area of concern.

The massive work of bringing the long-termand sustainable benefits to the peopleneedspolicies and interventions supportingand complementing each other.


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SRI: Steps Followed in Rainfed Kharif

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Pradan has been promoting SRI in eight statesof central and eastern India since 2003. SRIprocess can be broadly classified into fourcomponents – land selection and landpreparation, seed selection and seedtreatment, nursery bed preparation, andtransplantation. Within these fourcomponents there are input relatedrequirements like seed rate, fertilizer andpesticide application, and care relatedcomponents like weeding and hoeing.

LAND SELECTION AND LANDPREPARATIONSRI under rainfed conditions is mostly taken up in medium uplands and mediumlowlands. As alternative wetting and drying isnot possible under rainfed conditions,normally a shallow film of water is maintainedin the field. But in case of excess rains, it would be necessary to drain out the excess water, which is possible in the mediumand uplands. Since lowlands remainsubmerged during the rainy season, SRI may not produce the best results. After landis selected it is ploughed twice before theonset of monsoon.

SEED SELECTION AND SEED TREATMENTMedium uplands dry up as the monsoonrecedes by October, as such, the paddyshould be ripened by end of October (therough cropping duration being 120 days,from July to October). Thus short termvarieties of duration 90-120 days are selectedfor the Kharif season. The varieties include1001, lalat, IR64, swarna masuri (longerduration 130-140 days variety), super rice,etc. Seed rate in SRI is considerably lowerthan other processes: to prepare a nursery to

transplant in a hectare of land only 5 kg ofseed is required. However, to cover for anypossible losses one may use 20 percent moreseeds, i.e. 6 kg.

The first step of the seed treatment is thebrine water test. An egg is placed into abucket of water and common salt is mixed tillthe egg floats on the surface. Seeds are thensoaked in the bucket. The chaffy grains whichwould not germinate float on the surface ofwater and are removed. The seeds from thebottom of the solution are then removed andwashed twice thoroughly in fresh water toremove any remaining salts. The soakedseeds are then mixed with 10 grams ofCarbendazim (e.g. Bavistin 50WP). After theCarbendazim treatment the seeds are placedinside a moist jute bag for 24 hours. The bagis kept in a shady place and under coveredcondition so that the seeds can get adequatewarmth to facilitate germination. To facilitategermination optimum moisture has to bemaintained inside the sack. This could bemanaged by sprinkling water time to time.The condition of the seeds is checked twicedaily (to prevent over growth of sprouts) and when the sprouts appear it is the righttime to sow.

NURSERY BED PREPARATIONThe nursery plot is ploughed 2-3 times duringthe summer. With the arrival and settling ofmonsoons another 2-3 ploughing is requiredalong with the removal of weeds. The plothas to be puddled and before leveling DAP(0.75 kg) and MOP (0.5 kg) is broadcastedinto the soil. However, in quality soil withorganic matter as in low lands, there is noneed to apply fertilizers.

To transplant in a hectare of land, the nurseryarea is split into 10 small plots of 100 squarefeet (20 ft in length and 5 ft in width) each.Around each plot 1.5 ft wide and 6-9 inchesdeep drainage channels are prepared. Forraising the nursery bed to sow 5 kg of seedsan area of 1000 sq ft is sufficient.

After the germinated seeds are broadcastedinto the nursery plots cow dung is applied ontop in a thin layer. For this purpose, welldecomposed and fine (9 to 12 months old)cow dung without any clods is required. SRIrequires transplantation of young and healthyseedlings. When seedlings are at the twoleaves stage (usually 7-8 days during theKharif season) it is optimum fortransplantation. Since the SRI nursery plotsare considerably smaller than the traditionalones (due to the low seed rate) they can beprepared in a short time as and when themonsoon settles.

Regular monitoring of the nursery bed isrequired after sowing. During the monsoons,there is a chance of water stagnation due toheavy rainfall. The field should ideally haveno stagnant water and has to be kept in moistcondition. If required, water from thedrainage channels can be sprinkled on theplots.

PREPARING THE MAIN FIELDDuring the 7 days period required for theseedlings to get to the two leaves stage in thenursery plot, the main field has to be readiedfor transplantation.

An inch of standing water is sufficient duringthe last ploughing of the main plot. Ideally,

the field has to be well puddled with no standing water after leveling. This would prevent any loss of soil nutrients after applying the basal dose of fertilizers.After the puddling the plot has to be leveledand split by drainage channels. The drainschannels are around each split plot with subdrainage channels after each 20 to 25 feetdistance. A spillway has to be there to drainout the excess water from common channels.This helps in easy management of water. Eachindividual plot is leveled in such a way that it will be slightly concave rather straight. This facilitates uniform draining out of water from the entire field.

To augment soil nutrients compostapplication, made from available bio mass,gives better results. Quality compost likevermin compost or cow dung manure ensuresyield advantages. Application of chemicalfertilizers is also preferred but contributes lessto good soil structure and active microbialcommunities when compared to organicfertilizers.

Generally, to ensure good yields (whenadequate compost is not available), it isadvised to apply 60 quintals of cow dungmanure, 52.5 kg of DAP, 52.5 kg of MOP, and82 kg of urea per acre of land. The compostis applied 7-10 days before the final plough,while the entire DAP and MOP are applied inbasal doses during the final ploughing. Theurea is best applied in 4 equal splits duringweeding and hoeing at an interval of 10 to15 days with the final application during thepanicle initiation stage. Pest and diseasesinfestation in SRI has to be addressed as inlow land paddy.


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TRANSPLANTATIONYoung saplings of 8-15 days are carefullylifted along with soil from the nursery bed tobe transplanted in the main field within 2 hours.Normally, the saplings are scooped from thenursery bed with care and quickly transplantedto ensure minimum damage to the roots.

Single saplings are transplanted in a squaregrid pattern with a distance of 8 to 10 inchesbetween saplings maintained from both sides.One seedling is transplanted per hill insteadof 3-6 done in traditional transplantation toprevent root competition. Wide spacingbetween saplings ensures greater root andcanopy growth and also eases weeding andhoeing operations. To transplant in a line arope of 50-100 feet is required with markersto demarcate the spacing of 8-10 inches onthe rope. The rope can be placed end to endacross the field and single seedlingstransplanted along the markings. This wouldensure equal spacing between every saplingfrom all sides.

WEEDING AND HOEINGSince SRI fields are not submerged in waterweeding becomes an imperative withoutwhich weeds will compete for nutrientsalongside the main crop. Three weeding isrecommended with the first one within 10-12 days of transplantation and thereafter ingaps of 12-15 days before the canopy closes.In SRI process, weeding is done with help ofa mechanical weeder which during operationperforms hoeing as well. This simultaneoushoeing keeps the root zone sufficientlyaerated and helps the roots to remain freshand healthy.

SOIL AND WATER MANAGEMENT In SRI method, soil has to be kept moist butwell-drained and aerated with liberalapplication of organic matter to supportbiological activity. The quality and health ofthe soil is the key to optimum production. Itis advised to have minimum water during thevegetative growth period and only a thinlayer (maximum 1 cm) of water during theripening stage.

Alternatively, the fields can be flooded anddrained (dried) in 3-5 day cycles for betterresults. But this alternate wetting and dryingis contingent on the availability of an assuredirrigation source.

HARVESTINGThe process of harvesting the SRI crop is similar to low land paddy cultivationpractice.

REGULAR MONITORING AND SUPERVISIONAlthough SRI is a simple technologicalinvention, the process is time bound and requires regular monitoring on part of the cultivator. With the onset and settling of monsoon nursery bed has to be prepared.After this main field has to be prepared within a week and transplantation has to done when the saplings are young.Weeding has to be done on specified intervals to achieve best results. The processdemands frequent visits to the field tomonitor water level, soil condition and checkfor possible pest attacks. Treatment of pest attacks in SRI fields is similar to that of low land paddy.


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17

Pradan’s SRI Programme in Bihar: An Impact Assessment

The impact of the SRI methodology in six districts of Bihar, promoted by Pradanwith the support of BRLP, has been positive and effective; what is needed arecontinuing efforts to make it a mass sustainable programme

MANU SINHA

INTRODUCTION The rural livelihoods project titled ‘Bihar Rural Livelihoods Project (Jeevika)’ is beingimplemented by the Government of Bihar through the Bihar Rural LivelihoodsPromotion Society (BRLPS), with financial support from the World Bank. BRLPS,an independent society under Department of Finance, Government of Bihar, hasundertaken a five-year project in six selected districts, namely, Gaya, Nalanda,Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Purnea and Khagaria. The aim of BRLP is to improverural livelihoods by enhancing the social and economic empowerment of the ruralpoor.

Around 70% of the poor families in Bihar are small and marginal farmers. For thesefamilies, the options in agriculture are limited to the production of cereals andpulses for subsistence. Productivity is low, with an average return of Rs 4,500 perha in rainfed conditions, and food security of 3 to 5 months a year.

Efforts to push productivity frontiers need to start with the main staple crop. Kharifpaddy has the largest crop coverage in the state, with a vast majority of farmersgrowing paddy for household consumption. The current productivity level of 2-3tonnes of paddy per ha in Bihar is among the lowest in the country.

Following the action research, BRLPS launched a large-scale intervention based onSRI with a beneficiary base of 2,000 (however, the project could reach out to 6,000families) small and marginal farm households in Gaya and Nalanda districts. Theintervention aimed at building and equipping Community Resource Persons (CRPs)to spearhead the initiatives in the long run and create mechanisms for futureexpansion of practices among a large number of farmers in the adjoining areas.

Given the encouraging results through the SRI methodology and its potential, themethodology has much to contribute to the livelihood and, thereby, to the foodsecurity of the participating families. This mid-term evaluation looks at variousaspects of the intervention to provide inputs for defining future strategies.


Report: Pradan’s SRI Programme in Bihar: An Impact Assessment

RESEARCH DESIGN, OBJECTIVES AND KEY AREAS OF INQUIRYThe research design incorporated thestandard research procedures with anexperiment sample, a control group, definedobjectives, key areas of enquiry, researchinstruments (surveys through questionnaires,in-depth interviews, personal interviews,focused group discussions) and key sourcesof information (target and control households,village resource persons VRPs, implementationteams, SHGs, village organizations, selectedfarmers, government and NGO functionaries),sampling (comprising 300 SRI and 150 SRInon-beneficiaries), analysis and finalconclusion.

The objective of the entire research may beclassified broadly as related to productivity,sustainability, knowledge, perception andimpact of the SRI technology.

FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS The research findings are based on bothqualitative and quantitative data gatheredfrom the seven clusters, and analysed cluster-wise. They were re-grouped under thefollowing headings: 1. Profile of SRI participating families 2. Productivity under SRI3. Impact of SRI4. Sustainability

PROFILE OF THE SRI PARTICIPATING FAMILIES Social and landholding parameters The SRI participating families belong to thesocially and economically marginalizedsections of society. Sixty per cent of thefamilies are OBCs (primarily Yadavs) whereas40% are Scheduled Castes, (including maha-dalits). None of the families belongs tothe Scheduled Tribes category. The analysis

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also revealed that a substantialnumber of families belonging tothe maha-dalit community arestill to adopt the methodologybecause the intervention is justone year old.

Three-fourths of theparticipating families, that is,about 76% are marginalizedfarmers, followed by smallfarmers who constitute 16%,medium farmers are around4%, landless farmers constitute 2% and largefarmers approximately 1% of the totalparticipants. There has been a mixedresponse to the methodology. The landless(sharecroppers) have slowly started showingconfidence in the methodology and intend totake it up properly in the coming years.

Medium and large farmers havestarted taking interest and havestarted understanding the hugepotential of thismethodology.

They are expected to take it upat least on trial basis in thecoming years. Pradan hasdesigned a unique plan, basedon an incentive, for the selectionof beneficiaries. In this scheme,the VRPs are paid a differentialincentive on the number of

farmers belonging to the different sections ofsociety that take up SRI. The participation ofmore underprivileged families ensured moreincentive to the VRPs. This deliverable-basedsystem has not only ensured quality work butalso proper targeting. In terms of inputs also(such as seed, fertilizer and weeder),preference has been given to the marginalizedgroups and members of the SHGs.

Status of irrigationThe land is irrigated through rain, the watersupply by local operators or by water throughcanals. Sixty-three per cent, that is, two-thirdsof the participants, have semi-irrigated landswhereas 37% have irrigated lands. A largenumber of families avail of the supply ofwater through the local operators, whocharge anywhere between Rs 5 to Rs 50 perhour based on the source of power(electricity/diesel). Besides this, there is alsowater available through the canal for a smallpercentage of families paying a nominalcharge of Rs 50 per year.

Type of landThe analysis shows that a majority of thefarmers (approx. 50%) have plain land, whichis considered sui for paddy cultivation. Therest of the farmers have mixed lands.

Given theencouraging results

through the SRImethodology andits potential, themethodology has

much to contributeto the livelihoodand, thereby, to

the food security ofthe participating

families.

Based on SHG membershipThe analysis of data on thisquery revealed a very crucialaspect. To make it sustainable,the design made provisions forthe entire intervention to behanded over to the SHGseventually. However, it wasfound that this approach had a limiting effectbecause most of the primary target familieswere not part of SHGs. Also, it hampered thepromotion of the intervention. So, it wasdecided to do away with this approach. Yet,77% of the participating families have amember (usually a woman) in the SHGs.

PRODUCTIVITY UNDER SRIFactors of production There are several factors of production suchas type of seeds, weeding, seed treatment,irrigation, etc., that affect the productivity ofthe crop.

Type of seed utilized: Almost allthe participating families utilizedthe high yielding variety ofseeds, for example, Rajendra-1Mansuri, Sarju Baman andSonam varieties. The farmersunderstood the seed treatmentaspect thoroughly and 97% of

the farmers treated the seeds before sowing.

Weeding: SRI fields are characterized byweeds. Hence, weeding is required at leasttwice during a crop cycle. The analysis showsthat 72% of farmers did the weeding twice.Nevertheless, the effectiveness of theweeders is a crucial problem. Also farmersfound weeding laborious and difficult in soilswith high clay content.

Irrigation status: SRI methodology does notprescribe a flooded field but continuous


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The SRImethodology has a

much higherproductivity

potential than thetraditional

methodology

moisture in the fields. Of the farmers usingthe SRI methodology for paddy cultivation,56% reported sufficient irrigation, 27%reported partly sufficient and 17%insufficient water for irrigation.

Critical Factors for Productivity This was a very crucial query that came up and gave great insights after analysis. The farmers across the area of study chose irrigation as the most critical factor of productivity and labour and fertilizer as the second. The quality of land and quality ofseeds have been given relatively very littleemphasis in terms of their criticality in addingto the productivity.

Change in Productivity Compared to the Pre-SRI: The averageincrease in productivity of 300 sampled

farmers across the seven clusters comes toabout 65%. The intervention aimed atachieving an incremental yield of 1.25tonnes/ha or 500 kg/acre.

The productivity results in the SRI phase ascompared to the pre-SRI phase with the sameset of farmers revealed the following keyfindings:w About 9% of the families completely

lost their produce. w Twenty-one percent got less

productivity than the traditionalmethods.

w Twenty percent got an increase of lessthan 500 kg/acre over the traditionalmethods.

w The remaining 50% families got morethan 500 kg/acre as incremental yieldover the traditional method.


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Compared to the control:Comparison between theproductivity of SRI participatingfarmers and control farmersshows that the average increasein productivity across the sevenclusters came to about 41%.

The analysis shows that beyondtwo tonnes per acre, the SRImethodology has a much higher productivitypotential than the traditional methodology.

Productivity Trends across Farming Segments Compared to Pre-SRI: Interesting resultswere obtained in this case. In case of both SRIand pre-SRI, there is an increasing trend inproductivity with an increase in land size. Theanalysis shows the average increase inproductivity across the landless farmer is 35%,the marginal farmer is 22%, the small farmeris 111% and the medium farmers is 59%.

Compared to Control: Theanalysis clearly shows an increasein productivity in both controland SRI, with increased size oflandholding. The averageincrease in productivity for thelandless farmer is 31%, themarginal farmer is 6%, the smallfarmer is 53% and the mediumfarmer is 260%.

IMPACT OF SRION VILLAGE SATURATION w A small change was observed in

percentage of land devoted to SRImethodology per participating family.

w The number of families adopting the methodology increased during the first year between 30% and 70% of the total families in these villages as against less than 5% families during the pilot phase.

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The interventionaimed at building

and equipping CRPsto spearhead theinitiatives in the

long run and createmechanisms forfuture expansion

of practices

On food security Most of the families participating in theintervention have taken up the SRImethodology as trial and, hence, only a smallportion of the land was committed to thisintervention. Therefore, the impact on foodsecurity has been differential and varied. Theanalysis shows only a slight increase in thenumber of families in the food securitycategory. The result also got impacted by theloss incurred by the families due to floods anda dry spell during the period. Interestingly,substantial improvement in food security hasbeen witnessed among the farmers (mainlymarginal), who have utilized a major portionof their land for SRI.

On land lease market Impact of SRI Methodology on Share Cropping/Land Leasing: There has notbeen any change as yet in the systems ofsharecropping/land leasing discussed aboveas a result of SRI intervention. The reasonsare as follows:

w The SRI methodology was taken up ona trial basis by most of the beneficiaryfamilies during the last year.

w In the existing systems of land leasing,in most of the areas, there is very littleto negotiate. In general, the regularleaseholders feel that sharing ofproduce would remain the same.

On government and non-government organizations The intervention was started in closecooperation with the governmentfunctionaries. Pradan ensured regular visitsby government officials and functionaries ofnon-governmental organizations. Theseinteractions revealed that the governmentfunctionaries are positive about theintervention and understand the immensepotential of the methodology. Theintervention got encouraging response fromother organizations working in the same field.

Non-SRI farmers: In case of non-SRI farmers,the awareness level about SRI was found tobe low. Forty-four per cent were not awareabout the intervention. Fifty-six per cent ofthe farmers, who were aware, were not ableto try it due to various reasons. Ninety percent of respondents plan to try the method inthe coming season.

Cost-benefit analysisThe cost-benefit analysis undertaken for threecategories of farmers, that is, SRI farmers with inputs, SRI farmers without inputs andnon-SRI farmers are presented in the table.

The detailed cost-benefit analysis shows thatthe returns for SRI farmers are substantiallyhigher as compared to non-SRI farmers. It isalso found that the SRI farmers with inputsalso show better productivity as compared tothe SRI farmers without inputs.


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SUSTAINABILITY Confidence in the methodology The response analysis shows an encouragingtrend, regarding the effectiveness of themethodology. Of the sampled SRIparticipating families, 99% showedconfidence that the methodology will beeffective in the long run.

Capacities of the SRI participating families The response of the participants shows thatonly 30% of them are confident of followingthe methodology without support fromPradan whereas the rest need some supportfrom Pradan to do it. w Seventy-seven per cent of the

participating families had a goodunderstanding about the conceptbehind the SRI methodology.

w Twenty per cent showed averageunderstanding.

w Three per cent had no understandingwith respect to the concept.

Institutional Arrangement w Pradan: The responses of the

participants on the performance ofPradan and the VRPs are quiteencouraging. Ninety-six per cent of theSRI participating families rated the workdone by Pradan as good. Three per cent

rated it as average and 1% as bad. Themajority of the participating familiesappreciated Pradan’s quality of work,commitment, timeliness and equitableand fair distribution of resources. Theyalso appreciated the way they havetargeted the marginalized groups.

w Village Resource Persons: Ninety-oneper cent of the participating familieswere satisfied with the VRPs work and rated them as good. Five per centrated them as average and only 4%rated their work as poor. They havebeen appreciated by the participatingfamilies for their timely, handholdingsupport, regular monitoring and inputsupply.

Input SupplyThe VRPs played a crucial role in input supply.Eighty-five per cent of the input was providedby them. Pradan procured all the inputs thatwere channellized by the VRPs.

Maintenance of Equipment/MachinesEquipment such as weeders were managedby the VRPs across the villages. In most cases,the equipment was stored by the VRP. Insome cases, it was placed with a member ofthe SHG. As there is no user charge on itsutilization, there is no fund for maintenanceof the equipment.


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S. Type Cluster Cost of Price of Profit Margin No. Cultivation Produce (per kattha)

(per kattha) 1 SRI Farmer - With Input Rajgir 260.00 720.00 460.002 SRI Farmer - With Input Dobhi 460.00 840.00 380.003 SRI Farmer - Without Input Kurmama 307.50 640.00 332.504 Non- SRI Farmer Chiro 446.50 600.00 153.505 Non- SRI Farmer Jhikatiya 307.00 560.00 253.00

TABLECOST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS

However, village organizations are in the process of being formed across thesampled villages; the members were quiteagreeable to the idea of transferring theequipment to the SHG or to the villageorganization. In instances in which theequipment has been transferred to theSHGs/VOs, the agency is yet to take chargeof the same.

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES An analysis of the response shows thefollowing: w Participating families feel that paddy

crop cultivated through the SRImethodology increases the yield.

w It yields more fodder. w It requires less seed. w It is more resistant to drought condition.w Thirty-two per cent feel that the SRI

methodology requires more labourduring transplanting, weeding andharvesting (it requires about three sicklecuts to harvest one plant).

w Sixteen per cent of the participatingfamilies feel that the workload onwomen has increased and 36% feelthat it has reduced.

CONCLUSIONS ANDRECOMMENDATIONS In the two years of project implementation,the first year was devoted to piloting and thesecond year focused on expansion. The

trends and responses from the participantsare encouraging. w Intervention has been successful in

terms of its reception and adoption bythe communities.

w The project has been able to target themarginalized groups in the areaeffectively.

w The impact is visible across the landscape.

However, there is need to take care of certainkey aspects in order to make it a mass andsustainable programme.w Setting up systems at the community

level so that the processes sustain afterthe project withdraws.

w Setting up systems for paying the VRPsand maintenance of equipment.

w Hand-holding by the organization for atleast another two years in the villagescovered.

w Technical support should be available atthe local level for both the existing SRIfarmers and the new SRI farmers.

w VRPs need to be used optimally foreffective and efficient model.

w Support needed regarding irrigation,the most crucial aspect fortheintervention.

These steps will ensure that this efficient andeffective SRI method will become a massprogramme, owned by the people, and withmultiple benefits.


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Case Study: System of Rice Intensification Experience of Tribal Farmers from South Gujarat

26

System of Rice Intensification: Experience of Tribal Farmers from South Gujarat

The strength of SRI lies in the fact that it is not a rigid technical practice but a system of principles that allows for experimentation and adaptation

J.P. TRIPATHI AND JIBRAJ SUTHARIYA

In India, the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is a continually evolving dynamicsystem with new actors entering the system every agricultural season. SRI wasinitially assumed to have originated from research trials at the agriculturaluniversities. Studies have, however, revealed that there is a richer and morecomplex unofficial history of SRI in India that shows a greater involvement of civilsociety groups, who though not successful initially were at the forefront ofexperimentation.

An important feature of SRI in India is that it has no uniform characteristic nor anysingle agency or organization driving it. It has been carried out by both governmentagencies and civil society, with a varying combination of collaboration amongstthem in the regions. In fact, it might even appear that speaking of a national systemof SRI innovation is a misnomer, with each state and region showing very distinctand diverse characteristics. There is no single SRI in India; SRI actually involvesdiverse practices of the basic principles, and farmers and other actors in the systemhave adopted it to mean different things. They have extended it by providingdiverse interpretations, even within the formal scientific establishment. So far therehas been no comprehensive estimate of SRI performance even in a single state.There is a need to view the performance in the context of diverse applications ineach state.

The potential of sustainable production and increased choices for farmers is whatmakes SRI attractive to farmers. Several farmers, who have traditionally beengrowing rice and have conserved traditional varieties, now have in SRI thepossibility of increased yields and greater marketability of their crop, a choice thatwas open to few in recent times. This potential is yet to be tapped but civil societyorganizations such as the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, India (AKRSP I)working in the villages of Dediapada, Umarpada, Songadh and Mandavi talukas(Narmada, Bharuch and Surat districts of Gujarat) have seen in SRI this possibilityof increased choices. Farmers owned and cultivated 151 hectares of land in theselected area. Of the total cultivated area, on an average, 55% is irrigated. Eversince the SRI method of paddy cultivation was introduced to farmers by theimplementing agency, farmers have shown interest in adopting this technique of


27

cultivation. Last year, 53% ofthe total land cultivated in thearea under study wasappropriated for paddy andmore than half of it wasirrigated. Of the total landunder paddy cultivation, nearly33% of the area is using SRItechniques of cultivation.Hence, it is essential tounderstand the impact ofcapacity building and training exercises on therate of adoption of this improved method ofrice cultivation.

An analysis of the cost of cultivation data ofpaddy grown, using the traditional methodand the SRI method, showed that the netreturns earned by farmers using the SRImethod of paddy cultivation were higherthan those earned using conventionalmethods. The average returns per hectare

obtained from paddy cultivatedusing the SRI method is Rs26,830. This is nearly 81%higher than that earned frompaddy cultivated usingtraditional methods (Figure 1).

The average gross returns ofpaddy cultivated using SRImethods varies from Rs 23,093 per hectare earned by

farmers from Songadh to Rs 31,587 perhectare earned by farmers of Umarpadataluka (Figure 1). The percentage increase invalue of gross returns of paddy earned byfarmers of Dediapara using SRI method is67% more than the returns earned byfarmers who stuck to the traditional methodcultivating paddy and the same figure forSongadh taluka is 163% more (Figure 1). Thismeans that the gross output per hectare ofpaddy cultivated using the SRI method seems

Figure 1Average Gross Returns Earned Using SRI and Traditional Methods of Paddy Cultivation

35000

30000Average Gross Returns (Rs/ha)

25000

20000

15000

10000

5000

0Dediapara (%Change = 61.5)

Umarpada (%Change = 157.3)

Mandavi (%Change = 84.5)

Songadh (%Change = 162.9)

Total (% change = 80.7)

Gross Return (Rs./ha.) SRI methodGross Return (Rs./ha.) Traditional methodsGross Return (Rs./ha.) Difference in mean of paddy cultivated, using SRI and traditional methods

Note: Figures in parentheses indicate percentage increase in gross returns from the SRI method of paddy cultivation to the conventional method

The net returnsearned by farmers

using the SRImethod of paddycultivation were

higher than thoseearned usingconventional

methods


28

to be significantly higher compared with thatobtained by cultivating paddy usingconventional techniques of cultivation.

Because paddy is the staple food of this area,farmers preferred to experiment in only asmall portion of their land. The difference inreturns earned by the farmers by cultivatingpaddy using the SRI method as against thatearned by them by cultivating paddy usingconventional methods have motivated themto prefer the SRI method of cultivated paddy.There exists a high potential for increasing thearea under SRI paddy in the future becauseof the above reasons.

The advantage of the SRI not being a rigidtechnological practice but a system ofprinciples that needs adaptation has allowedfor experimentation and adaptation. The

implementing agency had conducted a seriesof training programmes to educate farmersabout different aspects of this new methodof cultivating rice. Detailed analysis showedthat training and awareness programmeshave definitely made a positive impact in modifying the practice of cultivation. Tosome extent, it has helped farmers use thecorrect dose of inputs such as seeds, fertilizersand pesticides. From the earlier discussion, itis apparent that farmers practisetransplantation of seedlings even when they cultivate paddy using conventionalmethods. The SRI method of paddycultivation relies largely on this method ofsowing. Thus, due to their exposure to someof these methods, farmers were able toimplement recommendations given byAKRSP (I) in preparing nursery andtransplanting seedlings easily.


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INTRODUCTION In 2006, People’s Science Institute (PSI) introduced the System of RiceIntensification (SRI) in seven mountain watersheds of Himachal Pradesh (HP) andUttarakhand, to study its potential. The trials involved 40 farmers in 25 villages.The results showed an average increase of about 66 per cent in paddy yield fromthe SRI plots compared to the conventional plots. Inspired by the results obtainedfor the paddy crop in rabi, PSI carried out crop intensification trials on wheat (SWI)at its Niranjanpu farm in 2006. The field trial on research farms gave encouragingresults. More farmers used the methodology in 2007 and were successful in gettinga substantial increase in the yield. Based on the experiences of the last two years,PSI decided to further popularize the technique in the two mountain states in 2008.

In the 2008 rabi season, PSI formulated a practical strategy for promoting the SWItechnique in HP. PSI made a commitment to cover about 500 farmers under SWIin three districts (Bilaspur, Kangra and Sirmour) of Himachal Pradesh. WWF-ICRISAT, Hyderabad, provided the financial assistance for the proposed expansionof the SWI experiment. PSI successfully undertook the SWI programme fromNovember 2008 to May 2009, in which about 470 farmers experimented with theSWI technique in the three selected districts. In all the areas, the farmers haveexpressed immense satisfaction with the results. The perceived benefits are: w Less seed requirement w Less water requirement w High grain and straw yield

OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES PSI aimed at being a support institution for popularizing the SWI technique andpromoting it in the selected villages of HP.

The goal of the programme was to help mountain farmers enhance their food andlivelihood security through the adoption of the SWI technique. The majorobjectives of the proposed programme were to: w Build capacities of farmers in HP to adopt the SWI technique for wheat

cultivationw Build capacities of voluntary organizations in HP by creating a talent pool of

master trainers for promoting SWI

Promoting SWI in the Mountain Farms

Introducing SWI in the mountainous regions of Himachal Pradesh andUttarakhand, PSI has initiated a change from traditional and conventionalmethod of cultivation

w Influence state agricultural policy forpromoting the extension of the SWItechnique

PSI proposed the adoption of the SWImethod of cultivation by 500 farmers in HPand the following important outcomes:w Create a talent pool of five master

trainers from among five voluntaryorganizations and progressive farmers,who will continue to promote SWI inthe future.

w Increase production of organic wheat,with a minimum average grain yield of2.5 tonnes/ha.

w Initiate advocacy with agriculturalextension officers and state governmentto promote in the state and increase theproject’s impact.

PROGRAMME DETAILS PSI conceptualized a two-pronged approach.w To enroll 500 farmers of about 64

villages in training workshops on theSWI technique.

w Initiate advocacy with farmers and thestate so that the application takes offacross the entire region.

PSI commenced its programme activities byselecting five partner organizations (POs) inthree districts of HP. These included Societyfor Environment and Rural Awakening (ERA),Chinmaya Organization for RuralDevelopment (CORD), Gramin Seva Ashram(GSA) in Kangra district; Social AwarenessThrough Human Involvement (SATHI) inSirmour district and Manvav Vikas Sansthan(MVS) in Bilaspur district. Each PO deputedone person as Master Trainer, who wasexclusively dedicated to the SWI promotionprogramme.

PSI and its partners organized 32 one-dayfarmers’ orientation workshops, focusing oninforming and educating the farmers in theprocedures of the SWI method.

Field support activities started in mid-November 2008 to provide support to the


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SWI farming communitiesduring the various stages ofwheat cultivation. The PSI staffalong with the Master Trainersextended field support to theSWI farmers of the selectedvillages, right up to theharvesting stage in April-May2009. Four hundred sixty-eightfarmers finally adopted SWI in8.64 ha of farmlands.

Information regarding the SWItechnique was provided in thesix-monthly newslettersproduced by PSI, which is alsocurrently preparing a manual on SWI (inHindi), based on the demonstrations andexperiences of SWI farmers.

The following steps are being taken forextension and policy advocacy: w Linkage with other institutes:

Throughout the course of theprogramme, PSI has ensured theinvolvement of the district- and block-level government officials from variousdepartments as well as institutionsconducting research on wheat. Selectedrepresentatives from these institutionswere also included as members of theProgramme Advisory Committee.

w Experience-sharing workshops:During the harvesting phase of thewheat crop, PSI encouraged its partnersto organize field visits of other farmersto SWI farms to get direct feedbackfrom the SWI farmers. Field trips to SWIfields were also organized on theoccasion to conduct crop-cuttingexercises for data gathering andcomparing the yields by the SWI andconventional methods. The overallanalysis of the results of the crop-

cutting exercises showed thatunder un-irrigated conditions,whereas the non-SWI yieldsstood close to 17 quintals perha, the SWI yields were around33 quintals per ha (averageincrease of 90%). And underirrigated conditions, the SWIyield was about 50 quintals perha as compared to non-SWIyield of around 28 quintals perha (average increase of about82%).

During the harvesting phase ofthe SWI wheat crop, most

farmers expressed satisfaction with theresults. Some of the other benefits perceivedby the SWI farmers include seed saving, lesslodging and high grain quality.

1 gives details of the crop-cutting results ofthe SWI crops, undertaken through differentmethods (direct seed sowing, line sowing andtransplanting at different spacing) underirrigated and unirrigated conditions. w Under irrigated conditions, the results

showed 71 per cent increase in grainyields with 8” x 8” spacing.

w There was a 60 per cent increase ingrain yield with 6” x 6” spacing.

PSI also carried out trials in transplantingsingle wheat saplings with 6” x 6” (9 farmers)and 8” x 8” spacing (5 farmers) underirrigated conditions. The results are veryencouraging, showing 110 per cent and 71per cent increase in grain yields for 6” x 6”spacing and 8” x 8” spacing, respectively.

About 19 farmers undertook the line sowingof seeds at 6” spacing (without maintainingplant-to-plant spacing) under irrigatedconditions. The results from their farms


31

During theharvesting phase of

the SWI wheatcrop, most farmers

expressedsatisfaction with

the results. Some ofthe other benefitsperceived by the

SWI farmers includeseed saving, lesslodging and high

grain quality

showed 68 per cent increase in grain yield(the SWI crop yield was about 47 quintals perha as compared to conventional yield of 28quintals per ha).

PSI undertook a comparative study of inputsrequired, benefits obtained by theconventional and the SWI methods. The datahas generated information regarding seedsavings, water savings, labour requirement,and cost-benefit analysis. w The cost-benefit analysis of the SWI

crop showed that the SWI crop gave farbetter returns to the farmer as comparedto the conventional wheat crop.

w The cost-benefit ratio of the SWI cropis 1:1.8 as compared to 1:1.2 ofconventional broadcasted wheat crop.Analysis of farmers’ level data showed70 per cent saving in seed.

PSI and its partners documented the variousprocesses involved in the implementation of the programme. The documentation and sharing of experiences of the variousactivities have led to adequate learningoutcomes. These outcomes will be taken into account for devising suitable strategies,which will serve as useful inputs for extensionof the SWI technique in future in the entire state.

For its Programme Advisory Committee(PAC), PSI constituted a panel of experts,including members of its senior staff andexperienced persons, and a representativefrom WWF-ICRISAT for regular appraisals ofthe programme. The role of the PAC was toreview the programme through field visitsand meetings with the programme staff.

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED AND LESSONS LEARNT Some of the problems encountered include:w Manual sowing of seed: The manual

sowing of seeds proved to be toolabour intensive. An analysis of the datashowed that this hiked the labour costby about Rs 850 per ha in the case ofSWI. PSI is designing a seed drill,therefore, to reduce the labour input.

w Rainfall Aberration: The lack of rainsunder rainfed conditions resulted inproblems during field preparation,germination of seed, crop growth andoperation of weedier.

w Variation in Adaptability of SWI:There are many variations in theadoption of SWI by farmers in terms of: o The number of seeds sown per hill o The line-to-line and seed-to-

seed spacingo The use of weederso The application of manure


32

Method

Conventional

SWI (8”x8”) 119 Farmers

SWI (6”x6”) 32 Farmers

Conventional

SWI (8”x8”) 256 Faarmers

SWI (6” x6”) 26 Farmers

No. of Tillers/

Plant (Avg.)

2

12

10

2

13

13

70

103

90

84

92

96

6.0

13

14

8.6

11

13

31

62

61

33

66

69

21.6

42.2 (96% increase)

47.7 (121% increase)

36.1

52.3 (45% increase)

57.3 (59% increase)

Average Plant

Height (cm.)

Average Panicle

length (cm)

Average no. of

grains/panicle

Average straw

yield (Q/Ha)

TABLE 1CROP CUTTING RESULTS OF SWI (2009)

Farmers have applied SWI to very small plots(200 sq m on an average). This is mainly dueto the fear of reduced yield through SWI. w Use of Equipment: According to some

farmers, the hand-operated marker andMandava weeder are difficult to handlein dry conditions. The use of a rake isrecommended for weeding underrainfed conditions. PSI has modified thedesign of the Mandava weeder (byreducing the width) for the wheat crop.

w Problem of animals and pests:Farmers reported damage to wheatcrops due to animals such as monkeys,pigs, rats and birds as well as pests. Thisalso resulted in low yield.

Certain specific actions need to beundertaken for effective promotionalactivities on SWI in the state.

Flexibility in Adaptation: When adoptingSWI, there has to be some flexibility in termsof spacing, sowing time, etc.w Initially, the farmers should be couraged

to adopt line sowing instead of thebroadcasting method to reduce theseed rate.

w Thereafter, they can be motivated to adopt 6” x 6” spacing under un-irrigated conditions and 8” x 8”spacing under irrigated conditions.

w Under irrigated conditions, transplantingof wheat saplings can also be done toobtain higher yields.

The following needs to be done to ensureproductivity: w There is need to develop a seed drill and

weeder as per the requirement of SWI.w Farmers should be urged to use rake


33

instead of the Mandava weeder forweeding under rainfed conditions.

w Some of the SWI farmers ignored theregular use of Mandava weeder becausesome farmers found three weedings toolabour intensive in the first year. Farmersshould be urged to use rake instead ofMandava weeder for weeding underrainfed conditions.

w The cost of equipment should be madeaffordable to the farmers and adequateoutlets of seed drill and weeders provided.

w Local fabricators need to be trained formanufacture of equipments in adequatenumbers.

w A cadre of master trainers at the villagelevel needs to be created for mobilizingfarmers to adopt SWI.

w Experienced SWI farmers can take onthe role of village level resource personsin the future.

The total area under SWI is only 8.64 ha for 468 farmers. In the first year, the farmers were reluctant to adopt SWI. Eachfarmer had to be motivated to bring at least0.1 ha of land under SWI. Expansion in othernon-SWI districts in Himachal Pradesh alsoneeds consideration.


34

Several further steps need to be undertaken.These include:w There is a need to come up with a

package of recommendations for thefarmers for different agro-climaticzones of mountains.

w There is need for research institutions tokeep conducting continuous research.

w The performance of transplanted wheatsaplings needs to be further tried underSWI.

w Similarly, applications of SWI ondifferent disease-resistant and high-tillering varieties also need to be tried.

w Non-SWI farmers need exposure to theSWI wheat fields prior to the harvestingof crops as well as during harvesting.This will help in the expansion of areacoverage.

w Officers and scientists from AgricultureDepartments and KVKs need to beexposed to the SWI technique for policyadvocacy. This will help in strengtheningpartnership with the governmentmachinery.

There is need to prepare training material inthe form of manuals and posters on SWI,which will help the Master Trainers to explainthe technique to the farmers.

There is need to formulate a practical strategyto make the technique popular in the mountainstate. The government should develop apolicy for the promotion of SWI in the state.Giving incentives for growing SWI wheat in theform of equipment, manure, organic pesticide,etc., will help in the promotion of SWI.


35

Package of Practices for the System of Wheat Intensification as followed by Pradan in Bihar

36

The System of Wheat Intensification, orSWI, is an adaptation of techniques used inthe System of Rice Intensification (SRI). This

Package of Practices of the System ofWheat Intensification is for 1 acre ofcultivable land.

The procedure for Seed Treatment is asfollows – w Bold seeds are graded out separately

from the purchased lot of improvedseeds using standard sieves

w 10 kg of improved variety wheatseeds is soaked in an earthen pot with20 litres of hot water (at 60o Celcius)

w The seeds which float in the water areremoved

w Vermicompost, Cow Urine, Jaggery ismixed with the seeds (quantity assuggested in the table)

The mixed material is kept for 6 to 8 hoursafter which it is filtered so that solidmaterials along with the seeds and liquidget separated. Fungicide is then mixed with

the solid ingredients and is left for 10 to 12hours. Then the wheat seed germinates.The germinated seeds is then used forsowing in the tilled land.

LAND PREPARATIONThe land is ploughed with a desi plough or power tiller. Compost of 80 qn/acre is mixed where trichoderma is added.It is then covered properly for a day beforeits application in the field. If there are termites in the field, then termicides are applied during land preparation. All the grasses and weeds from the field need to be removed. Proper irrigationchannels are prepared and the field isdivided in to small plots to avoid flood irrigation.

Package of Practices for the System ofWheat Intensification as followed byPradan in Bihar

S.No Items Unit Quantity1 Hot Water(boiled at 60 degree Celsius) litre 202 Wheat Seeds kg 103 Vermicompost kg 54 Cow Urine litre 65 Jaggery kg 46 Bavistin(Fungicide) gm 20

TABLEITEMS REQUIRED FOR SEED TREATMENT

Fertilizers to be used as basal dose DAP-27 kg Potash-13.5 kg

SOWING OF SEEDSSowing of seeds should be done at propermoisture level in the field.

Two seeds are sown in a hillSpacing – 20 cm X 20 cmDepth of sowing – 1 to 1.5 inches

GAP FILLINGThe gap should be filled within 10 days ofsowing of seeds. Similar germinated seedsshould be sown to fill the gaps. Care shouldbe taken to ensure two seeds per hill. Morethan two seeds per hill should be uprootedproperly to facilitate proper growth of theplants.

IRRIGATIONSFirst irrigation should be provided at 15 daysafter sowing so that the sown plots can beweeded by using a spade or SRI weeder at 20days after sowing.

Just before weeding urea is used at 40 kg andvermicompost at 4 quintals should be added.

Second irrigation should be provided at 25days after sowing to ensure second weedingat 30 days after sowing. Again, third irrigationshould be provided at 35 days after sowingto ensure third weeding at 40 days aftersowing. Before the third weeding, 15 kg of

urea and 13 kg of potash should be top-dressed in the field.

The other irrigations should be given at 60 days, 80 days and 100 days aftersowing.


37

Action Research: Sugarcane Intensification System An Innovative Method Developed by Farmers in Medak District

38

INTRODUCTIONSugarcane Intensification System (SIS) is a new methodology developed by Indianfarmers, which is becoming popular in certain states such as Karnataka and AndhraPradesh, mainly in some mandals (sub-districts) of Medak district of AndhraPradesh. This production system is similar to System of Rice Intensification (SRI);some of the early SIS farmers were also practitioners of SRI. Elsewhere in AndhraPradesh, sugarcane-growing practices similar to SIS are followed under the nameof Sugarcane Renewed Intensification, patterned after SRI and with the sameacronym. Other adaptations of SRI concepts and practices to produce other cropstoo are being worked out by farmers and researchers in the state and in the country.

Here, we report on SIS as it has evolved thus far. In the traditional cultivation ofsugarcane, a major cost is the expenditure on planting material. A typical plantingrate is 10 tonnes of cane per hectare, costing around Rs 12,000 per hectare. Whenall costs of production are taken into account (cane transportation, ploughing,making furrows, planting setts, etc.), growing 1 hectare of cane costs about Rs5,00,000 (US$ 1,200). With conventional yields of 60-65 tonnes per hectare, thenet income expected from a hectare of cane at prevailing prices is around Rs 75,000(US$ 1,600), which is not much in return.

Various new methods of cultivation such as the polybag method of nursery raisingand transplanting after 45 days have been tried previously for increasing the yieldbut these methods increased the cost of cultivation without sufficient compensatoryreturns. SIS, on the other hand, is gaining popularity because its combination ofpractices reduces the cost of production whereas, at the same time, increasing theyield by 100 to 300%. This innovation may become of greater interest around theworld because sugarcane is being valued more as a raw material for bio-fuel.

The SIS method’s greatest departure from conventional cane culture is that itrequires less than 1 tonne of cane for planting. This reduces the significant cost

Sugarcane Intensification System:An Innovative Method Developedby Farmers in Medak District

Using the SIS methodology, the farmers in Andhra Pradesh were ableto reduce costs of production and increase the sugarcane yield

V. SHASHI BHUSHAN, NORMAN UPHOFF, K. SURESH AND M. SUDARSHAN REDDY

straightaway by more than 90%.This is possible because SIS canefields are established differently,and the number of plants perhectare grown is greatly reduced.

MATERIALS AND METHODS Demonstrations and experimentshave been conducted onfarmers’ fields and also at theBasanthpur research station to study theimpact of the new methods initiated bycertain progressive farmers in Medak district.The bud-extraction process and the polybagmethod along with the pit method of plantingwere tested in farmers’ fields as well as at theexperimental farm. Planting potato and

watermelon as inter-crops wereevaluated, and farmers reapedexcellent benefit from thesecrops.

SIS was started initially with thetransplanting of fewer youngcane plants from very shortlengths of cane. SIS farmers putsetts just 3-4 inches long (with

just one bud rather than the usual three) intoplastic bags filled with compost. These bagswere kept moist and warm so that vigorousroots and shoots sprouted during the 45 daysbefore the setts were transplanted. Thistiming typically saved farmers the cost ofthree irrigation cycles and one herbicideapplication compared to the conventionalpractice of planting longer setts directly intothe field.

The SIS practice has been evolved to reducethe cost of establishing sugarcane furtherwith more intensive management. Farmersnow remove seed buds from the cane by asimple cutting tool, and grow these buds intoseedlings by planting them separately inplastic trays. Each bud is put into a ‘cup’ filledwith coco or coir pith to which some manuremay be added for nourishing the plants. Sincefarmers can sell the remaining cane after budremoval to a factory for pressing, there isnegligible expense for the cane needed toestablish the crop. Most of the expenditureon seed production goes for labour. In anycase, with either methodology, the amount ofplanting material required is reduced by 90%or more, similar to the SRI practice for rice.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSIn traditional practice, longer canes (10 to 12inches) are set out rather densely. With a spacing of 2–3 ft x 1 ft. around 90,000 to 1,20,000 plants are generated per


39

The SIS method’sgreatest departurefrom conventional

cane culture isthat it requires

less than 1 tonneof cane for

planting

hectare from 30,000 three-budded setts. After 110 to 120 days, there can be3,00,000 plants per hectare. By the time of harvest, the population per hectare isreduced to almost 75,000 millable cane of 1kg due to lack of sunlight and nutrients. Thisindicates the need to maintain more distancebetween rows.

The SIS method involves raising cane plantsgrown from buds in a nursery. This managementmethodology produces very healthyseedlings, which reduces the plants’ mortalityrate and increases the ultimate weight of eachcane grown. Twelve thousand five hundredseed buds are sufficient per hectare.

Transplanting is done at 15 to 30 days at aspacing of 4–6 ft x 2 ft. Plant population isreduced by three-fourths. Tillering is greatly

increased, giving a cane yield of 125 to235 tonnes per hectare compared to60-75 tonnes per hectare in theconventional method. Although thenumber of canes per hectare is less inthe SIS practice, the weight of eachcane increases substantially. When12,500 plants are transplanted underthe SIS practice, these generate at least72,000 plants, each sett producing onan average 6 tillers. The weight of eachcane can be 2.5 to 3 kg. If the weightof each cane is just 2 kg on an average,the area yield will be 144 tonnes per ha.

The added advantages with thesealternative practices are that with alesser number of plants and widerspacing, the need for fertilizers isreduced because fertilizers are utilizedat an optimum level and the pestdamage is less. More healthy growth isobserved in SIS cane. About 40%saving of water is possible because less

irrigation is needed when setts are raised inthe nursery and grown with wider rowspacing. Weed growth is potentially morewith the SIS compared to traditional methodsbecause of the wider spacing. However, thiscan be offset by mulching, which bothsuppresses weeds and reduces soil waterevaporation.

An attractive option for SIS farmers needingto control weeds is to intercrop their canewith wheat, green gram, black gram,potatoes, vegetables or beans. These cashcrops can be harvested within 100 days,giving more income and also reducing weedgrowth by about two-thirds. With leguminousor green-manure crops as intercrops, morenutrients are mobilized from the soil systemto benefit the sugarcane plants, furtherreducing the need for fertilizers.


40

For every hectare planted with theSIS method, there is a saving of up to9.5 tonnes of sugarcane from the 10tonnes of sugarcane used forstandard planting since less than halfa ton of sugarcane is needed to establish enough plants, given theincrease in inter-row and intra-rowspacing. And if buds are extractedand grown in plastic trays, even thissmall amount of cane used as asource of buds can be subsequently sold for sugar crushing. With savingin water and reduced costs forweeding and fertilization, additionalincome from an inter-crop serving asa cover crop, this methodologybecomes very advantageouseconomically for farmers.

In Andhra Pradesh, sugarcane isplanted in around 1,10,000 ha. Justsaving 9 to 9.5 tonnes of cane per haby adopting SIS methods wouldincrease the net cane production by9,90,000 tonnes, worth almost Rs150 million (over US$ 3 million). Thisfinancial gain is in addition to theachievement of higher yield withreduced costs of production andwater saving. The benefits producedfar outweigh any costs of additionallabour and management needed togrow sugarcane in this more intensivemanner.

The agronomic and economic success offarmers cooperating with the research stationhas inspired many others to try the newmethods. Farmers have made their own bud-removing devices locally. The fact that so much cane, otherwise used forreplanting, can be saved has been a bigencouragement to them. Information on the

new methods has been passed on to othersthrough the electronic media, the press, andgovernment-organized farmer awarenessprogrammes called Rytu Chaitanya Yatras.

By organizing field and exposure visits, withthe help of Cane Development Council,training to disseminate skills for thepreparation of nurseries, transplanting, etc.,the method has become popular. The pitmethod of planting was also tried by some


41

farmers after their visits toKarnataka and Maharashtrastates. After the success amongelite farmers was evident,training and awarenessprogrammes have beenorganized to attract morefarmers to these new methods.The sugar industry is furtherassisting with technicalimprovements and by promoting theavailability of plastic trays, bud-removingmachines, polybags, etc.

Farmers see that soil fertility isbuilt up by the application oftrash mulch to conserve water,control weeds and ESB, byinter-cropping with leguminouscrops, and/or by incorporatingthe crop residues into the soil.This strategy of changing themanagement of plants, soil,water and nutrients, paralleling

what is done with the SRI, can thus makelong-term capital improvements in farmers’soil resources.


42

The SIS method’sgreatest departurefrom conventional

cane culture isthat it requires

less than 1 tonneof cane for

planting


43

The designation, System of Mustard Intensification, or SMI, is an afterthought. I foundout only recently that my system of transplanting mustard seedlings with wide spacingis similar to the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) developed in Madagascar some25 years ago and now being used increasingly in India. Both systems, SRI and SMI,depend on low density of crops and seek to utilize the full potentiality of eachplant, rather than on communities of plants as done in high-density planting.

The mustard variety that I use is of medium duration, expressing very high yieldpotential when transplanted with adequate space, good management andappropriate fertilization, etc. In order to distinguish this variety from otherpromising varieties, I have given it the name of Manikya, which means ‘jewel’.

Manikya is a local variety. I first saw this mustard plant in an exhibition held in the year1984, and it impressed me very much. Its siliques (the narrow, elongated seed capsulepeculiar to the mustard family, Cruciferae) were in clusters, and the plant was fullyladen, heavy with the pods. It was awarded the first prize in the competition; I managedto obtain the plant, which contained 150 gm of seed. Thus my journey began.

Its remarkable potential was observed when about a thousand plants weretransplanted in an F1 cabbage field as a catch crop (a fast-growing crop that isgrown simultaneously with, or between successive plantings of a main crop) in theratio of 10:2. The catch crop of Manikya could tolerate and absorb a fertilizer doseas high as 170-70-70 kg NPK per hectare. It showed no symptoms of over-fertilization and reflected this in an unbelievable yield. The spacing was wide, 60 x25 cm. Seedlings about 20 days old were transplanted. The computed yield was35 Q/ha (3.5 t/ha). The year was 1985.

The medium tall Manikya grows to one metre in height and one metre in breadthwhen widely spaced. It is very sturdy and compact and it does not lodge. Thus itis capable of bearing a heavy load of seeds. The leaves are comparatively small andnarrow. Its harvest index is high and the plant type is almost ideal. Branches startat a height of 15-20 cm above the ground when sown and 5-10 cm whentransplanted, and form at an angle of 45o. Branching is profuse, with about 7 to10 branches from the main stem.

The System of Mustard Intensification

Good management, adequate spacing and appropriate fertilization of Manikya,a variety of mustard, has a high-potential yield and proves profitable

PRAVASH CHANDRA SATPATHY

The sown crop takes 100 to 105 days tomature when sown broadcasted; but withalternative management, it matures in 90-95days after transplanting, excluding thenursery period. The siliques come in bunches,each silique about 5 cm long, containingabout 12-15 brown-coloured seeds. Theseeds are rather small as 1,000 seed-weightis 2.13 gm (4,40,000 seeds/1kg). But itcompensates for this very amply with a veryhigh number of siliques, as high as 2,000-3,000 per plant.

A single widely-spaced plant may containmore than 100 gm of seed but in acommunity of 50,000 to 70,000 plants/ha, the average performance remainsbetween 40 and 75 gm/plant. Thisproductivity, however, depends on manyinteracting factors.

As I have mentioned, Manikya responds to heavy fertilization. The application of less than 60 kg N/ha, however, may not show any significant yield advantage. In order to achieve its full potential, a suitablepackage of practices must be followed, which

do/not differ from other high-yieldingvarieties, except that this variety can betransplanted very beneficially. While thisvariety may be sown by broadcasting, as iscommon, to get highest yield, the crop mustbe thinned. This aspect is outside the scopeof this article.

TRANSPLANTING METHOD For one hectare, nursery raising requiresabout 200 gm seed, which contains about80,000 seeds. The seed should be thinly sown@ 8 to 10 gm/m2. The nursery area shouldbe heavily manured, as in the case of raisingcabbage/cauliflower seedlings. Mustardseedlings may be affected by damping-offdisease. So Redomil/Captan should besprayed as a preventive measure. Seedlingsare ready for planting within 15-20 days.It may not be possible to proceed accordingto schedule, of course. There might be somany unforeseen difficulties. To meet sucheventualities, a second nursery may be raisedafter a week’s interval. Seedlings must betransplanted at a tender age, as with SRI,leaving a gap of 15-20 days for the floweringstalks to emerge.

Action Research: The System of Mustard Intensification

44

Seed Dressing: The seed shouldbe soaked for 15 minutes in a10% garlic solution, (10 gmcrushed garlic in 100 ml water),dried in the shade and sown inthe seedbed. This has proved tobe better than the use ofconventional chemicalfungicides.

MANURING ANDFERTILIZATIONTwo to three tonnes of good-qualityFarmyard Manure (FYM)/ha should beadequate. The mustard crop is a heavy feederof boron and sulphur. Usually, 6 kg borax and200-250 kg/ha of super phosphate takes careof the needs of the seed. The potashrequirement is about 20-30 kg/ha. Nitrogen(N) may be applied at 100-120 kg/ha. IfAzotobacter is used as a biofertilizer, the Napplication should not exceed 100 kg N/ha.

Fifty per cent of N and all other fertilizers,including borax, may be broadcasted along with FYM at the time of land preparation.Better still is to apply 50% N (urea coatedwith Nimin for slow release of N isrecommended) with the full dose ofPhosphorous (P) and Potassium (K) at thebottom of the furrow. The remaining 50% Nis to be applied along with the irrigation atthe time of first flowering.

LAND PREPARATIONWe need not go into details oflandpreparation because this is fairlystandard. The land is prepared by means ofpower-tiller/tractor/bullock drawn implements.The soil need not be pulverized. But after land preparation, a country plough and a pair of bullocks is very much needed tofacilitate the layout of plants in a geometricpattern on the field.

After land preparation, the fieldis marked with straight lines 50or 60 cm apart (dependingupon fertility status, age ofseedlings and time of theseason) by means of a countryplough. Nylon threads may beused for the purpose toadvantage. Two womenworkers could manage andguide the threads as in the caseof line-transplanting in rice.

Understanding the purpose leads toinnovation and improvement of technique.

The fields are prepared according to ridge-and-furrow method. The plough is run fairlydeep while making the furrows. Then, insidethe plough furrow, ripened manure (ifinadequately broadcasted) and therecommended quantity of fertilizer mixturecalculated for each metre-length of thefurrow line is added. This is a kind of precisionfarming. Then a plank is run lightly along thefurrow lines in order to partially cover thefertilizers, but leaving still a line of depression.When this is done, the plough is again runalternatively between the furrow spaces. Thisis called skip-furrow method. Finally, furrowsare cut crosswise across the field at properdistances to form irrigation and drainagechannels.

An interesting aspect of this cultivationmethod is the flexibility it gives for farmers interms of schedule. Manikya can be eitherbroadcast or transplanted like paddy; its fullpotential can be achieved either way. InPunjab and in some places in Haryana,varieties known as Govi Sarson and Karan Raiare now being transplanted rather late, evenin the month of December. Farmers transplantabout 40-50 day-old seedlings after rice, andharvest this crop in April. The duration of


45

Both systems, SRIand SMI, dependon low density ofcrops and seek to

utilize the fullpotentiality of eachplant, rather thanon communities ofplants as done in

high-densityplanting

these varieties is 140-145days, getting about 12-14quintals of seed/ha. The winterseason is prolonged there,which is an advantage.

In Orissa, rai (Indian mustard)needs to be sown betweenOctober and mid-Novemberto get good yield. But mostrice fields are not vacated bythis time. Therefore, the timefactor becomes a constraint.However, if the mustard crop can betransplanted late in the year, at a time that isunfavourable for sowing, the scope ofcultivation for this crop is increased. Manikyacan be transplanted successfully up to the endof November; however, the earlier, the better.

TRANSPLANTINGOnce the field is ready, the tender seedlingsare uprooted with care, without injuring theirroots. They may usefully be treated with bio-fertilizers. Then, water is let into the fieldfrom one end, and male/female workersbegin to transplant the seedlings just like riceseedlings. There is only one plant per hill,following the fertilizer line at a distance of 30,35 or 40 cm from plant to plant, according tothe soil situation. The roots should go straightdown into the wet soil, having standing waterin the furrow bottom (but not on the ridges),guided by two fingers to place the rootsdownward and then withdrawing the fingers.Workers should use nylon threads to keep theline straight. This will facilitate mechanicalweeding later on. In a well-prepared field,one person can plant about 1,800 seedlingswithin 6 working hours. So 40-50 personsmay be needed to transplant a one-hectarefield. When transplanting is completed, anyexcess water is let out through the drainagechannels to dry out the field and to avoid

water-logging. So, a properlayout is important. Gap-fillingis not necessary. A plant densityof 40,000 to 80,000/ha,adapted according to differentsituations, is enough. Anaverage yield of 50-70gm/plant may be expected.

IRRIGATIONIn total, three irrigations maybe needed at critical stages,approximately at intervals of

every 20-35 days — at pre-flowering, at fullbloom and pod-formation stages.

PEST ATTACKSowing or transplanting early helps tominimize aphids and saw fly attack. Towardsthe end of January and afterwards, pestattack may be noticed. Then, suitableinsecticides may be sprayed. But there is analternative method. I no longer use highlypoisonous substances to control aphids andother pests because garlic-extract solutionsdo the job efficiently.

This is how the extract is prepared(ingredients/ha): Take garlic cloves (5 kg),kerosene (2 litres) and liquid detergent suchas Sandovit, Genteel, or Teepol (100 ml).Crush and grind the garlic fine, preferably ina grinder, with some water. Press firmly tosqueeze out all the water. Store the garlicwater in a tightly closed bottle. Put thecrushed garlic in a container with just enoughkerosene to cover it. Allow this to standovernight and squeeze out the kerosene oil inthe morning. The kerosene oil contains theactive volatile principles of garlic, which actagainst aphids and other pests. Mix the garlicwater extract solution to it. Add the requiredamount of liquid detergent to the kerosene-garlic extract to make a liquid spray. Usually

Action Research: The System of Mustard Intensification

46

The medium tallManikya grows to

one metre in heightand one metre in

breadth whenwidely spaced. It is

very sturdy andcompact and it doesnot lodge. Thus it iscapable of bearing aheavy load of seeds

30-50 ml of detergent liquid is required perlitre of kerosene oil. This stock solution is tobe diluted by about 200-250 times forspraying. The spent garlic may also bebroadcasted in the mustard field.

DISEASE REACTIONDiseases such as rust, downymildew or alternaria blight havebeen noticed in several years ofcultivation. So the crop mightbe resistant to those diseases.However, seed-dressing with10% garlic extract solution isprobably beneficial.

WEEDINGWeeding at least once is veryhelpful. I use a hand-drawnwheel-hoe quite effectively.There is some merit in the soil-aerating properties of this kindof weeding.

COMPARING METHODS OF CROP ESTABLISHMENTTransplanting the crop ratherthan broadcasting it may seemto be a costlier method of cropestablishment. However, thelabour requirement for sowingand then thinning the croptwice, to remove subsequentlythousands and thousands ofplants, may be more expensive.When transplanting the crop,the plant population may bekept correct with mathematicalprecision, resulting in sometime benefit. As explained earlier,transplanting helps realize thefull potential of individualplants.

Differences in the cost of seed are roughly200-400 gm of seed/ha with transplanting vs6-10 kg of seed required for broadcasting.Two to four selected plants may be grown in asecluded place for seed purposes.


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HARVESTING This must be done at the right time to avoidthe shading of seeds.

COST CONSIDERATIONSThe total cost comes to about Rs 12,000 perha. With a yield of 20 Q/ha, that sells at/ Rs 2,200/Q, the B:C (Benefit and Cost) ratiowould be about 3.5:1, which is quite high.

CONSTRAINTSI have been using the same seed for the last 22 years because I have found no source of foundation seed. I collect seed from the ideal plants by pedigree selection. Of late, I do not find the original vigour

and productivity, so I am at a disadvantage.There are many high-yielding varieties ofmustard released recently. They are all bredfor high-density planting, however. Somevarieties are of the desired plant types. But I have not tried them for fear of cross-pollination of the Manikya mustardvariety.

Sreema Seeds Pvt. Ltd. of Cuttack and NatureSeeds of Balasore have been marketing this variety of mustard for the last 15 years or so. Sreema has published detailedinstruction about cultivation, but I do notknow how many have adopted thetransplanting methods.

Training for Action Research: The System of Mustard Intensification

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Parentage Local selection (Mayurbhanj)Duration - Broadcasted crop 100-105 days maturityDuration - Transplanted crop 85-90 days after transplantingHeight 1 metreBranching Branching is profuse, about 7-10 from the main stemSilique length 4-5 cmSeed content 12-15 seeds/silique100-seed weight 2.13 gmSeed yield (optimum) 25 Q/haHarvest Index 28.2Oil content not verified

CHIEF CHARACTERISTICS

This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Commission. The views expressed herein are those of the writers and can therefore in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Commission or the Aga Khan Foundation.

ACTION RESEARCHSUGARCANE INTENSIFICATION SYSTEM: AN INNOVATIVE METHOD DEVELOPED BY FARMERS IN MEDAK DISTRICTV. Shashi Bhushan, Norman Uphoff, K. Suresh and M. Sudarshan Reddy write that by using the SIS methodology thefarmers in Andhra Pradesh were able to reduce costs of production and increase the sugarcane yield. V. Shashi Bhushan andSudarshan Reddy are with the Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU), Hyderabad, Norman Uphoff is withthe Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development, New York and K. Suresh is with the AgriculturalResearch Station, Medak.

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REPORTPRADAN’S SRI PROGRAMME INBIHAR: AN IMPACT ASSESSMENTManu Sinha reports that the impact ofthe SRI methodology in six districts ofBihar, promoted by Pradan with thesupport of BRLP, has been positive andeffective; what is needed are continuingefforts to make it a mass sustainableprogramme. Manu is an independentconsultant and is based in Bhopal.

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 1

CASE STUDYSYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION: EXPERIENCE OF TRIBAL FARMERS FROM SOUTH GUJARATJ. P. Tripathi and Jibraj Suthariya mention that the strength of SRI lies in the fact that it is not a rigid technicalpractice but a system of principles that allows for experimentation and adaptation. J.P. and Jibraj are with theAKRSPI. J.P. is based in Ahmedabad and Jibraj is based in Netrang.

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ACTION RESEARCHPROMOTING SWI IN THE MOUNTAIN FARMS Introducing SWI in the mountainous regions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, PSI has initiated a changefrom traditional and conventional method of cultivation.

LEAD ARTICLETHE SYSTEM OF RICEINTENSIFICATION (SRI): A PRADAN EXPERIENCE Sayantan Bera states that adoptingSRI in different areas of India whererice is the main agricultural crop hasmultiple advantages, includingensuring food security for familieswith small landholdings. Sayantan isan independent consultant and isbased in Delhi.

ACTION RESEARCHTHE SYSTEM OF MUSTARD INTENSIFICATION Pravash Chandra Satpathy shares that on the lines of the system used for growing rice that originated in Madagascarsome quarter of a century ago, good management, adequate spacing and appropriate fertilization of Manikya, a varietyof mustard, has a high-potential yield and proves profitable. Pravas is based in Mayurbhanj, Orissa.

THE LIVELIHOODS AND DEVELOPMENT MONTHLY

Pradan is a voluntary organistaion registered under the Societies’ Registration Act in Delhi.We work in selected villages in 7 states through small teams based in the field. The focus ofour work is to promote and strengthen livelihoods for the rural poor. It involves organisingthem, enhancing their capabilities, introducing ways to improve their incomes and linkingthem to banks, markets and other economic services. Pradan comprises professionally trainedpeople motivated to use their knowledge and skills to remove poverty by working directly withthe poor. Engrossed in action, we often feel the need to reach out to each other in Pradan aswell as those in the wider development fraternity. NewsReach is one of the ways we seek toaddress this need. It is a forum for sharing our thoughts and a platform to bui ld solidarityand unity of purpose. NewsReach was supported in the past by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust andFord Foundation.

NewsReach is published by the National Resource Centre for Rural Livelihoods housed inthe Pradan Research and Resource Centre. The publication of the NewsReach is beingsupported by the Aga Khan Foundation through the European Commission co-financed SCALEProgramme.

PRADAN, 3 CSC, Niti Bagh, New Delhi 110 049, India Tel/Fax : 001 2651 8619/2651 4651 4582 E-mail: [email protected]

AGA KHAN FOUNDATION

SEPTEMBER 2009 Volume 9 Number 9

NewsReach

Supported by the Aga Khan Foundation through the European Commission co- financed SCALE Programme

Documents

PRADAN, 3 CSC, Niti Bagh, New Delhi 110 049, India Tel/Fax ... · SUGARCANE INTENSIFICATION SYSTEM: AN INNOVATIVE METHOD DEVELOPED BY FARMERS IN MEDAK DISTRICT V. Shashi Bhushan,