SDTT-SRI-PARTNERS MEET 21- 22 MARCH 2014

PRESERVATION AND PROLIFERATION OF RURAL RESOURCES AND NATURE

(PRAN), Gaya, Bihar

RAIPUR, CHHATISGARH

UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES OF PRAN

Topic

1 PRAN Overview

2 Bihar Overview: Target Population

3 System of Root Intensification

4 Technologies developed at PRAN

5 PRAN’s Accomplishments to Date

6 PRAN’s Partnerships: Government, NGO and Private Sector

PRAN

PRAN is a public charitable trust formed under Indian Trust Act 1882

PRAN grew out of PRADAN, Gaya and became an independent rural development organisation in 2012

PRAN HISTORY Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (BLRPS), Patna invited

PRADAN to pilot and scale up SRI-Paddy in Gaya and Nalanda Districts in 2007.

PRADAN, Gaya led by Anil Verma devised prototype for effective scaling up of activity 2007-2009, focusing on low cost and locally staffed organizational design.Successfully piloted SDTT-DBI project in Gaya.

SRI (System of Rice Intensification) became SRI (System of Root Intensification) in Bihar with successful experiments in most of the crops

Based on success of SRI in Gaya and Nalanda districts, 2011 Designated as Official Year of SRI by Government of Bihar

SRI Vidhi (as SRI is known locally) is gaining widespread acceptance amongst farmers (especially marginal farmers) across Bihar.

PRAN formed as an independent NGO out of PRADAN, Gaya in 2012

ATMA (Gaya and Nalanda), and Government of Bihar along with PRADAN and SDTT, Mumbai support PRAN’s Activities

PRAN’S SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

Sir Dorabji Tata Trust

Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN)

Livolink Foundation

Agriculture Technology Management Agency

ITC Ltd.

BIHAR: SOME SOCIOECONOMIC INDICATORS

Population 104 million

Highest levels of poverty in India

In 2010-2011 Lowest Net Domestic

Product in India

26 Million are food insecure (many are

farmers)

Small and marginal farmers account for

93% of all farmers

Women perform majority of farm labor

Average landholding size 3 acres

(significant below 1 acres)

Agriculture employs 75% of the labor

force

PROBLEMS OF SMALL AND MARGINAL FARMERS OF BIHAR

High rates of food insecurity and no cash availability Low productivity of major food security crops (rice, wheat).

• Average rice yield (Gaya): 1.6t/hec

• Average Wheat yield (Gaya):2t/hec

Poor rain-fed and flood affected agriculture Very low Irrigation availability and lack of access to

electricity; high cost of diesel Poor and ineffective market infrastructure Weak agriculture supply chains especially for small and

marginal farmers Poor productivity of vegetable crops and insufficient

processing units Lack of support from government to poor and marginal

farmers (SC and OBC)

Executive Director

Project Supervisor

Project Manager Project Manager

Office Assistant

Accounts Manager

Information Systems Manager

Project Supervisor

Project Supervisor

Technical Resource Team

Skilled Extension Workers

(SEW)

Skilled Extension Workers

(SEW)

Skilled Extension Workers

(SEW)

20 -40 Village Resurce Persons

(VRP)

50 Farmers per VRP

50 Farmers per VRP

50 Farmers per VRP

- Total PRAN Staff: 25- Number of VRPs: 280

20 - 40 Village Resource

Persons (VRP)

20 - 40 Village Resource

Persons (VRP)

Project Leader / Executive

OPERATIONAL DISTRICTS

PROJECT BLOCKS IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS

Gaya Nalanda

Munger

11 Blocks in Gaya, 4 Blocks in Nalanda and 2 BlockS in Munger District

STRATEGIES

Awareness generating in communities Use of audio-visual (SRI film) and flex extension

materials/manuals Campaigning in villages by old experienced SRI

farmers Village meetings by PRAN staff for awareness,

motivation and adoption Associating with Government Extension and

Research Programs ( ATMA, KVK, Research Institutions, etc)

Organizing workshops of various stakeholders: Block, district, State, Agricultural universities and others

Participating in Kisan Melas

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT VILLAGE

RESOURCE PERSONS

The best practiceners identified by

villagers and PRAN are trained

intensively in 3-4 phases including:

Motivational and Capacity Building Training

Technical Skills Learning by doing Repeated Engagement

and long-term partnerships

PRAN’S APPROACH

Pro-poor Incentives to VRPs Weekly review and plan of operations Building on strengths in stakeholders Credit is to be given and not to be taken Collective ownership of successes and failures Giving priority to Emotional Quotient and minimal

importance to Intelligence Quotient Non-Negotiable - Maintaining Integrity at all levels Maintaining 75% motivational and 25% technical Panch S (satya,Samay,Seva,Sanskar and Samanta) and

Panch J (Jal,Jungle,Jameen,Janwar and Jan) (Principles of development in to practice )

ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY THROUGH APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGIES: SYSTEM OF ROOT INTENSIFICATION (SRI)

Low external inputs (seed, fertilizers, water, labor) to make this within reach of resource poor families.

High productivity to provide sufficient food grains to small and marginal farmers

Sustainability (maintaining soil carrying capacity for future generations)

Root is the mouth of the plant – keep that healthy

Enhanced root volume and weight than normal method

Assumptions behind SRI method

(different from green revolution in

the country)

PRINCIPLES OF SRI

1. Priming of seeds & planting material

2. Young age seedlings/sprouted seeds

3. Wider spacing

4. Single/Few/ seedlings/seeds

5. Use of Integrated Nutrient /organic/natural fertilizers

6. No standing water in field; keep soil moist

7. Interculture with weeders to aerate soil and improve root health

8. Surface sowing/transplanting

9. Providing space(pit) for roots to grow to maximum potential

10. Nutritional and microbial security to rhizosphere

11. Organic relationship of human with trees and plants

12. Emotional relationship of practiceners with the growth stages of crops

SRI ACTIVITIES PREVIOUS KHARIF

ADDITIONAL FOOD SECURITY DAYS THROUGH SRI-PADDY

FARMERS IN THEIR SRI-RAPESEED PLOT

IMPACT OF SRI IN FOOD-GRAINS AND OILSEEDSAchieving Food Security: Marginal and poor families adopting SRI in Paddy and wheat are getting secured food-grains.Earning Cash Income for Improved Livelihood Security: The families adopting SRI in Paddy, Wheat and oilseed ,Vegetables are getting surplus cash.

A WOMAN WITH HER SRI VIDHI VICIA FABA

SRI VIDHI-WHEAT (LEFT WITH HAND AND RIGHT WITH SEED DRILL)

PERCEPTION OF FARMERS ON YIELD ENHANCEMENT

1. SRI Paddy enhancement by 100%

2. SRI Wheat enhancement by 50%

3. SRI Green gram enhancement by 50%

4. SRI- Tomato-Yield enhancement by 55%

5. SRI-Chili-Yield enhancement by 22%

6. SRI-Brinjal-Yield enhancement by 45%

7. SRI-EFY-Yield enhancement by 80%

8. SRI-Sugarcane-Yield enhancement by 85%

9. SRI-Rapeseed-Yield enhancement by 150%

SRI ACTIVITIES PREVIOUS KHARIF

PRAN IS PILOTING SRI-ELEPHANT FOOT YAM (OL) WITH MARGINAL FARMERS IN GAYA

First Sri-Elephant Foot Yam crop in 2012

Yield: 102.3 tons/ha under SRI vs. 25 tons/ha farmers practice

Market price 10 RS/kg plus long storage capabilities to ensure good market price

2013: 79 Farmers planted Elephant Foot Yam

2014: Plan with 200 Families

Nursery Preparation

Big pits for intensification

High growth of shoot and girth High

Yield

PRAN FARMERS HIGHLIGHT “SRI VIDHI” IN GANDHI MAIDAN, GAYA ON REPUBLIC DAY EVERY YEAR

VILLAGE RESOURCE PERSONS (VRPS) AND SMALL AND MARGINAL FARMERS PARTICIPATING IN JHANKI. ALL WEAR

YELLOW SARI AS COLOR OF SRI VIDHI.

TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPED AND PRACTICED AT PRAN PROJECT

1. SRI-implements: 3 –in-1 SRI dry weeder

2. Work on generations of SRI-Wheat seed drill

3. Tool for easy spacing used in SRI transplantation

4. Fertilizer (made by us and practiced by farmers): Sripranamrit

5. Bio-pesticide (made by farmers ) we learnt this from Subhash Palekar

6. Locally manufactured sugarcane eye extractor after procuring from N.Delhi

PRAN works in conjunction with partners(blacksmiths,company) to develop technologies appropriate for marginal farmers in Bihar.

EXAMPLES: PRAN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

Local Fertilizer and Bio-Pesticide Production

3—in—1 SRI vidhi Weeder Tool for Spacing SRI Paddy

SRI-Sugarcane Eye extractor

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT: SRI –SEED DRILL

PRAN is thrilled that after several generations of experimenting with SRI-wheat direct seeders, a highly functional and low cost seeder was finally

completed in December 2013 by Kolkata based company Agro Vison. This wheat-seeder significantly decreases the labor involved in SRI-wheat.

4th Generation SRI-Wheat Seeder:80% Satisfaction Level

5th Generation SRI-Wheat Seeder: PRAN satisfied withthis version and will promote amongst farmers. Already Received 30 at cost of Rs 4,000/-per machine

LOCAL FUNGICIDES

LOCAL PESTICIDE

LOCAL MANURES

ADOPTION OF SRI-PADDY WITH PRAN

2009-10

2010- 11

2011- 12

2012- 13

2013- 14

05000

1000015000200002500030000

No. Of Famil-iesAcre

Year 2009-10 (Drought Year)

2010-11 (Drought Year)

2011-12Irregular rainfall

2012-13Rainfall in August

2013-14Drought Year

Families5,994 5,217 18,764 26,142

10,249 (vs15,000 plan)

Percentage Growth from Pervious Year in Number of Families

N/A -12.96% 259.67% 39.32% - 60.79%

Acres 761 650 3,140.49 6,921.4 3349

Acres per Family 0.13 0.12 0.17 0.260.33 (vs0.30

planned)Average Yield 7 t/ha 6 t/ha 6 t/ha 6.5 t/ha 5.7 t/ha

PROGRESS OF RABI SRI CROPS

SRI CROP

NO. OF FAMILIES IN 2012-13

AREA IN ACRE IN 2012-13

Acreage/farmer in 2012-13

NO. OF FAMILIES IN 2013-14

AREA IN ACRE IN 2013-14

Acreage/farmer in 2013-14

SRI-Wheat 7,368 782.9

8 0.11 5268 709.80

0.13

SRI-Rapeseed 3,205 336.2

1 0.10 1559 172.53

0.11

SRI-Vegetables 586 35 0.06 2212 137.4

50.06

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000Family 2012-13

Area 2012-13

Family 2013-14

Area 2013-14

SRI Other Crops Acreage 0.10 vs planned 0.15 per family

TRAINING DETAILS

Training Head Planned Training Days

Achieved Till Now

Farmer Training 15000 3862

Adoption of NPM 300 527

Exposure 1000 108

VRP Training (New) 200 140

VRP Training (Old) 50 70

Planning Period is September 2013 – August 2014

PRAN COLLABORATION WITH GOVERNMENT

Through Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society (BLRPS) in all project districts

Declared 2011 as SRI year Demonstration of SRI-Paddy in 3.5 lakh hectare and SRI-wheat

in 2.4 lakh hectare Bihar got Krishi Karman Award for highest ever production of

Paddy in state Women farmers were used by government to share their

experiences and demonstrations in all 38 districts After introduction of SRI Bihar produced 84lakh tonnes of

Paddy against previous highest production of 58 lakh tonnes. In 2013-14 7.5 lakh farmers practiced SRI in Bihar In 2014-15 declared SRI as culture of Bihar.Government has a

plan to promote SRI in 20 lakh acres.Distributing inputs for 5 lakh acre towards demonstration.

PRAN has a plan to inaugurate a SRI-Museum in Gaya

PRAN FARMERS GOT AWARD AT NATIONAL LEVEL

SRI farmers got award from president and agriculture minister, Government of India

Santosh Kumar got award from Sri Sharad Pawar (July2013)while Jayjeet Kumar got award and a cash prize of Rs 50000/- from Sri Narendra Modi.(Sept 2013)

PD, Deputy PD ATMA, District consultant, Department of Agriculture and block level officials involved in yield estimation

LIVOLINK FOUNDATION-PRAN UNDERTAKING RESEARCHES ON SRI

• A farmer from Gaya has been helping scientists at Indian Agriculture Research Institute, New Delhi (IARI) to experiment SRI-Paddy and Wheat since 3 years .

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Patna (ICAR) is also getting good results in wheat and Paddy

• Wheat Research Institute, Karnal (WRI), and Directorate of Rapeseed-Mustard, Bharatpur asked for Package of Practices of SRI-crops

DEPUTY DIRECTOR, AGRICULTURE ASSESING THE SRI RESEARCH PLOT IN GAYA

ASPECT-1

Number of plants per hill X Age of seedlings

5Treatments and 4 Replications

T1-16days old single seedling at 25cmX25cmT2-16 days 2 seedlings at 25cmX25cmT3-22 days old single seedling at 25 cmX25cmT4-22 daysold 2 seedlings at 25 cmX25 cmT5-10 days old single seedling at 25cmX25cm

LEARNINGS GENERATED FROM ASPECT-1 Among all treatments T5 provided the maximum yield while T3 gave

the minimum yield .T2,T1 and T4 provided yields in between. The number of tillering were maximum in T2 while minimum in T3. The average length of panicle were maximum in T5 while minimum

in T4 The average number of grains per panicle was maximum in T5 while

minimum in T3. The average plant height was maximum in T1 while minimum in T3.

Conclusion based on Aspect 1-T5 gave the best yield and confirmed our belief to transplant

seedlings at 10 days.Single seedling at the age of 10 days may be suitable for

transplanting.

ASPECT-2

Contribution of each aspect on crop yield6 treatments X4 replicationsT1-12 days single seedling, spacing 25cmX25cm and Manual weeding.

T2-12 days 3 seedlings,spacing 25cmX25cm and manual weeding

T3-12 days single seedling,Spacing 15cmX20cm and mechanical weeding

T4-25 days single seedling,spacing 25cmX25cm and mechanical weeding

T5-12 days one seedling ,Spacing 25cmX25cm and manual weeding

T6-25 days 3 seedlings,spacing 15 cmX 20 cm and manual weeding

LEARNINGS FROM ASPECT-2

T3 gave the maximum yield while T4 provided the minimum and others in between

The maximum tillering took place in T2 while minimum in T4.

The maximum length of panicle is in T1 and minimum in T6.

The maximum number of grains per panicle was in T1 and minimum in T6.

The maximum height of plant was in T4 while minimum in T2.

The number of plants per sqm was maximum in T3 and minimum in T4.

Conclusion based on this trial:T3 was better as compared to others

ASPECT-3

Age of seedlings X Spacing T1-16 days seedlings,spacing 25cmX25cm,two

seedlings T2-16 days seedlings,spacing 20cmX20cm,two

seedlings T3-22 days seedlings,spacing 25cmX25cm,two

seedlings T4-22 days seedlings, spacing 20cmX20cm,two

seedlings T5-10 days seedlings,spacing 25cmX25cm,single

seedling

LEARNINGS FOR ASPECT-3

T5 gave maximum yield while T1 provided the minimum. The number of tillering was maximum in T2 while minimum in T3. The average maximum height of plant was in T4 while minimum in

T2. The length of the panicle was maximum in T5while minimum in T3. The number of grains per panicle was highest in T5 while minimum

in T3. The average number of plants per sqm was maximum in T2 while

minimum in T3.

Concusion based on this trial:T5 gave maximum yield as length of pancile and number of grains were more to others.

PRAN, JAIN IRRIGATION SYSTEMS LTD. & HARVARD UNIVERSITY COLLABORATION(A PILOT PROJECT)

ANU-DEVI SHOWS COLLECTIVE ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Solar Powered Pump Provided By JAIN Irrigation

JAIN Irrigation Staff learn from PRAN Farmers, including VP Agronomy Dr. Soman

2013 Piloted scheme to bring solar powered irrigation and drip irrigation to seven farmers in Rajapur Village, Gaya district Bihar

1 solar powered pump and drip irrigation facilities provided by JAIN Irrigation Systems Ltd.

Farmer collective manages solar pump and drip system– collecting Rs 20/-per hour to pay for future repairs

If successful, opportunities to scale this model under consideration with support from JAIN and Harvard University

Farmers signing collective agreement

DRIP IRRIGATION WITH FARMERS

CHALLENGES

Draught every alternate year Low literacy

VISITORS

Agricultural scientists from Israiel,IFRI and Harvard

Journalists from Germany and Austria Agronomists from University of Sussex Joint Secretary,NFSM ICAR scientists Local officials/Vice chancellor,Nalanda

International University

Year1 Year2 Year3

Old farmers

12000(Y2) 12000(Y3)3000(Y2)

3000(Y3)5000(Y2)

New farmers

3000(Y1) 5000(Y1) 5000(Y1)

Old(Continuing on their own)

0 0 12000(Y4)

Total 15000 20000 25000

SRI-Other crops-10,000 hh District level workshops- 2

(Gaya, Nalanda) State level workshop-1 SRI Vidhi Cluster Adhivesan-21 Farmers Training-30000 trainee

days VRP training to farmers-200 Low cost Vermicomposting-

400(50 new)units Demonstration of +ve

experience of Local Fertilisers and pesticides among 500hh

Exposure and Awareness on SRI-3000 hh

PRAN’S PLAN FOR 2014-2015Coverage:20000 families during kharif and 10000 families during rabi and summer

Plan for SRI Paddy Plan for SRI Other Crops

THANK YOU....