Original hindu article.
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/modified-paddy-cultivation-method-seems-to-hold-better-promise/article5986195.ece
Rice, a major crop in Andhra Pradesh, is cultivated
using water from borewells, tanks or open wells. Since the crop grows in
standing water ground water depletion is usually high especially during
summer.
In addition to the water shortage,
non-availability of labour on time is also increasing the cost of
production, forcing farmers to give up rice cultivation citing low
productivity and high labour costs as reasons.
Different approach
A
different look at newer production methods that are relatively cost
effective and use water more productively becomes imperative against the
backdrop of the deepening water crisis and dwindling productivity under
the inundation method of rice cultivation.
SRI
(systematic rice intensification) is a proven methodology for
comprehensively managing resources — changing the way land, seeds,
water, nutrients and human labour are used.
“But in
present times even SRI has some practical problems. The cono weeder
which is an important tool in the cultivation practices is too heavy for
pulling in the fields by the farmers. The other problem area is
transplanting the seedlings from the nursery to the main field, which is
quite labour intensive. With these in mind the Rashtiya Seva Samithi
(Rass) — Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Chittoor district has slightly modified
the practices using a fibre-bodied 8-rowed paddy seeder (drum seeder)
for sowing the seeds and modified the weeder in such a way that it runs
between the space in (20 cm) between the two paddy rows,” says Mr.
C.Manohar, Programme Coordinator at the institute.
With
the assistance of NABARD the institute organised capacity building
activities like training programmes on modified practices to create
awareness and motivate farmers to adopt the technology.
Field visits
Exposure
visits and field days were organised to showcase the performance of the
technology and finally to disseminate the same among the farming
communities in different parts of the district.
“About
60 eight-rowed paddy seeders and 300 conoweeders were purchased and
kept in the homes of master trainers in the villages and at the office
of the agricultural officer. Farmers who wanted to take up this
cultivation could contact the agricultural officer or facilitator for
the drum seeder and weeder and return them after completion,” says Mr.
Manohar.
“Timely availability of the drum seeders and
weeders are an important step in this practice. Farmers should be able
to source the machines on time. That is why we have ensured that apart
from the agriculture office the machines are also available in their
respective villages. Otherwise it becomes a problem for the grower to
get a good yield. Growers were also supplied with pre-emergence
herbicide for weed management,” he adds.
The
institute published a pamphlet on direct seeding technology in Telugu
and distributed it to farmers to get their feedback on this. Five
facilitators were recruited in this project. In addition to this, KVK
also trained ten master trainers and their services were utilized for
sowing, weed management etc in the project area.
Advisory services
“Both
facilitators and master trainers not only helped the farmers with
modified technology but also provided other advisory services like
weather, pest and disease management, water management, weed management
etc. through the Kissan mobile service of the institute. We started the
project during rabi 2010 season and completed it in kharif 2013 season,”
says S. Sreenivasulu, subject matter specialist. Demonstrations of this
modified SRI method were conducted in 140 villages in the district.
Results from the data of three previous years collected showed that the
average yield obtained in modified SRI method was 2,574 kg per acre,
whereas it was 2,325 kg in the traditional method. About 11 per cent
yield increase was observed in the modified SRI method than in the
traditional method.
Another advantage
An
additional advantage was reduction in cultivation cost. It is also
observed that the cost of cultivation is reduced by about Rs.4,000-5,000
per acre in this method due to skipping of practices like nursery
raising and manual transplanting. Duration of the crop is also reduced
by 7-10 days in modified SRI method compared to conventional practice.
For
more details interested farmers contact Mr. C.Manohar, Programme
Coordinator, RASS-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Renigunta Mandal, Tirupati,
Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, email: arkvk@yahoo.co.in, Mobile:
09441532150.
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