“Look, this plant has 45 tillers. And one more here, with 53…” There is no end to Govindaraj’s excitement. Govindaraj, who has been growing paddy for the last 20 years in Nallathangalpatti in Tiruchi, has not seen a paddy plant producing so many tillers. He is sure he will be able to harvest double the normal yield. He is surprised by the fact that this has happened despite using seeds and water lesser than usual, on his paddy crop this time.  Govindaraj did not flood his field. Instead, he irrigated it when necessary, saving about 30% of water. He is happy that he can grow another acre of paddy with the amount saved.

There are many more farmers in and around Nallathangalpatti who are bringing about a silent revolution in paddy cultivation - by merely making adjustments in the way they use their resources. This innovation, more popularly known as SRI, System of Rice Intensification, was first developed in Madagascar, some 25 years ago, and is gaining momentum all over.

The method is very simple. There is no need to flood paddy fields. Instead, the soil is kept moist, facilitating better supply of oxygen to the roots. Young, single seedlings are planted on a wider spacing to enable better aeration and root growth. With these simple changes in managing the crop, these farmers were able to get a higher yield of 2.5-3.0 tons per acre.

Farmers in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are slowly shifting to this method. The AME Foundation (AMEF), a resource organisation based in Bangalore, is helping farmers to make this transition. With its emphasis on LEISA (Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture), AMEF feels that SRI is one of the best innovations, which is getting increasingly accepted by farmers for its savings on seeds and water.

SRI is a typical example of farmer-to-farmer extension, spreading new knowledge, primarily by farmers. Farmers who have been quick in adopting the principles are also making necessary changes to suit their local conditions. 

Aptly said by Dr Norman Uphoff, Professor, Cornell University, SRI is not finished yet. It is a work in progress, still evolving and improving. The very fact that SRI is a method and not a technology may be one of the limitations for the Agriculture Department to spread it in a typical extension mode.

Looking ahead

Irrigated rice production system needs to undergo change in the coming years. With increasing scarcity of water and water disputes looming large, it is high time that we look at alternative water saving technologies. National and international research institutions are investing a lot of time and money, but not to farmers’ benefit. While simple innovations are available at hand, we are looking at complex technologies like Genetic Engineering to produce varieties needing less water. On the other hand, some formal institutions are still trying to prove, or rather disprove, SRI through their trials.

Farmers have been quick to respond to SRI, but the state governments are yet to capitalise on its merits. If the paddy farmers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu adopt this water saving technique, it could probably provide a permanent solution to the endless Cauvery dispute. Tamil Nadu has already put its foot forward and has announced that SRI will be taken up in the entire 61,000 ha of paddy area in Tiruchi, during the year 2008-09. Is Karnataka listening?

For details, log on to amebang@giasbg01.vsnl.net.in/ leisaindia@yahoo.co.in