Farmers take to SRI in dry regions

New method introduced with assistance of NABARD in 12 villages of K R Pet taluk

Apart from taluks such as Srirangapatna, Mandya, Pandavapura and Maddur, which benefit from the river Cauvery, water shortage is not a new problem for ryots of K R Pet and Malavalli.

With neither Sir M Visvesvaraya Canal nor the Hemavathi Canal near these taluks, villages rarely get any water from canals.

Having been suffering from shortage of water for a long time farmers are resorting to the
‘System of Rice Intensification (SRI)’ method, which uses less water and provides a better yield.

Vikasana Rural Development Institute in Mandya has introduced the SRI method in more than 12 villages including Kyarahalli, Chikkaharanahalli of K R Pet taluk. The method is being implemented with the assistance of NABARD.

According to agriculture department officer Jayaramu, SRI involves transplantation of 12-day-old saplings separated by a fixed distance.

As against the traditional method where water has to be stored in the farm where transplantation takes place, it is not necessary while using the SRI method.
If the land is wet and moderate temperature is sufficient for the plants to grow.

Mahesh of Vikasana Institute said we are promoting the SRI method with the assistance of NABARD and farmers are giving a good response.

NABARD officer Bindu Mahava Vadavi said this programme is being supported in order to promote  experiments, which use less water. Even though the method is not new, measures are being taken to improve awareness.