22ndnd Symposium on SRI Symposium on SRI

Directorate of Rice Research Rajendranagar, Hyderabad – 500 030

Dr. S.V. SubbaiahPrincipal Scientist (Agronomy) & Head, Principal Scientist (Agronomy) & Head, Crop Production Crop Production

3 – 5 October, 2007

Preliminary evaluation of SRI in Fiji for enhancing rice production

Agartala

RICE IN FIJIRICE IN FIJIIn Fiji, now rice is a common food for all ethnic groups and the per capita consumption rose from 64 to 75 kg. Based on last 6 years of import data (2000- 2005), Fiji is importing about 33,720 tons of rice for consuimption on average, costing $F19.55m. Between 2005 and 2007, the government aimed to increase the rice production by 7,500 tonnes valued at $F3million by spending $F2.3 million through the Rice Revitalization Program.Paradoxically, the contribution of the agriculture sector to Fiji’s GDP has declined for the last several years, from 25% to 12% and the share of Rice to the GDP is very low. Also, the self-sufficiency ratio of rice declined from 65 to 20%. This situation shows that government should take immediate measures to strengthen the rice revitalization to make the country self- sufficient in rice.

Rice Scenario in FijiRice Scenario in FijiDetailDetail UnitUnit 20002000 20012001 20022002 20032003 20042004 20052005

Area Area haha 4,8964,896 7,6287,628 5,1405,140 6,2026,202 5,6645,664 6,0766,076

ProductionProduction TonnesTonnes 12,23912,239 19,07119,071 12,85112,851 15,50415,504 14,16114,161 15,18915,189

Output valueOutput value $,000$,000 5,7005,700 6,5006,500 4,4004,400 5,3005,300 5,6005,600 7,5957,595

FarmersFarmers No.No. 7,1407,140 7,1407,140 7,1407,140 5,0985,098 5,0985,098 6,7076,707

Ave. farmgate Ave. farmgate priceprice

$/kg$/kg 0.470.47 0.340.34 0.340.34 0.340.34 0.400.40 0.500.50

Import Import quantityquantity

TonnesTonnes 38,61938,619 28,52228,522 27,49527,495 33,95533,955 36,10736,107 37,50037,500

Local product Local product

converted to converted to rice equiv.rice equiv.

TonnesTonnes 7,343.407,343.40 11,442.611,442.600

7,710.607,710.60 9,302.409,302.40 8,496.608,496.60 9,113.409,113.40

Total imports Total imports and local and local productionproduction

TonnesTonnes 45,962.445,962.400

39,964.639,964.600

35,205.635,205.600

43,257.443,257.400

44,603.644,603.600

46,613.4046,613.40

Import valueImport value $,000$,000 16,17416,174 19,23119,231 18,66918,669 18,98618,986 22,33822,338 21,94321,943

Self-Self-sufficiencysufficiency

%% 15.9815.98 28.6328.63 21.9021.90 21.5021.50 19.0519.05 19.5519.55

MonthsMonthsMean Mean Maximum Maximum (°c)(°c)

Mean Mean Minimum Minimum (°c)(°c)

Mean Mean TemperatureTemperature (°c)(°c)

Rainfall Rainfall (mm)(mm)

No. of No. of Rainy Rainy daysdays

Humidity Humidity (%) (%)

JanuaryJanuary 31.131.1 22.022.0 26.626.6 312.9312.9 21.621.6 78.678.6

FebruaryFebruary 31.131.1 23.623.6 27.427.4 237.5237.5 21.621.6 79.279.2

MarchMarch 30.930.9 23.623.6 27.327.3 355.9355.9 21.621.6 80.880.8

AprilApril 30.130.1 23.623.6 26.926.9 396.5396.5 23.223.2 80.880.8

MayMay 29.229.2 22.022.0 25.625.6 151.2151.2 18.018.0 81.281.2

JuneJune 27.527.5 20.920.9 24.224.2 190.5190.5 18.218.2 80.880.8

JulyJuly 26.826.8 20.120.1 23.523.5 147.2147.2 17.817.8 80.680.6

AugustAugust 26.426.4 19.519.5 22.922.9 192.3192.3 15.815.8 79.079.0

SeptemberSeptember 27.227.2 20.020.0 23.823.8 205.6205.6 15.215.2 77.477.4

OctoberOctober 28.028.0 21.021.0 24.624.6 210.5210.5 15.815.8 74.074.0

NovemberNovember 28.628.6 22.022.0 25.325.3 203.6203.6 18.018.0 76.076.0

DecemberDecember 30.030.0 23.423.4 26.626.6 294.0294.0 21.221.2 76.8 76.8

Weather Data (Average of 2001-Weather Data (Average of 2001-05), Koronivia Research Station05), Koronivia Research Station

Practice SRI ICM LRP

Seed quality Certified Certified Certified

Seed rate (kg/ha) 5 kg 5-10 40

Nursery Field nursery Modified mat nursery

Conventional

Seedling age (d) 10 (2-leaf stage) 15 (4-leaf stage) 25

Seedlings/hill 1 1-2 3-4

Plant spacing 25 cmX25 cm 20 cm X 20 cm Random

Plant geometry Square Square Random

Gap filling Within 7 DAT Within 7 DAT Within 7 DAT

Mechanical weeding

As recommended --2-3x (10,20 & 30DAT)

2-3x (15, 25 and 35 DAT)

Hand weeding twice

Irrigation Intermittent irrigation

Intermittent irrigation

Continuous submergence

Nutrient application

Organic + inorganic(50:70:70)

Organic + inorganic (50:70:70)

Inorganic alone(50:70:70)

Comparison of SRI with ICM and Local Recommended Practice (LRP)

S.No

ParameterFarmers method

ICM SRIC.D

(0.05%)

1 Plant height (cm) 99 100 101 NS

2 No. of productive tillers/hill 189 264 272 59

3 Length of panicle (cm) 23.8 25.4 24.2 NS

4 No. of grains/panicle 163 154 156 NS

5 Grain yield (t/ha) 5.2 7.2 7.1 0.11

6 Straw weight (g) 4.9 5.8 6.2 0.80

7 Harvest index (HI) 51.4 55.3 53.3

Performance of Rice (Uttam) under SRI during Main Rice Growing

Season at KRS

slides

Experiences

National Food Security Mission Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana

Area T.P. Area T.P. Target Target 05-06 06-07 2012

Rice 43.66 91.79 43.7 91.05 102102Wheat 26.48 69.35 28.17 73.70 8383Pulse 22.39 13.39 23.76 14.11 1616

Path-Breaking New Programmes to Transform Indian Agriculture

Actual yields are almost at par to achievable yields in high productivity in irrigated ecologyActual yields are almost at par to achievable yields in high productivity in irrigated ecologyTechnology for breaking yield ceiling has to be generated

Among the natural resources, water is becoming increasingly critical Among the natural resources, water is becoming increasingly critical Water-saving technologies to be developed and tested on priority basis

Cost of cultivation has become prohibitiveCost of cultivation has become prohibitive Alternative cost-efficient technologies need to be tested

Rainfed ecologies, particularly uplands and favourable shallow lowlands, are yet to witness a real yield Rainfed ecologies, particularly uplands and favourable shallow lowlands, are yet to witness a real yield breakthroughbreakthrough

Varietal improvement needs greater thrust

Hybrid rice technology a field reality butHybrid rice technology a field reality but Hybrids with higher magnitude of heterosis for irrigated areas and hybrids under long-duration group for

rainfed ecologies are need of the hour

Genetic base of the HYVs/hybrids is quite narrowGenetic base of the HYVs/hybrids is quite narrow Proper assessment and corrective measures urgently needed

Brain Storming Session onAICRIP : A Re-look,10 April 06 (Facts &

Tasks)

AICRIP TRIALS ON SRI AT GLANCE (2004 – 06)

YearYearNo. of No. of

locationslocationsSig. Sig. NSNS SRISRI ICMICM SCSC % increase % increase

yield yield

20042004 2222 1818 44 1616 1414 44 12 12

20052005 2626 2222 44 1111 88 33 6.5 6.5

20062006 2727 2121 66 1313 77 44 15 15

AICRIP RESULTS (04-05)Multi-location trials conducted during 2004 and 2005 on System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method, evaluated in comparison with normal transplanting (NT) and Integrated Crop Management (ICM) methods. Grain yield recorded under SRI was significantly higher under SRI compared to NT at 53% of the locations, while it was similar to ICM at 33% of locations. Higher grain yield under SRI was recorded in diverse soil types, with wide range of soil pH (6-8) under different regions which could be associated with increased number of panicles per unit area, biomass and panicle weight. However, the cultivars used had significant inter-action with method of cultivation at 28% of the locations. Rice hybrids responded better than varieties. Normal transplanting with wider spacing nor SRI method with older seedlings did not enhance grain yield significantly. It is also observed that SRI could be adopted successfully even under late transplanting conditions.

ConclusionSRI appears to be more promising in terms of grain yield although gains observed were genotype- and location-specific. Further studies are required to confirm these results.

AICRIP RESULTS (05-06)

Results of 27 multi location trials show significant variations among SRI, ICM & CRC

In Southern Zone, SRI & ICM performed better (1-23%) over CRC at CBC, ADT, RNR & MND

In Western Zone, SRI & ICM recorded (4-7%) higher yield over CRC.

In Northern Zone, CRC was found better than SRI & ICM methods. In Eastern Zone (PTNA, TBR, KNP, RAN), SRI & ICM were superior

to CRC. In Hill Zone, only at Khudwani, Umiam and Arudhatinagar SRI was

found superior.

Conclusion

It is confirmed that SRI methodology is location- and genotype-specific under same date of sowing and planting.

Target = 3000 FLDs in 14 states Target = 3000 FLDs in 14 states

Achievement = 2883 (96.1%)Achievement = 2883 (96.1%)

Technologies demonstrated: Varieties (Gitesh – 58% more yield) Hybrids (K332 – 65% more yield) SRI method of cultivation:

28% yield advantage, 70% less seed, 30% less water Management of saline soils -- important Drum seeder – promising innovation IPM in rice

Frontline Demonstrations 2005

Japanese rice cultivation

V-shaped rice cultivation

Taiwan rice cultivation

SRI cultivation

Integrated Crop Management

Emphasis on water managementEmphasis on water management

Types of Rice Cultivation

Work Plan/ Strategies Genetic enhancement of food cropsGenetic enhancement of food crops Improvement for toleranceImprovement for tolerance Improve levels of nutrition (Vitamin A, Zn and Improve levels of nutrition (Vitamin A, Zn and

Fe)Fe) Fertilizer strategies for farmers & organic Fertilizer strategies for farmers & organic

farmingfarming Digital extension service to farmers (ADT)Digital extension service to farmers (ADT) Studies on global warming and evaluation of Studies on global warming and evaluation of

crops under open air (elevated COcrops under open air (elevated CO22 levels) levels) Modern POPs and GAP for quality & safetyModern POPs and GAP for quality & safety At all levels, invoke dormant propensity to At all levels, invoke dormant propensity to

serve farmers and poverty-stricken people serve farmers and poverty-stricken people with with new technologiesnew technologies

“Agriculture technology and innovations by scientists outstripped the Malthusian population growth theory in India.” Convincing finding -- that holds good for Fiji too.

Delineate or identify areas & genotypes that are good for SRI in India.

Encourage SRI in small holdings with priority for medium/long duration varieties/hybrids.

Conclusions