SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION (SRI) AND REDUCTION OF IMPACTS OF INORGANIC INPUTS ON COASTAL WATERS

UNDP-GEF Project ‘’ Mainstreaming Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Conservation into Production sectors in Sindhudurg Coast, Maharashtra, India

SRI is a farming practice which originated in Madagascar and is being successfully practiced world over, achieves 30 to 70% increased yield over traditional practice of rice cultivation with liberal

organic input and reduced usage of inputs including Seed, Fertilizer, Labour and Water.

Implication of SRI in Mainstreaming Coastal & Marine Biodiversity Conservation in Agriculture: Reduction in eutrophication of coastal waters and pollution due to pesticide applications,

Reduction in greenhouse gas emission

Implementing Agency: Mayem Panlot Sangha,

Sindhudurg

Advantages• Positive Yield Attributes: 60-80% higher grain yield as compared to

traditional method• Low water Requirement: Alternate drying and wetting of paddy • Reduces pressure on Land: Higher productivity (40-80%)• Low seed requirement: Seed requirement Only 8Kg/Ha. Compared

to 80 kg in traditional system• Low Inorganic Fertiliser use: Dependence on green manure and

compost reduces inorganic fertilisers• Low pesticide use: Owing to low plant density, penetration of

sunlight and aeration of the field is proper resulting in low incidences of disease and pests

• Greenhouse gas emission: Methane gas emission is less because of lack of standing water column

• Improved grain quality: More grain & less chaff• Grain ripening is quicker: Grain ripening is 7-10 days sooner• Improved Food Security: Higher productivity from small holdings• Low labour requirement: In long run labour requirement reduced • Better Drought Copping: Owing to low seed rate, staggered

nursery is feasible in the event of unfavourable monsoon

Use of Marker for transplanting

Weeding using Conoweeder

Raised Bed Nursery

The Tillering Stage

SRI field ready to harvest

Harvesting in presence of District Collector

TALUKA NO. OF FARMERS AREA UNDER SRI (ha)Vengurla 53 9.22

Devgad 73 11.58

Malwan 142 12.29

TOTAL 268 33.09

Coverage of Farmers

Parameter Variety: KARJAT - 3

SRI TRADITIONALNo. Of tillers/hill 34 16No. Of Grains panicles 148 88.5Av. wt. of panicles (gm) 78 40Grain Yield per ha (Qtl) 152 104

Increased yield per plant

District agriculture department has accepted SRI as an innovative project for

the upcoming Kharif seasons, for which district collector has

agreed to allocate Rs. 28.9 Lakh under Rashtriya Krushi

Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

Particulars Traditional ‘’Charsutri’’ presently advocated

SRI

Seed Rate (kg/ha) 80 15-20 8

Age of seedling 25-30 10-25 9-15

Nursery Area /Ha. (sq.m.) 1000 250 100

Spacing (cm) Random 25 x 15 25 x 25

No. of seedling per hill 3-4 1-2 1

Plant population (no./ha) 12 lakh 2.66 lakh 1.6 lakh

Fertilizer dose (kg/ha) N:P:K

100:50:50Basal & 30 days after transplanti

ng

Burnt Rice Husk, Green Manure,

Urea – DAP Briquette @ 170

kg/ ha 56:30

Organic / Green manure,

Vermicompost Uniphos, Potash

75:50:50

Average grain yield (q/ha) 30 - 35 40 - 45 65 - 70

Cultivation Cost (Rs/ Ha) 25000 28000 25000

Income (Rs/ Ha) @ Rs. 9/kg 31500 40500 63000

Profit (Rs/Ha) 6500 12500 38000

Results of field trials following the 3 Practices

Way Forward

Area Coverage: Total paddy area in three talukas 20,010 Ha

Midland & Upland in Three talukas 6,000 Ha (30%)

Area proposed to be covered 1000 Acres

No. of farmers to be covered 4000 Nos.

Program: It is proposed to bring 1000 Acre of paddy land under System of Rice Intensification (SRI) during Kharif 2015 in three coastal talukas of Sindhdurg District (Vengurla, Malwan, Devgad) under UNDP–GEF–Sindhdurg Project in collaboration with District Administration, Sindhdurg

Critical Inputs (by DSAO/ ATMA): Seed of improved & released variety @ 10 Kg/Ha for 400 Ha. 4000 Kg

Fertilizer (Potash for top dressing at panicle initiation stage) 8000 Kg

Marker for 4000 farmers 4000 Nos.

Cono Weeder @ 1 per Acre (sharing basis) 8000 Nos.

Dhaincha Seed for 1/5th Farmers (800) @ 1 kg 800 Kg

Vermicompost for Nursery 8000 Kg

Project Cost: Cost of Cultivation of Paddy in One Acre Rs. 24,000

Total Cost of Cultivation of 1000 Acres Rs. 2,40,00,000

Support expected from District Administration (Critical Inputs) Rs. 28,97,000

Farmers Contribution Rs. 2,11,03,000

Cost of extension services and hand holding support (UNDP-GEF) Rs. 14,52,000