Water saving Potential of SRI:&n=
bsp;
Need for evolving proper methodology, documentation and independent
validation
Biksham Gujja=
Programme
coordinator, WWF
Water, not land, technology=
or
seeds, will be limiting factor for future growth and sustainability of existing
levels of rice production. Already in certain traditional rice growing regi=
ons
of India=
,
the signs of fluctuations in rice production due to water availability are
visible. This will have serious implications to food security and social
stability. Already water conflicts related to allocation of water are putti=
ng
great pressure on rivers and ecosystems- the source of water. Since rice is=
the
single major crop driving the water demand in many parts of the world, any
reduction in water input into producing more rice will have major positive
impact to reduce water conflicts and to avoid unnecessary and expensive wat=
er
infrastructure projects constructed often with borrowed money. SRI kind of methods have proven at farm level that a) ther=
e is
significant reduction of water at unit of area cultivated b) improved
productivity per unit of water. However, quantification of these water savi=
ngs
has not been done systematically. There is a need for systematic studies to
quantify the improved water productivity at various levels. In order to make
SRI and other farm based methods are part of solution in addressing the wat=
er
crisis, it is important that water productivity of these methods need
independent validation. Such independent validation will help in changing t=
he
irrigation policies; redesign of canal systems to promote SRI at river basin
scale so that the water saved will have positive impact on people and
ecosystems.
SRI has reached certain lev=
el of
acceptance among the research and scientific community in major rice produc=
ing
countries. This is quite an important step forward. This needs to be
consolidated with systematic and critical studies at large scale on all asp=
ects
with scientific rigor. There is a need for forging partnerships and allianc=
es
between civil society organizations and Government research institutions in
order to document the water saving potential of SRI and other farm based
methods. This is happening in India
and we need to build such models globally by sharing experiences, scientific
visits, farmer to farmer knowledge sharing etc.
Until now, SRI and similar
methods have enthused the farmers and civil soci=
ety
with reported yield increases. But now more emphasis should be on improved
water productivity. Limited studies on quantifying water input into SRI fie=
lds
has clearly indicated a
significant reduction. But it is not possible to put a figure=
and
certainly data is not adequate to convince the critics. Our recent studies based on interv=
iews
with farmers indicated that the single most constraint for the farmers to
continue the SRI is water, not its availability but its management. The stu=
dy
revealed that inability of farmer to do precise water management of SRI field is the single major factor in dropping out of it=
or
not expanding. Farmer is not =
able
to go for SRI for three reasons a) the uncertainty of electricity in bore w=
ell
irrigated farmers. This is forcing farmer to pump water as much as they =
can
and whenever the power supply is available b) In the canal irrigation
individual farmer does not have any control over when and how much water he
will get it to engage in precise water management c) lack of certain
flexibility to combine the transplanting with monsoon rains since the SRI h=
as
to be planted before ten days of seedling regardless of rains. It is import=
ant
to understand the additional burden and demands, if any, on farmers regardi=
ng
the water management and labor requirements of SRI through systematic studi=
es.
Therefore, there is clear n=
eed
for a) a large scale comparative data generation of input in SRI and non SRI
fields in different soil types b) Additional burden on precise water manage=
ment
due to SRI method on farmer, c) A common methodology in documenting the
quantification of water input and management c) independent monitoring and
evaluation of the results d) reporting in scientific and technical journals.
Systematic studies and reporting on water saving potential of SRI will trig=
ger
a process for major policy changes in promoting these methods at basin or
irrigation project scale.
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