ANGRAU initiatives for SRI promotion in Andhra Pradesh

ANGRAU initiatives for SRI promotio= n in Andhra Pradesh

M. Sudarshan Reddy and P.Punna Rao

Acharya N= G Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad 500 030, AP

Rice occupies 23.3 percent of the gross cropped area and contributes to 43 per c= ent of the food grain production and 46 per cent of the total cereals production in the country. Still the country’s production is below the requirement = of the increasing population. Although the yields were increased after the introduction of high yielding varieties and green revolution, the cultivati= on costs were increased and the environmental protection is ignored which resu= lted in degradation of natural resources. In Andhra Pradesh, area of rice cultivation is decreased from 3.6 million hectares in 1995-96 to 3.0 million hectares in 2004-05, which resulted in the decrease in production from 9.216 million tons to 8.953 million tones. The decrease in area of rice is due to reduced rainfall and recurring drought in the state.

The conventional method of paddy cultivation requires large amounts of water, inputs, and care, which contribute to high cost of cultivation and depletio= n of water levels. Indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides dam= age the ecosystem equilibrium and reduces the quality of produce leaving the residues behind. Cultivating a single kilo of rice requires 5,000 liters of water in conventional method.

Frequent droug=
ht for the past 10 years has left the rice farmers in doldrums. Andhra Prad=
esh experienced a severe drought in 1999-2000, characterized by water short=
ages, falling groundwater levels, and increased risk of contamination of su=
rface water. The drought, followed by low rainfall (534mm annual rainfall) =
in the southwest and northeast monsoons during 1999 was exacerbated by grou=
ndwater extraction. Agricultural production was seriously reduced in Kharif 1999. Thrust for conjunctive water use became =
the major concern for the scientists and farmers.

In the year 20=
02, a new system of rice cultivation had been 'discovered' that requires ha=
lf the water needed for conventional rice cultivation, would increase per a=
cre grain yields by at least 50%, would substantially reduce or eliminate t=
he need for chemical fertilizers, would cut seed requirements by up to 95% =
and yet make rice cultivation more sustainable and profitable for farmers. =
The new system was called “System of Rice Intensification (SRI)=
221;

What is SRI?

The system of = rice intensification (SRI) is a new and evolving alternative to conventiona= l methods of rice cultivation. In this method, rice seedlings are transplan= ted early (eight to 12 days old compared to 21 days in the conventional met= hod). They are transplanted 25x25 cm apart. The fields are kept moist not f= looding until the panicle initiation stage (1-3 cm of water in the field du= ring the reproductive phase). Organic manure is used as much as possible. M= echanical weeding should start around 10 days after transplantation; at lea= st two weedings are necessary, more are recommended. It is s= upposed to provide better growing conditions in the root zone, save inputs,= improve soil health and optimize water use efficiency.

SRI involves the use of certain management practices, which together provide better growing contribution for rice plants, particularly in the root zone, than those for plants grown under traditional practices. SRI was developed in Madagascar in the early 1980s by Father Henri de Laulanie, Jesuit priest who spent over 30 year in that country working with farmers.<= o:p>

In the year 2000, SRI was formally introduced in the country at TNAU by Thiyagarajan and Berge who have conducted experimental trials in three principles of SRI. It was introduced in AP by Dr. A. Satyanarayana, the then DE, during Kharif 2003 in all the 22 districts of the state.

ANGRAU initiatives in SRI promotion

ANGRAU has streamlined its activities in SRI promotion by emphasizing the six key principles in SRI. The six key principles identified are:=

1= . Young Seedlings: Transplanting of very young seedlings, usually 8-12 days old as against 30-= 35 day old seedlings in conventional method. This preserves a potential for tillering and rooting that is reduced if transplanting occurs after the 4^th phyllochron, us= ually about 15 days after emergence.

2= . Careful transplanting: Seedlings are transplanted singly and very carefully, to cause minimum ‘trauma’ and ‘shock’ to the young plants. Roots are laid in the= soil gently and horizontally rather than being plunged downward into the soil, w= hich inverts the root’ tips.

3= . Wider Spacing: Transplanting seedlings with wide spacing and in a square pattern, at 25X25= cm. This gives more room for both root and canopy growth. Rice plants can better realize the= ir potential for tiller and root growth, and for subsequent grain filling, if spaced widely rather than densely. It also facilitates mechanical hand weed= ing and consequent aeration of the soil.

4= . Water Management: Th= e soil is kept moist but not inundated during the vegetative growth phase, so that= the soil is aerated and never becomes hypoxic. A thin layer of water should be = let into the field at the end of the day, and draining off any remaining water = in the morning. This exposes the= field to the warmth of the sun during the day, absorbing rather than reflecting s= un’s radiation, and open to the air for both oxygen and nitrogen. Once roots are well established, irrigation can be skipped for 3-6 days to stress the plant and encourage downward root growth. Fields = are dried to the point of surface cracking. During the reproductive phase, 1-3 = cm of water is kept continuously.

5= . Weeding: Early and frequent weeding= is essential because otherwise weed growth will become a problem if fields are= not covered with standing water. Weeding with rotary weeder should start = about 10 days after transplanting. = At least 2 weedings are necessary, but 3,4 or even 5 are recommended, until the canopy closes = so that weeding is no longer possible. Rice plants have better root and tiller growth if the soil is kept intermittently aerated during the vegetative gro= wth period. This minimizes root degeneration and plant senescence that occur wi= th hypoxic soil conditions and at the same time supports aerobic as well as anaerobic microbial populations in the soil.

6. = ; Compost: Instead of chemical fertilizers, FYM or compost is applied @ 5 t/ha which is quite sufficient a= s a source of nutrients. As a result, more plant growth is achieved because of better soil health and more balanced nutrient supply.

Since 2003, ANGRAU has taken many initiatives to promote= SRI in Andhra Pradesh. The initiatives of ANGRAU include:

- = &nb= sp; With the support of Directorate of = Rice Development, Patna under the MoA, GoI, a National level training program on syste= m of rice intensification (SRI) for nodal officers of DOA from various states of= the country in July 2004.

-&nb= sp; = In collaboration with DRR, Hyderabad 250 Front Line Demonstrations of SRI technology were organized during Kharif 2004 in all the distric= ts of AP.

- = &nb= sp; Farmers= workshop on SRI was organized in 2004 with 60 SRI cultivators across the st= ate as a part of WWF-ICRISAT SRI project.

- = &nb= sp; ANGARU had entered into MoU with WWF International, ICRISAT for an Action Res= earch project namely Dialogue with farmers, scientists and private firms to understand the role of SRI method of paddy cultivation in reducing water cr= isis during Rabi 2004-05.

- = &nb= sp; Conducted farme= rs workshops on SRI in East and West Godavari and = Warangal district in 2004-05.

- = &nb= sp; An orientation programme on SRI was organized to the eleven field organisers (WWF-S= RI project) along with the coordinators of DAATTC in 2005.

- = &nb= sp; Director of Extension has presented papers on SRI at National Seminar on SRI held at Dhak= a, Bangladesh in Feb-05 a= nd also at Fourth IWMI TATA Researchers meet in Feb-05 held at Anand, Gujarat.

- = &nb= sp; In continuation of first orientatio= n on SRI to field organisers of WWF-SRI project held= in Feb-05 to further refresh their knowledge on SRI the second programme was organized in April-2005, in committee hall ANGRAU.

- = &nb= sp; Conducted a workshop on merits and demerits of SRI paddy cultivation in AP in May-05 at American studies resea= rch centre, Osmania university, Hyderabad. All the SRI farmers under WWF-ICRISAT project in mid-Godavari basin distr= icts had actively participated and detailed about the advantages and disadvantag= es in SRI cultivation.

- = &nb= sp; All the scientist of DAATTCs and KVKs actively participated in Rythu Chai= tanya Yatras in all the districts of AP where DE of A= NGRAU visited SRI field at Ramanp= adu village in Mahabubnagar district in May-05.

- = &nb= sp; DE has participated in the workshop= on SRI implements particularly weeders and Markers= held at Chintapalli village Nal= gonda district and interacted farmer innovators who practiced SRI and designed markers and weeders locally.<= /p>

- = &nb= sp; ANGARU had entered into MoU with WWF International, ICRISAT to implement WWF sponsored SRI project in eleven districts under the technical guidance of <= span class=3DSpellE>DAATTCs/Krishi Vigyan Ken= dra and also at APRRI Maruteru; ARS, Warangal, Anantapur, Nellore, Rice section Agricultural Research Institute= ., Rajendranagar and RRU Bapatla during kharif-05.

- = &nb= sp; A meeting with WWF-SRI kharif 2005 project implementing centres was organized in October 2005. All the coordinators of DAATTCs, scientists of six ARS, and scientist from Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Undi have = attended the meeting and made a power point presentation on the progress of SRI proj= ect at their respective centres.<= /p>

- = &nb= sp; WWF international ICRISAT and ANGRAU have jointly organized a dialogue on SRI with Hon̵= 7;ble Chief Minister, politicians, scientists, farmers and media in November -05.=

- = &nb= sp; WWF sponsored SRI kharif 2005, review meeting was organized in De= cember 2005 with field organisers from nine districts = of AP and reviewed the progress of field data collection.

- = &nb= sp; WWF sponsored SRI Kharif 2005, review meeting was organized in December 2005 and DE has reviewed the project progress. The coordinators of nine DAATTCs, training organisers of Kri= shi Vigyan Kendra Undi, scientists of SRI at APRRI, Maruteru, RRU, Bapatla, and Agricultural Research Institute, Rajendranagar have participated and presented the pro= gress report.

- = &nb= sp; SRI project sponsored by WWF intern= ational, ICRISAT, is being continued for the third season i.e., Rabi 2005 with 50 farmers in five districts under the technical guidance of DAATTC scientists= and five research stations.

- = &nb= sp; Scientists of DAATTC and KVKs have actively participated in the Rythu Chaitanya Yatras or= ganized by the DOA, Government of AP during April-06 and popularized SRI.

- = &nb= sp; ANGRAU in association with WWF has organized SRI farmers meet in June 2006 where in 60 farmers from various districts participated and shared their experiences.

- = &nb= sp; ANGARU had entered into MoU with WWF International, ICRISAT to implement WWF sponsored SRI project in kharif-06 in ten districts under the technical guidance of DAATTCs.

- = &nb= sp; Field organise= rs engaged on contract basis for WWF- SRI project <= span class=3DSpellE>Kharif 2006 at DAATTCs we= re given training on SRI methodology and participatory data collection. <= /span>

- = &nb= sp; WWF SRI Interaction meeting with scientists and farmers was organized on 07-10-2006. Dr. Norman Uphoff shared his experiences with the SRI farmers.

- = &nb= sp; With the support of WWF Internation= al ICRISAT, ANGRAU has produced 5000 SRI manuals, 10,000 Booklets (5000 each in English and Telugu), 2000 copies of farmers experiences, and 100 CDs on SRI cultivation

- = &nb= sp; ANGRAU has also collaborated with p= rint media and television channels in popularizing SRI.

WWF SRI Project findings:

SRI project sponsored by WWF international, ICRISAT, was being implemented to generate systematic data on SRI in farmers field= s. The study, namely “Dialogue with farmers, scientists and private firms to understand the role of SRI method of paddy cultivation in reducing water crisis” was initiated in Rabi 2004-05 and continued in Kharif 2005, Rabi 2005-06 and being implemented in th= e Kharif 2006. The details of each season and the yield parameters were presented below.

S. No	Season	No. of districts	No. of farmer locations	Average Grain Yield Kg/ha
1	Rabi 2004-05	11	224	7232.5
2	Kharif 2005	11	250	6980
3	Rabi 2005-06	5	50	8072.5
4	Kharif 2006	10	100	ongoing

Farmers Experiences:

-&nb= sp; = Majority of the farmers felt that initially SRI is a labour intensive method

-&nb= sp; = Farmers had problem with weeders

-&nb= sp; = Unavailability of organic manures

-&nb= sp; = Farmers opined that SRI is cost effective as well as yields are also increased=

-&nb= sp; = Weeder problem is more severe in heavy soils

-&nb= sp; = Adoption with respect to spacing was full and transplanting young seedlings was part= ial due to labour constraints and irrigation manage= ment was completely partial, might be due to farmers preconceived ideas and hesi= tant about yields.

Lessons Learn= t:

It was observed that there was sufficient awareness on SRI cultivation among the farmers. It might be due to various extension age= ncies efforts like frequent trainings on SRI, interaction meetings; media outreac= h programmes, exposure visits and publicity at district levels.

Usually= there was a misconception that SRI is best suited only for small and marginal far= mers who put in their own family labour. However, the study has brought out the fact that, the SRI was taken up by all categories= of farmers, small, medium, big and marginal.

It was observed that education and extension contacts played a pivotal role in adopting a new practice.

SRI was taken up in almost all types of soils ranging from black cotton, sandy loams, red soils and alluvial soils. However, SRI = is not recommended to the saline soils, because of the fact that due to altern= ate wetting and drying, results in salination and <= span class=3DGramE>effects the crop. = ;

The pos= itive effects of SRI compared to conventional system like increased quantity of yield, savings in seed and irrigation water and reduced demand for external cash inputs like inorganic fertilizers and herbicides were confirmed by the project.

The major barriers to SRI adoption were found to be h= igh labour requirement on the part the farmer and non-availability of organic manures.

It was also observed that there was gap in skills required to adopt SRI successfully. The gap was more profound in nursery raising, transplanting method and weeding.

Since the farmers expressed difficulty in operating Rotary Weeder, there is a need to develop a mechanized weeder that can weed more than one r= ow at a time for taking up SRI on large scale.

Conclusion: It was obvious from farmer experiences that SRI has = the advantages of cost effectiveness and increased yields per unit area when compared to the conventional paddy cultivation. However, there were some da= rk areas, which need to address by strong research findings for up scaling SRI= in the state.