Rice intensification promises good dividend for farmers

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New Delhi, Oct 5: The system of rice intensification (SRI) has come a great boon to farmers who would apply lesser water to the water-intensive crops and get better yields. Rice yields increase in the range of 7 to 15 tonne per hectare, depending upon the region.

The system, promoted by the Cornell University is now being practised in limited areas of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Tripura, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh states.

It is likely to gain wider acceptance, according to Norman Uphoff of the US-based Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development.

The system of rice intensification achieves improvements in yields and factor productivity by changing some of the plant, soil, water and nutrient management practices. It promotes greater root growth that is easily verifiable and more soil biological activity.

Interestingly, the system of rice intensification does not depend upon purchased external inputs like chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Instead, it increase the

productivity of the land, labour, water and capital devoted to irrigated rice production by capitalising on existing genetic potential and by biological processes, particularly in the soil.

Speaking from Hyderabad on phone, Uphoff said, “Less than five years ago, this technique was practiced in Madagascar with success. Subsequently it became accepted in 18 other countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Gambia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, The Philippines, Sierra Leone, Thailand, Laos, Peru and Sri Lanka. In India we are getting the support of the state governments, NGOs, agriculture universities, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).”

In Andhra Pradesh, the partner organisation in the system of rice intensification programme are the state government, state agriculture university, ICRISAT, WWF and the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA).