Experience of Promoting SRI Method of Crop cultivation in Assam

Seven Sisters Development Assistance (SeSTA)February 27, 2013

SRI Partners’ Meet, Ranchi

Need of SRI initiative in Assam• In North Eastern States (7 States), Paddy is the main cereal crop

& staple food.• Despite the huge demand of Paddy the yields of paddy in the

region is 1.9 MT/Ha.• Low productivity coupled with eroded sandy soil in river banks

of Brahmaputra as well as flood creates huge disturbances in poor communities, people are stressed to do unskilled labour works to earn square meal.

• The land acquisition per farmer is as low as 0.2 Ha to 0.5 Ha for small farmers.

• Paddy intervention in Assam is critical considering flood(Variety consideration), prolonged monsoon, pest & diseases, inadequacy of updated in formations with farmer.

• Huge scope of demonstrating quality yields through exposing farmers to SRI principles.

A brief on SRI initiative in AssamObjective:

To expand the SRI program in Assam through partnership approach with the objective of enhancing food grain security of small and marginal farmers in Assam by improving yield of paddy through-

• Reach to 12500 small & marginal farmers under this programme.

• Demonstration of upgraded technologies, different implements for better management of SRI.

• Capacity building of community as well as different organizations.

• Sensitization of different stake holders for popularizing SRI in North East.

SRI expansion strategy by SeSTAI. Understanding of the context , area/ farmer/ technology.II. Quality demonstration to build in confidence within the

Organization and across the relevant stakeholders.III. Community mobilization through using different Information

Communication Tools.IV. Capacity building of Target Community, Staff, related NGOs,

relevant stakeholders.V. SRI with standard package of practices. VI. Regular support to community & extension workers.VII. 10 % data sampling and analysis as well sharing at community to

spread the outcomes for easy adoption in coming years by other farmers.

VIII. Organizing workshops, field days tosensitize all stakeholders(Farmer, staff, NGOs, District Administration, Banks etc)

YEAR WISE AREA COVERAGE OF SRI EXTENSION

Year Number of Districts

Number of Block

Number of Village

Number of NGO

2010-11 2 4 100 2

2011-12 7 11 143 5

2012-13 8 13 215 2

Year wise Target Vs Achievement of SRI Farmers

Results of SRI paddy Cultivation

SRI productivity analysis for Rabi season, 2012

SRI productivity analysis for Kharif season, 2012

Analysis of crop cutting data- Kharif’12• Avg. yield in Kharif ,2012: 4.9 MT/Ha.• Highest yield in Kharif, 2012: 9.2 MT/Ha• Average no. of tiller per hill: 25• Highest no. of tiller per hill : 71• Avg. length of panicle: 22 .3 cm• Highest length of panicle: 35 cm• Avg. number of grains in a panicle: 224• Highest number of grains in a panicle: 362• Avg. additional food grain per family: 0.25 MT

Length of SRI paddy panicle

SRI-method of Maize cultivation

Major principle follow-• Used improved variety of maize seed with seed treatment• Single seed sowing with equal distance (i.e. plan to plant

distance is 1 ft and row to row distance is 2 ft)• Application of balanced fertilizer doses• Mechanical weeding by using dry-land weeder in 15 days

interval• Proper water management by providing 2-3 times irrigation to

the maize plot through irrigation channels

Result of SRI method of maize cultivation in Rabi season

• Piloted with 98 farmers in one district, now expended to nearly 200 farmers

• Avg. productivity: 13.2 MT/Ha.• Maximum productivity recorded: 16.8 MT/Ha • Minimum productivity recorded : 12.0 MT/Ha • Avg. net profit from 1 Ha: Rs.79,025/- and • Maximum profit from 1 Ha: Rs. 1,54,312/-.

SRI method of Vegetable cultivation

Achievements

• Yield enhancements in paddy, maize with 8685 families.

• Standard extension system developed.• With 3 years of experience SeSTA worked out

a model of SRI promotion. (Audio visual aids in local language, grooming pool of CRP, training modules emerged)

• Able to draw attention of different stakeholders.(VCDC, Panchayats, DRDA, ATMA, NGOs, ASRLM)

Major Learning From SRI Program• Yields of SRI paddy & Maize is providing a base to

expand.• Reduction in farmer investment & enhanced yield

(2times higher) through SRI paddy & maize.• Community participation is vital for expansion.• Enhanced food security is a safety net to most of

vulnerable community.• Focused effort on SRI brining in momentum within

organization & in community also.• Comprehensive efforts required for agriculture sector

development.• The efforts of government is still inadequate to meet

the needs of small farmers.

Challenges faced• Riots in BTAD area creates lot of disturbances

in work.• Flood is a major challenge for farmers in Kharif

season.• Providing quality time with partner NGOs.• In partnership apart from technology a lot of

things need to address fund flow, accounts, processes of implementation.

Future Plan for SRI expansion

Some Glimpse of SRI Promotion