 |
Home
About
Us
Case
Studies
News
& Events
Federation
Nisarga
Foods
Publications
Sponsorship
Contact
Us
Madagaskar (SRI)
SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION
System of Rice Cultivation (SRI) also popularly known as Madagascar method is the answer for growing paddy under limited water supply farming conditions.
SRI is a "system" rather than a 'technology'. It is based on the insights that rice has the potential to produce more tillers and grains than now observed, and that early transplanting and optimal growth conditions (spacing, humidity, biologically active and healthy soil, and aerobic soil conditions during the vegetative phase) can fulfill this potential. These principles are translated into a set of 'baseline' practices: transplanting of young seedlings, carefully one per hill, with wide spacing; no standing water during the vegetative growth phase; application of compost; and early and frequent weeding (Source: LEISA India-Sept 2002).
This approach of cultivation has been practiced in 17 countries around the world under different agro-eco regions. Few of the major advantages of this method are increased productivity per unit area, improvement of soil and less water requirement. The yield performance is observed to increase by 50-200 percent.
To propagate this method in our project area, a training was organized at Kanavemadapur village on 25th June 2004 for a group of 30 interested farmers. Mr. Appu Swamy, a farmer who has been practicing SRI method for the last 2 years facilitated the training programme. Mr.Appu Swamy explained the SRI method, its advantages in a lucid manner. The farmers, though skeptical initially, a few of them were convinced of this method. They were very curious and have shown interest to experiment this method on their lands.