The Hindu : Kerala News : New system to boost rice yield in Wayanad

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 12, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

New system to boost rice yield in Wayanad

By R. Madhavan Nair

Farmers who used the system of rice intensification technique have reported significant increase in yield.

KOZHIKODE, SEPT. 11. Attempts to boost rice production which is the principal objective behind observing 2004 as Year of Rice are under way in Wayanad district. Farmers who tried the system of rice intensification (SRI) technique of farming recently have reported significant increases in yield.

The efforts are led by the MS. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and the NGO, Rural Agency for Social and Technological Advancement (Rasta).

Observance of Year of Rice in 2004 is to encourage attempts to increase rice production in order to eliminate poverty and hunger which remain a major problem in many countries.

Rasta is attempting a revival of rice cultivation in Wayanad by introducing the System of Rice Intensification (SRI).

The NGO has initiated this process, also known as the Madagascar method, through self-help groups of women and farmers. The women groups have already started rice cultivation in 50 acres of land this year, Mr. Vishnudas, scientist in Rasta's ecological-agricultural division, said.

The Madagascar method involves management of soil, water and plant in a balanced relationship to enable maximum growth of rice plants. It has been found to be capable of doubling production of paddy per hectare.

For that purpose, it used only five per cent seeds needed in the conventional rice farming method. Compared to the conventional method, water and manure requirements were 50 per cent less. It also needed much less labour.

SRI method

As banana cultivation reduces the ground water level which later creates drought condition, systematic efforts for reviving paddy cultivation were not being made till recently in Wayanad.

Farmers gave up rice cultivation because of its low profitability due to high labour costs as well as low level of productivity. The introduction of the Madagascer method will help to increase the production.

In the conventional way of thick planting (50 to 60 clumps in a square meter), roots of the plant cannot grow widely and deeply .It often results in low nutrient uptake from different zones.

Pathiparambil Cyriac, farmer of Kambalakkad, is excited about the Madagascar method. He says that "the SRI method has the potential to revive the entire rice-based eco-system in Wayanad. Only profitable rice cultivation can reverse the tendency to convert rice fields into banana gardens, which deplete water resources and harm bio-diversity.''

According to K.V. Divakaran, organic farmer from Pozhuthana, "the Madagascar method gives higher output. I could almost double my production with five per cent seeds. The yield in gandhakasala (a traditional scented variety), increased by nearly 80 per cent.

Mr. Divakarn got assistance on Madagascar technology from the MSSRF which is also in the forefront of efforts to popularise the SRI method in Wayanad.

Says Vishnudas, scientist, ecological agriculture division, Rasta, "institutions like krishibhavans have not been able to provide solutions to farmers' problems in Wayanad. This has led to recurring crop losses, which, in turn, put farmers into debt traps.

Farmer participation

"We need site-specific technology development with active farmer participation to increase production and a clear-cut market strategy to tide over the crisis,'' says Mr. Vishnudas.

However, Anil Kumar, head, MSSRF, cautions that "though it is true that the SRI helps raise yield considerably, farmers should bear in mind that it is not effective for all areas. For example, it is not so effective in places that are prone to water logging.''

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