Presented by: Dinesh Marothia, National Institute of Ecology (NIE), New Delhi. Presented at: IWMI-TATA Annual Partners' Meet Date: Nov 28-30,2012

1. SRI : Lessons from
Chhattisgarh
Dinesh Marothia
National Institute of Ecology (NIE), New Delhi
NIE – Centre for Integrated Natural Resources
Management, Raipur, CG
IWMI-TATA ANNUAL PARTNERS’ MEET
IRMA, Nov 28-30,2012

2. Presentation Line
 People, Resources and Rice Scenario
 SRI Performance
 Farmers’ Feedback
 Implementing Agencies’ Feedback
 Steps to Accelerate SRI
 Drivers of Success/Failure

3. Agro Climatic Zones JHK
Northern Hills Zone
M.P.
MAHA Chhattisgarh Plains Zone
ORISSA
Bastar Plateau Zone
A.P.

4. Agro-Climatic Zones
Chhattisgarh State falls within the metrological zone VII (Eastern Plateau and
Hills zone), which is sub-divided into 3 distinct agro-climatic zones
Agro- District Covered Geographical % of Total Net % of Net
Climatic Area ( Lakh ha) Geographical Cropped Cropped
Zones Area Area
Area
(Lakh ha)
Northern Sarguja, Koriya, Jashpur, 29.47 21 8.41 18
Hills Dharamjaigarh (Raigarh)
Chhattis- Raipur, Mahasamund, 68.49 50 32.91 69
garh Dhamtari, Durg, Rajnandgaon,
Plains Kabirdham, Bilaspur, Korba,
Janjgir, Kanker and Raigarh
Bastar Jagdalpur, Dantewada, 39.91 29 6.37 13
Plateau Bijapur, Narayanpur, the
remaining part of Kanker
Total 137.87 100 47.69 100

5. People and Resources
People and Resources
 Total state population : 45 % SC & ST.
 44 % of people live below poverty line.
Land shares: Marginal farmers (54%) share 15% of land; Small farmers
(22%) share 20%; Semi-medium farmers (16%) share 26%, Medium farmers
(8%) share 27%; and Large farmers (1%) share 12%.
Total labor force: Cultivators (45%) and agricultural labors (32)%.
Gross cropped area: 46.42 %of TGA.
Rainfall: ranges from 1200 mm to 1600 mm across the agro-climatic zone.
Soils: largely red and yellow in nature with medium texture.
Total irrigation: 13.23 lakh hectares.
Total irrigated area: 28 % of total cropped area.
Irrigated areas served by: Canals (66%), Tanks (4%), Tubewells (22%),
Wells (2%) and Other sources (6%).

6. Rice Cultivation Scenario in Chhattisgarh
 Rice constitutes 75 % of total kharif cropped area.
 Around 76 % rice is sown by broadcast (biasi) method.
 70 % area cultivated under rainfed conditions.
% area under different situations :
Rainfed Upland Rainfed mid land Rainfed low land
45 % 35 % 20 %
 Prominent rice varieties :
Early Medium Late
IR-36, IR-64, MTU-1010, Mahamaya, Karma Swarna, BPT-5204, MTU-1001,
Purnima Masuri, Bambleshwari, HMT Local Scented
 Promotion of early and mid-duration varieties of paddy constitutes
60% of total paddy area.
 Prominent hybrid varieties : 3% area under hybrid.
Bayer Pioneer Dhanya Devgan Public sector
6444 PBH-71 DRH-748 RH-257 KRH-2

7. Change in Area, Production & Productivity (Rice)
Unit- lac ha
Drought-affected Tehsils Area
out of 98 Tehsils 44
42
40
38
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 36
33 50 5 34
32
30
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Unit- kg/ha
Unit- “000”ton

8. Area under improved management
practices /hybrid rice
Unit- Lakh Ha.
Particulars 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 (T)
Transplantation 7.52 7.71 8.11 7.63 8.23 8.50
SRI 0.01 0.02 0.08 0.07 0.09 0.25
Line sowing 1.87 2.42 2.45 2.50 2.72 3.50
Hybrid 0.40 0.50 0.64 0.76 1.08 1.25

9. Achievable Yield Gaps in Rice Demonstrations
(NFSM) year 2009 (qtls paddy / ha.)
Improved package practices SRI– Rice year 2009
60 59%
44% 60
50
50
40
40
30
30
20
20
10
10
0 63%
Av. Yield Demo Farmers Practices 60 0
Av. Yield 50 SRI Plot Av. yield farmers practices
Av. Yield
40
30 Hybrid– Rice year 2009
20
10
0
Hybrid Rice Av. farmers Practice
Yield Av. Yield

10. Differences of yield, cost and gross margin comparing
non-SRI fields with SRI fields in CG
Yield (q/ha) Gross margin (Rs/ha) Cost (Rs/q)
Difference Difference Difference
Non-SRI (SRI minus Non-SRI (SRI minus Non-SRI (SRI minus
Fields non-SRI) Fields non-SRI) Fields non-SRI)
Total % Total % Total %
48.7 11.9 24.5 53,451 1,257 2 581 -167 -29
Note: Based on 102 farmers data with their SRI and non- SRI fields

11. Farmers’ Feedback
 Due to erratic rains in rainfed areas, SRI is best option because it
needs less water
 Higher yield with SRI, lower Input cost, incidence of pest is low
 Due to plant-to-plant distance, every plant gets proper light and air
and pest infestation is low
 Marker and rotary weeder equipments have a major role in SRI
 Supplement /increase food security by 3-4 months
 In traditional agriculture, dry spells have adverse effect on the
growth of the plant, but in SRI method, plants easily survive up
till cracks appear in the soil without any crop growth decline

12. Farmers’ Feedback (continued)
Timely availability of marker & rotary weeder
inadequate quantity.
Continuous training of farmers and extension workers
needed.
Regular visits of non-adaptors and extension
newcomers to SRI fields.
 Institutionalize SRI in agriculture extension and
research system.

13. Implementing Agencies’ Feedback
 Green manuring practice requires controlled irrigation facility, right from the sowing of
seeds to upturning the crop in to soil
 Cono weeder use virtually needs ideal soil & moisture conditions – which unfortunately
don't apply locally, the soil being a bit heavy and moisture conditions are erratic
Alternate wetting & drying of fields doesn’t work, even with assured irrigation.
Unpredicted downpours may spoil equations at any time.
Implementation through cluster approach, training & publicity camps well ahead of crop
activities, distribution of leaflets & literature, publicity camps, Kisan Melas & exposure
visits.
 Educating farmers in green manuring, mechanical weeding and water management.

14. Implementing Agencies’ Feedback
 Only profuse-seedling varieties should be selected for SRI like
Bamleshwari, Swarna, MTU-1010, Mahamaya (duration 120-135 d).
 Timely availability of marker & rotary weeder in adequate quantity.
Financial incentives on sustainable basis
 Continuous training of farmers and extension workers.
 Regular visit of non-adaptors and extension newcomers to SRI
fields.
 A modified version of SRI with innovations , farmers’ feedback,
and local adaptation is urgently required to sustain farmers’ interest
 Institutionalize SRI in agriculture extension and research system.

15. Implementing Agencies’ Feedback
Present SRI approach based on condition - 10 acres of irrigated land in a
cluster - excludes small and marginal farmers.
Since farmers have been adopting their package of practices for several
years, hence sudden intervention of SRI (which is intensive) need at least
technical support for 2-3 years
 Indigenous varieties (which are at the extinction stage ) can be
promoted through SRI to address the problems related with climate
change.
Organic farming can be promoted along with SRI
Mechanized SRI may become regular entrepreneurship covering nursery
bed preparation, rice transplanting ,and weed control

16. Steps to Accelerate SRI
 Arrange exposure trips to SRI plots of active farmers and SHG
members (if SHG is formed in the village)
 Selection of Community Resource Person (CRPs) and conduct training
for them on the SRI. They are generally active farmers who had done
SRI on their field and had some experience to share with the farmers
 One-day orientation program in the village about SRI and sharing of
farmer experience that had done SRI
 Video shows on SRI in paddies, wall posters, and pamphlet distribution
 On-field demonstrations to the interested farmers on seed treatment,
field preparation, and sowing in one farmer’s plot.
 One-day training on transplanting, weeding, organic inputs preparation
 Hand-holding support to the farmers by CRPs and early SRI adopters
for an entire crop season
 Analysis of paddy production in a plot before harvesting.

17. Drivers of Success/Failure
 Deviation from core recommendations should be accepted
 Selection of different components of SRI for adoption has significant bearing
on yield increase.
 Adoption of core components varied across agro-climatic regions and
implementing agencies
 Yield levels vary with the extent of farmers’ adoption of components of
SRI, so need continuous flow of technical information and support
 Mobilizing of 'quality inputs' consumes extra time and money; hence,
transaction costs may reflect level of adoption
 Land topography, soil types, and mode of irrigation are important
factors for SRI adoption
 Lack of knowledge of SRI practices, skilled labourers needed for cono
weeding operation, suitable markers, poor water control in the fields,
and unsuitable soils, TC are constraining the full adoption of SRI