The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Kurnool News : Officials asked to train farmers in new rice cultivation method

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 07, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool

Officials asked to train farmers in new rice cultivation method

By Our Staff Reporter

KURNOOL, JAN. 6. The Collector, Vikas Raj, has asked the agriculture officers to promote the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) cultivation method in a big way in the district.

Addressing the governing body meeting of Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) here on Thursday, he said the agriculture officers should take up training of farmers in the new method of rice cultivation, which increased yield and reduced water consumption.

Paddy was cultivated under SRI method in 500 acres last season and the average yield was above 50 bags per acre as against 30 bags under the normal practice.

Under the new system, seedlings of 12-day old are transplanted with a spacing of 25x25 cm and watered twice a week. The seed consumption declined from 30 kg in traditional method to two kg under SRI. The water consumption also declined by one third.

The officers informed the Collector that mechanical weeders, which cost Rs. 1,000 each, were needed for every three acres since the SRI method required weeding on several times. The pest problem was negligible in the first two months, which saved a reasonable amount.

`Weeders' issue

The Collector asked the officers to promote the system with missionary zeal which was helpful to farmers in a water-shortage zone. He asked the Agriculture Department to examine the possibility of supplying weeders at subsidised price.

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