Andhra Pradesh - Others   

Intense campaign for SRI cultivation method

P. Ram Mohan

The high-yielding, pest-resistant method is however labour-intensive

RICH DIVIDENDS: MTU 1010 paddy variety undertaken in SRI cultivation at Navipet village in Nizamabad district.

NAVIPET (NIZAMABAD): Agriculture Department in the district is very intense about popularising paddy cultivation under the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method as it is proved to be useful in reducing water consumption, seed and fertilizer usage.

It is being introduced in all villages by selecting at least one farmer in each village to undertake this cultivation. Three farmers have been selected this year.

The department is supplying weeding machines on subsidy basis. Introduced for the first time last year the SRI cultivation is gradually gaining ground.

Since it is more pest-resistant and gives the farmer high yield, the method is likely to be popularised by many farmers in course of time. In this method, 25 cm spacing between lines and rows is strictly

Nurseries

observed which facilitates farmer to move weeders with ease. The uprooted weeds decompose and function as green manure, says K. Ramulu, Assistant Director (Agriculture).

Just 15 to 20 days-old nurseries can be transplanted and the plants form more number of tillers than conventional ones.

Two kg seed is enough for an acre as against 30 kg in normally. It reduces almost two-third of fertilizer use per acre.

Progressive farmer J. Narsimhulu of this village who has undertaken the MTU 1010 paddy variety cultivation in 14 acres, says pesticide need not be used in this method. Initially, it is a bit more labour-intensiveAt the time of transplantation it requires more coolies to observe equal spacing and systematic plantation. Mr. Ramulu says

the yield per acre would be 45-50 bags as against 35 bags under the conventional system.

Another farmer Narsimha Reddy is of the opinion that the SRI cultivation is more effective method of farming in the canal areas. It could be likened to an ID crop.

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