The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : SRI technique gives a boost to rice production in Krishnagiri

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Thursday, Nov 19, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

SRI technique gives a boost to rice production in Krishnagiri

R. Arivanantham

`The yield per hectare is 10 to 15 bags higher than that in conventional method’

Photo: N. Bashkaran.

Rich yield: A farmer at a field in which paddy was grown under the System of Rice Intensification technique in Pillaikothur, near Shoolagiri. –

KRISHNAGIRI: The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) technique has helped launch a second Green Revolution in some parts of Krishnagiri district. Farmers who were sceptical about this method have not only adopted it but have also propagated its advantages among other farmers. The technique has yielded good results in Pillaikothur (180 acres), Parthakottai (300 acres out of 500 acres), Nallaganakothapalli, Thattiganapalli, Boothinatham and Pannapalli villages near Shoolagiri.

Dr. S. Vijayabaskaran, Associate Professor of Agronomy, Regional Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Paiyur, said: “Farmers who had hesitated even to listen to us are showing much interest in cultivating rice through the SRI technique. Last year about 20 acres in these villages were cultivated through this technique.” Following a bumper harvest during the first crop, the area under SRI cultivation in Pillaikothur village increased by nine-fold i.e. 180 acres, Dr. Vijayabaskaran said. He said the university had told the farmers to undertake cultivation of nine high-yielding varieties of rice such as Ankur Sonam, Sonalika, Silky Sona, BPT 5204, Sona Masuri, Paiyur–1, ADT 39, KRH 2 and CO RH 3.

Under the SRI method, the yield per hectare is 10 to 15 bags higher than that in the conventional method of cultivation. It requires only minimum quantity of fertilizers, water and less number of labourers.

Dr. Vijayabaskaran said under the Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation and Water Bodies Restoration and Management project (IAMWARM) the target fixed for the university was to bring 66 acres under the SRI method. Owing to the tremendous response from the farmers, the area of cultivation under it was increased to 600 acres in about six villages during the first year itself.

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