Tamil Nadu - Tirunelveli   

Plan to adopt SRI method on 36, 800 hectares

High yield:Paddy crop cultivated under the System of Rice Intensification method.

TIRUNELVELI: The Department of Agriculture, which has set a target of cultivating paddy on 92,000 hectares in the district during the current fiscal, has proposed to adopt System of Rice Intensification (SRI) technique on 36,800 hectares. According to District Collector M. Jayaraman though it was decided to adopt SRI technique on 32,100 hectares during the last fiscal, the target was exceeded as the revolutionary method was implemented on 32,257 hectares. Hence, the district registered a yield of 9.30 tonnes of paddy per hectare in the fields where SRI technique was followed while the quantum of harvest was only 7 tonnes per hectare in the fields cultivated under traditional method.

Encouraged by these positive results, the district administration had given guidelines to increase the area under SRI technique, taking the target to 36,800 hectares this time. In the current summer, the innovative paddy cultivation system, developed in Madagascar, had been implemented in 1,548 hectares against the total paddy cultivation area of 3,181 hectares and during the ‘kar' paddy season, the area of cultivation under SRI would be 13,000 hectares.

The remaining area of 22,252 hectares would be covered under SRI procedure during the ‘pisanam' season.

“To popularise the system among the farmers, the district administration had planned to establish SRI demonstration plots on 2,000 hectares. For the formation of SRI demonstration plots, the Department of Agriculture was giving a grant of Rs. 3,000 per hectare under the National Agriculture Development Programme. Moreover, Zinc Sulphate would be supplied to these farmers under 50 per cent subsidy. Farmers, who registered highest paddy yield under SRI method and the Agriculture Officer who was part of the achievement would receive the ‘Anna Award' from the Chief Minister,” Mr. Jayaraman said.

For increasing the area of cultivation of oilseeds and pulses in the district, taskforces had been formed to introduce new techniques and integrated crop management practices. Moreover, pulses production subsidy of Rs. 25 per kg and distribution subsidy of Rs.20 per kg would be given to the farmers.

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