Photos from Oct. 2009 visit to SRI field in Tamil Nadu, India (by Mei Xie, WBI)

• SRI was piloted from 2000-2004 by TN University of Agriculture – a leading agriculture institute in India

• After successful trials by TNAU, it was included in WB project from 2006 to now. Many farmers have now tried 4-5 seasons of SRI. Liked it much. Results were impressive – over 30% water saving, with 30-60% or even more increase in yields, and labor saving.

• Local governments give strong support, with scientific and research back-up from TN agricultural university

• Now over 500,000 ha under SRI management in the state. Still expanding

Manual transplanting and manual weeding with cono weeder are used by most farmers

Female labor does most of the transplanting, using thread with knots to mark the field – not accurately square however

Cono weeder – easily made by locals, easy to use

Disassembled cono weeder; design to be sent to Kenya farmers/MIAD

Mechanized transplanting and weeding were tried this season – expect to have major breakthrough in labor saving. Expect this to spread fast among farmers

Developed by private sector who got contract from WB project. Transplanting machine modified from China imported transplanter

Weeder also was developed by private sector. It is liked by farmers.

Extension Support by TN Agriculture University

SRI field

Over 300 Master degree students got posted in villages for 3 yrs to help disseminate SRI

SRI roots more developed than traditionally grown paddy

Field Comparison

SRINon-SRI

Allow soils to crack before irrigating again

Green manure planted 30 days prior to paddy field preparation – as organic fertilizer

Dan ji - a kind of legume -shown by Dr. Ravi of TNUA

Plough back into field as excellent green manure, reduce chemical fertilizer use

Nursery

Smaller nursery bed s are needed, and are next to the field – convenient to farmers

14-day seedlings asre suggested in Tamil Nadu. Younger ones can result in higher yields, but are more difficult for farmers to handle during transplanting

Farmers ‘ reaction to SRI

When asked in the field “Who are using SRI?” many hands were up

This farmer had composed a song for SRI –telling others how to transplant, how to weed, and how to water ….

Harvesting – Witnessed measuring paddy yields –SRI 2 tons higher in yield than conventional paddy

TNAU is studying reduction of GHG release by SRI field – over 20% reduction by SRI compared to conventional rice fields – results to come out soon