SRI EXPERIENCES IN TRIPURA

DR. G.S.G. AYYANGARCOMMISSIONER & SECRETARY, AGRICULTURE

GOVERNMENT OF TRIPURA

AGRICULTURE IN TRIPURA

Agriculture with its allied sectors is thebackbone of the State’s economy.Rice is the staple food of this State.There are two parallel farmingsystems – upland (including jhum) andwet rice cultivation situation.At present, the State is running deficitin foodgrains production.

Perspective Plan for Self-Sufficiency

The State Government formulated in 1999-2000 a Perspective Plan for achieving self-sufficiency in foodgrains.

REQUIREMENT OF FOODGRAINS BY 2010

Year Projected population (in lakhs)

Foodgrainsrequirement

(in lakhs tons)

2007-08 35.40 7.982008-09 35.92 8.092009-10 36.44 8.22

STRATEGY FOR ENHANCEMENT OF CROP PRODUCTION

Supply of certified seeds to the farmersBalanced use of

fertilizersImprovement in

irrigation water use efficiencyImprovement of

cultural practices (SRI , hybrid varieties)

STRATEGY (contd..)

Adequate flow of creditGearing up of extension activitiesEnsuring people’s participation through Panchayati Raj institutions

AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION

Encouraging farmers for more use of agriculture implements

SEEDS

SEED PLAN:Thrust given for certified seed production through Seed Village concept.SRR increased from 2.8% in 1999-00 to an optimum level of 33% in 2006-07.Hybrid paddy seed production in farmers’ fields and Govt. farms.

SEEDS ( CONTD..)Self-sufficient in certified seeds for HYV paddy, rape & mustard.Surplus paddy seeds are marketed through NSC.Pulse & Oilseed seed production in farmers’ fields through Seed Village concept is progressing.

FERTILIZERS

Per-hectare use of NPK has been increased from 25 kg (1990-00) to 47 kg (2006-07).

Why SRI ?In spite of all efforts, however, productivity of rice hovers around 2.5 tons/ha. To achieve the goal of self-sufficiency, we need to increase the productivity to at least the level of 3 ton/ha.To attain a breakthrough and increase in rice productivity significantly, SRI method are being tried in farmers’ fields.

Research activities on SRI

Initiated in the year 1999-00 in boroseasonEvaluated the adaptability underTripura conditions for 5 seasons, until2001-02, covering both kharif (aman)and rabi (boro).Results were encouraging, promptingthe Government to extend its support.

Large-scale SRI Demonstration

The Department initiated a large-scale SRIdemonstration programme in farmers’ fieldduring 2005-06 with a target of 16,000hectares, of which 14,876 hectares wasachieved, covering more than 74,000farmers of Tripura state.The Department provided assistance tofarmers @ Rs.4,500/ha for popularizationof SRI.

Demonstration and Training

• Demonstration in farmers’ fields was taken up from the crop year 2002-03 Kharif

• 2002-03 – 44 farmers @ 0.2 ha• 2003-04 – 88 farmers @ 0.2 ha• 2004-05 – 440 farmers @ 0.4 ha• 2005-06 – 880 farmers @ 0.4 ha• 2006-07 – > 74,000 farmers @ 0.2 ha

Farmers’ training

Extensive training on SRI techniques was organized for farmers at village level and up to the district level throughout the state.

Uprooting of young seedling without any trauma and transplanting them into the main field within

30 minutes

Method-I

Uprooting of young seedling without any trauma and transplanting them into the main field within 30 minutes (another method)

Method-II

Uprooting of young seedling without any trauma and transplanting them into the main field within 30 minutes (still another method)

Method-III

ONE SEEDLING PER HILL

SPACING MAINTAINED THROUGH LOW-COST DEVICE DEVELOPED BY FARMERS THEMSELVES

WATER MANAGEMENT

SRI success is possible under rainfed as well as irrigated conditions

No standing water at the time of transplantation. In muddy soil, spacing of the drainage left as it is, and a drain is then created during the first weeding at 10-12 DAT

Drainage channel in the main fields

12 days after irrigation / watering

Drainage channel of 25 cm. width and 25 cm depth

60 DAT65 tillersper hill / per plant(MTU 7029)

75 DAT80 tillersper hill / per plant(MTU 7029)

No standing water near the base of the plant, so no hindrance in the aeration

WEED MANAGEMENT

Minimizes weed - crop competition

Maximizes aerobic condition in the field

Weeding schedule:

3 weedings at intervals of 10 -12 days,1st weeding should be 10-12 DAT

YIELDOn an average 2 ton/ha more harvested than the conventional system of farmers’ practice produces in the farmers’ fields.

Variety : Pooja

Variety-wise yieldsHYV Ave. yield:

conventionalmethods

(t/ha)

Ave. yield: SRI methods

(t/ha)

No. of demos in farmers’

fields (0.4 ha)

Joya 3.4 -3.8 5.5 -6.2 37

Krishna Hamsha

3.8 -4.5 6.4- 6.8 134

Satabdi 3.0-3.5 4.8 -5.4 46

Swati 3.75-4.25 5.8-6.25 30

(contd.)

Variety-wise yieldsHYV Ave. yield:

conventionalmethods

(t/ha)

Ave. yield:SRI methods

(t/ha)

No. of demos in farmers’

fields (0.4 ha)

IR 64 4.5-5.0 7.2-7.6 192

MTU7029 4.5-5.5 7.2 -8.5 183

NDR 359 4.3-5.2 6.5 -7.2 73

NDR 97 2.5-3.0 4.6-5.0 64

POOJA 4.8-5.2 7.4 -8.2 124

Variety : Pooja

Hybrid paddy with SRI

HYBRID Ave. yield:conventional

methods (t/ha)

Ave. yield:SRI

methods (t/ha)

No. of demos in farmers’

fields (0.4 ha)

DRRH-1 6.0-6.5 7.6-8.1 19

KRH-2 6.5-7.0 8.2-8.7 35

PHB 71 6.5-7.0 8.1-8.5 28

SHEYADRI 6.2-6.8 7.2-7.8 15

Local varieties with SRIAve. yield:

conventionalmethods

(t/ha)

Ave. yield:SRI

methods (t/ha)

No. of demos in farmers’

fields (0.4 ha)

Local varieties

2.0-3.0 3.8-4.3 37

Local scented varieties

1.5-2.0 3.1 -3.4 12

THANK YOU