0946 Emerging Experiences with SRI in Rainfed Tank Irrigation Systems

Presented by: Bhagyalaxmi S

Presented at: SRI PRADAN Workshop

1. Emerging Experiences
with SRI in Rainfed
Tank Irrigation Systems
Bhagyalaxmi S
WASSAN
www.wassan.org
[email protected]

2. Tank Irrigation : Situation
•Traditionally, paddy in Andhra Pradesh is grown
under tank systems
•Traditionally-defined command areas under
tanks are reducing
1.Siltation & insufficient water in flows
2.Breaches in bunds & maintenance problems
3.Salinity
•Paddy area is shifting to bore wells (from tanks)
•Stagnant / declining paddy yields
•In recent times, tanks are filling up with high-
intensity rains due to changes in rainfall pattern

3. •SRI is taking root as a major option for raising
and sustaining rice productivity with less need
for water and purchased inputs.
•Farmers’ interest in SRI: Complete the crop
in maximum possible area within the season
•Increase command area (within the larger
command), i.e., increased area under tai bandi
•No water shortages at the end of the season
•Lower input costs with yield increases
SRI - A Potential
Solution

4. Experience. .
S.
NO
Subject2007 -
Rabi
2008 -
Kharif
2008-
Rabi
2009-
Rabi
Remarks
1Number of
tanks
1 2 3 11 Contiguous
area in demos
with
incentives.
Fast spread &
less drop-outs
2Number of
farmers
15 92 48 189
3Acres 7 113 29 525
4Total area7 142 525+207*
(732)
*In addition to tanks, 207 acres area under bore wells shifted
to SRI in 2009 Rabi

5. Key elements of SRI In Tank
Irrigation Systems
1.Irrigation systems to be redesigned
•Present design is for inundation
•Re-design for wet & dry system of irrigation
•Neerugatti (water distributor) needs to reorient
his irrigation schedule / knowledge
2.Block approach
–Large area in one pocket – requirements
•Labor skill-building
•Equipment - need timely availability
•Handholding support

6. Key Elements……(Contd...) .
3. Defining the command area for the season..
•Demarcation of the area to be taken under SRI, based
on water availability (tai bandhi)
4. Custom hiring center
•Ensure timely availability
•Markers and weeders for SRI are used once and
thrice in a season respectively
•Providing implements with subsidy to every farmer is
not economical
5. Establishing NPM shop & pest management
•Timely availability of NPM inputs
•Pest surveillance
•Pest management
6. Labour subsidies

7. Incentives to Farmers
from ATMA - 2008 Rabi
S.NO Activity Rs / Acre
1 Labor in weeding
(50% subsidy)
450
2 Neem powder 450
3 NPM shop 100
4 Total 1,000
Incentives are needed for up to three seasons on a
tapering-off basis

8. S. NO Variety Soil
Tillers/m
2
Panicles/m
2
Grain yield
(t/ha)
Grain yield
(Q/ac)
SRIConv.SRIConvSRIConv.SRIConv.
1 MTU-1010 Sandy
loam
256303 238280 6 5.2124.521
2 TellahamsaSaline252286 230271 5.14.4720.317.5
Crop Cutting & Field Days

9. Cost of cultivation & net profits
Subject SRI (Rs)Conv (Rs)
Land preparation 2,800 2,800
Seed 45 450
Labour (8) 400 750
DAP-75kg 750 750
Urea -50Kg 310 310
Weeding 600 1,000
Harvesting 420 420
Tractor hiring charges 450 450
Threshing 1,200 1,200
TOTAL COST 6,975 8,130
Irrigation - alternate (hrs)3 7
Yield (bags) 39 32
Quintals 27.3 22.4
GROSS PROFIT 25,389 20,832
NET PROFIT 18,414 12,702

10. Departure. .
•Input subsidies
•Demonstrate &
expect to diffuse
•Trainings
•One-season demos
•Area approach
•Community-based
institutional arrangements
•Skill building of labor
•Subsidies for specific
constraints
•Three years duration
Conventional
approach
WASSAN’s
approach

11. Strategy and approach in NFSM
and APDAI model
Parameter NFSM Based on WASSAN’s
experience
Approach Scattered
demonstrations
(0.4 ha per 100 ha)
Block or contiguous
area
Vehicles Hybrid rice and SRI SRI
Prime
movers
Agr. ext. workers &
scientific
establishment
Farmer-led
Packaged Input-centric Confidence & skill
building

12. Contd. .
ParameterNFSM
Suggested…
Subsidies Going to
companies and
manufacturers
Direct cash subsidies
to farmers or labor
subsidies
Support Correcting for
micro-nutrients
deficiencies
Correcting the soil
health
EquipmentCentrally supplied –
one type for all
areas
De-centralized – locally
suitable
Subsidies
-equipment
Individual farmers Custom hiring center &
individual farmers

13. Key Elements in Promotional
Strategy
•Group / Block approach where an area is
targeted for conversion of SRI over a
period of three years rather than small
area ‘demonstration’ models with few
farmers.
•A field-level facilitator to anchor the
process

14. Conti. .
•Custom hiring centre for implements
•An NPM-inputs shop to provide inputs for
non-chemical inputs for managing insect
pests and also to make inputs more easily
available

15. Conti. .
•Training skill-building labor in nursery bed
preparation, transplantation, and weeding
•Provision of incentives/ finances through a
community-based organization, where the
local stakeholder organizations and
farmers have greater control in the
identification of elements and delivery of
subsidies

16. Thank You