Experiences of Farmers in India Experiences of Farmers in ... - AgSri

Chhattisgarh
Amar Singh Patel
Rathkhandi, Kota, Bilaspur
Chhattisgarh
Contact: Mr. Jacob Nellithanam,
Coordinator, Richaria Campaign, B-3,
Parijat Colony,
Nehru Nagar Bilaspur,
Chattisgarh-495001,
Ph: 9425560950
Age: 52 years
Education: Primary level
Occupation(s): Agriculture
No. of years in farming: 40
Paddy cultivation
He is mainly a rice farmer, but cultivates vegetables in winter and summer. He has
got about 4 acres of paddy land of which about 1 acre is sandy loam soil close to
riverside, which is irrigated by a shallow well. The rest of land is un-irrigated. By
irrigated rice, he gets an average yield of 10-12 q/acre in a good year. Uses minimal
application of fertilizers and regularly uses farm yard manure.
SRI adoption
He was introduced to SRI method by the Organic Farming program of Jan Swasthya
Sahayog (JSS), Bilaspur, during village meetings in 2006. But, he avoided the trial
after taking seeds from JSS. Seeing encouraging results of trials by 2 farmers in the
village, he took his first trial in his own small field of 0.12 acre in 2007. He chose to
experiment a fine variety called DRK. Trained and advised by JSS farming program,
he was able to follow SRI practices thoroughly. Weeding was done twice by Rotary
Weeder provided by JSS. Weeding was done a bit late and only 2 times using
tool and one manually. The crop was uneven due to lack of complete leveling of
plot. Even then, yield was very good measuring 5 bags that weighed 3.5 quintals.
Labours cost for harvest is one sixth of the measure of paddy after thrashing. So,
the estimated yield potential shown was 3.2-3.5 t/ac. The inputs were only farm yard
manure and no pest control measures were taken.
In 2008 kharif season one acre was planted following SRI under different timings
in different plots. First plot of 0.3 acre was planted in time and followed with timely
weeding. Some plots which got delayed did not perform well. The standing crop
showed a yield potential of 3.5-4 t/acre in the best plot of 0.3 acre. The rainfed plots,
delayed in planting, had heavy pests due to low rainfall conditions. His average total
yield of paddy under SRI is estimated to be 2.5 t/acre.
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