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

Farmers’ Experiences
Frequent weeding
Organic cultivation
His crop developed the white fungus during the vegetative stage. He managed this
by spraying a solution prepared with cow’s urine, bitter leaves, and water. There has
been a decrease in its incidence since SRI is adopted.
Innovations and modifications
Mulching with Neyveli Kattamanakku (Wild Castor)
Growing green manure plants in the summer
Designed a Weeder to remove korai grass (a local weed)
Benefits
Swaminathan is convinced about the success of SRI. His idea is that the benefits
of SRI to the crops and soil will be reaped only in the long run. The benefits he has
received are:
increased soil and seed quality since beginning SRI practice. He knows this
would aid in higher yields;
lesser water and labour requirements;
comparatively much lesser seed-rate in SRI practice resulting in decreased
costs and higher profits; and
increased soil fertility and earthworm count.
Constraints in adoption
Labour-wages are an issue. Under conventional farming, 15 labourers were
hired and paid a lumpsum to divide amongst themselves; under SRI the labourdemand
has fallen to nine, but these nine still want to be paid the lumpsum
settled for 15.
Swaminathan feels that SRI and inorganic cultivation will not go together.
According to him, to get the maximum benefits of SRI practice, organic cultivation
will only help.
Weeding and levelling need good implements. The Conoweeder is not the best
and levelling manually is very difficult.
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