A HANDS AND GLOVE STORY

Chhattisgarh
Biodiversity Conservation
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
AND SRI TECHNIQUES
A HANDS AND GLOVE STORY
Empowered lives.
Resilient nations.

Create community consciousness through critical reflections about their own conditions, risks
and opportunities in using SRI techniques to traditional Rice Growing Farming systems.
Experiment low cost easy-to-adapt and manage technologies. Creating a Gene Bank and
sharing of Plant Genetic Material with National Bureau for Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR),
New Delhi.
Project Background
Dharohar Samiti, a farmer's organization has been
working in 10 villages of Kondagaon Tehsil of
Kondagoan District in Chhatisgarh for over 15 years
to promote agro bio-diversity conservation and
secure livelihoods and nutrition for farmers.
Dharohar joined hands with the GEF/UNDP Small
Grants Program (SGP), CEE in this mission to
conserve over 260 traditional rice varieties along
with other minor millets such as raagi, kodo and
kutki. The aim of the project has been to construct
opportunities for dialogue in a context of
commitment and concern for conservation practices
encouraging to generate self-confidence, selfrespect,
self-esteem.
Dharohar Samiti, with the help of GEF/UNDP SGP
project has introduced the System of Rice
Intensification (SRI). SRI is an organic farming
technique that requires only about 1/10th seed and
less water compared to the traditional method of
farm flooding and larger spacing between rows.
Attention to soil health balance helps in increasing
the yield.
Dharohar has demonstrated effective ways of agrobiodiversity
conservation along with yield
enhancement using organic methods that are critical
for the ecological integrity of this agro-climatic tribal
region of Bastar in Chhattisgarh State of India.
Project Objectives
Name of the Organisation
Dharohar Samiti
Geographical Areas
10 Villages in Ist Project (2006-09) and
Scaled upto additional 5 Villages in 2nd
Project (2010-13) with an outreach to 2800
House Holds in Kondagaon Block & District
No. of Beneficiaries
Ist Project (1400 House Holds) & Scaling
up outreach to (2800 House Holds) in an
area of 1650 hectares
SGP Grant
` 15,20,000
Co-Financing
` 6,57,672
Project time period
th
th
16 April, 2010 to 15 October, 2013
Project Partner
Department of Agriculture; Environment of
Forest; Local Banks; Village Panchayat; Sir
Dorabji Tata Trust; (SDTT); ATMA Program;
KUK Raipur, NBPGR, ICAR New Delhi
Project Activities
• SRI promotion – 2500 farmers at district and block level; and 50 farmers outside district
trained in applying SRI technique for rice cultivation in the varieties for Paddy as Lucliaii; Gada
Khunta; Asam Cliuddi; Sapadi; Kurlu Bhoti; Bagdi Cludi; Bauv Sapli; Jhodra Dhan; Lokti Bhajji;
Sugar Luchaii; Narii Cliudi; Murdai Cliudi; and Hardi Chiudi.
• Scientific seed production with 35 farmers - 1 acre per farmer. The seed production plots
established in the first year of the project to develop sufficient yield for next year and outreach
to more farmers.
• SRI demonstration and Compost Tanks with Madia (Raagi/finger millet) which has sizeable
potential locally as well as in urban markets and in villages of Golawad; Ghodavad; Jhara;
Phulewar; Kanwasaar; Mohlai; Mundagaon; Ravanwadi; Hiramandal; Karanpur; Kaadigaon
and Hasalnaar.
• Training on Herbal Medicines – As rice attracts various pests, farmers are using lot of pesticides.
Locally based herbicides which are tried in SGP project disseminated to farmers interested in
SRI through trainings. Total 300 farmers trained to develop herbal medicines from locally
available plant resources.
• Dharohar has created a demonstration facility by sowing their rice varieties every year on a 2.5
acre farm in Golawand village and keeps the genetic evolution process on. In addition, it is also
distributing the seeds to farmers, promoting exchange of seeds and herbal pesticide
development culture among farmers and sharing of information widely with tribal
communities through village level meetings and madai-melas.
• Exposure - 20 farmer leaders from nearly 15 villages exposed to organizations like Vrihi-West
Bengal, DDS-Andhra Pradesh, Lok Panchayat-Ahmednagar, Maharashtra and villages like
Mendha Lekha, Maharashtra to learn about seed conservation and PBR development. Also
then create a community-led institution.
• Characterization and Nutritional assessment of 35 varieties, i.e. potential and specific
characteristics like aroma, texture, storage keeping qualities, nutrition etc. Scientific
characterization carried out of all these varieties for establishing distinguished identity and
further linking those to markets.
• PBR training and micro plan development in 10 villages. Biodiversity Registers developed by
forming Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) under Biodiversity Act 2002, and
water conservation activities under NREGA.
Project Results
• One seed bank is set up in Golawand for propagation
and promotion through exchange and distribution of
seeds. More than 2500 farmers in direct touch from 20
villages.
• 262 indigenous rice varieties identified, labelled and
stored for distribution and propagation in the Region
with more than 550 farmer households (HHs).
• 200 farmers learned about the benefits and conservation
of indigenous local rice varieties; SRI technique and its
benefits.
• Demonstrated scientific seed production of 35
indigenous rice varieties with 35 farmers - 1 acre per
farmer. Production of 50 indigenous rice varieties done
with 60 farmers.
• SRI demonstration of 03 indigenous local ragi varieties
with 69 farmers.
• Increase of 25% in farmers cultivating the indigenous
local rice varieties and ragi varieties through SRI
technique.
• 200 farmers learned about the making of Handi biopesticide;
Jeevamrut bio-pesticide after trainings to
develop herbal medicines from locally available plants.
• 255 indigenous local rice varieties were cultivated
through SRI technique for scientific characterization;
and nutritional assessment of 35 indigenous local rice
varieties is on process.
• 4 new indigenous rice varieties identified and
conserved. The data shared with NBPGR New Delhi.
• 10 BMCs have been formed and the preparation of PBRs
is under process in 10 villages. More emphasis is laid by
the NGO and the communities on how to use the
different varieties for better nutrition and productivity
benefits
• Participated in the State/Zone level Organic Farmers and
Conservers Meet to show case achievements, potential
and linkages with Government and market.

Social Economic and Environmental
impacts in project
• The project is moving towards its goal of
conserving over 261 indigenous local rice
varieties and contributing to conservation of
agro-biodiversity. Also with SRI technique,
food security is being achieved in this area.
The organic farming techniques are reducing
use of chemical fertilizers and will control
POPs. The demonstrated SRI techniques
reduce methane emissions - the major Green
House Gases.
• This experience has been visited by more than
1,000 neighbouring farmers, SGP partners
and other institutions as Dharamitra (Wardha),
Prayas (Konkan); & Sarjana (Madhya Pradesh).
Many State/Central/Government level
officials have also visited the fields/trials etc.
What is SRI Technique
SRI achieves improvement in yield and factor
productivity by changing some of the plant, soil,
water and nutrient management practices long
associated with irrigated rice production.
SRI practices promote greater root growth that is
easily verifiable and results in more soil biological
activity, which is not so visible. SRI does not
depend on purchased and external inputs. Instead,
it increases the productivity of the land, labor,
water and capital devoted to irrigated rice
production by capitalizing on existing genetic
potentials and by biological processes, particularly
in the soil.
The basic management practices of SRI are to be
applied with adjustments in specific practices like
spacing and timing as appropriate to local
conditions. These practices are:
• Rice plant seedlings should be transplanted very
young (usually just 8-12 days old) with just two
small leaves to inflict minimum trauma to the
roots.
• Seedlings should be transplanted singly, with
only one per hill instead of 3-4 together to avoid
root competition
• Seedlings should be widely spaced to encourage
greater root and canopy growth
• Seedlings should be transplanted in a square grid
pattern (25x25 cm or wider in good quality soil)
Some of the benefits of SRI are greater root growth,
increased grain filling, higher grain quality and
greater grain weight, water saving, seed savings,
can go with the indigenous local available
varieties, and without use of chemical fertilizers.
Dharohar Samiti
Golawand Panarapadar
Tehsil Kondagaon
District Bastar-494226, Chhatisgarh
Mob.: 09406446508
Regional Co-ordinator
Flat No 10, Garden Estate,
167/1,168/1, New DP Road,
City International School, Aundh, Pune
Tel: 020-5887009
Email: ceecentral@ceeindia.org
Sh. Shivnath Singh and Sh. Ramu Ram
Bhagel from Dharohar Samiti were given
the best award for Biodiversity
Conservation for local land races by the
PPVFRA, ICAR-New Delhi. The project
was involved in conserving 262 land
races of Paddy with the support from
GEF/UNDP SGP and Krishi Vigyan
Kendra, Raipur. The NGO was awarded
the Recognition as "Plant Genome Savior
Farmer's Recognition 2012". The award
was given at New Delhi on 22nd May,
2013 The International Biodiversity Day.
Ram Singh being felicitate by the State Agricultural Department,
Chattisgarh for takeing up the training for SRI techniques.
Colours 9810037571/SGP/May/13
Text: PS Sodhi, Anil Arora and Mukesh Chowdhury
Country Program Manager
GEF UNDP Small Grants Programme
Centre for Environment Education
C-40 South Extension-II, New Delhi-110049,
Ph.: 011-26262878-80
Email: prabhjot.sodhi@ceeindia.org
Website: www.sgpindia.org,www.ceeindia.org