SRI cultivation introduced to beat dry spell
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 06 2009: Even as a large majority of the farmers are worried over the non-arrival of monsoon till the first week of July, the State Government, more specifically Agriculture Department, has advocated a new method of rice cultivation which does not depend on water too much as is the case under traditional methods.

The method known as System of Rice Intensification (SRI) has been introduced in some hectares of paddy fields at Sana Keithel in Ukhrul district under Integrated Cereal Development Programme (ICDP) scheme in collaboration with the Society for People's Advancement, Manipur (SPAM).

SRI method of cultivation being implemented at Sana Keithel

The new method was introduced today by a team led by ICDP scheme in-charge L Ibomcha under the supervision of Agriculture Minister N Loken today.

Under SRI method of cultivation, paddy fields where the crops would be transplanted should have very little water.

The paddy fields should be partitioned into small parts and tilled with roller marker before transplanting rice plants, said KVK Thoubal SMS (Plant Breeding Genetics), S Sumangol.

Rice transplants should be planted at the spots marked by roller markers within 8-12 days keeping a distance of 25 cms between two plants.

10 days after the transplants is done, weeds should be allowed to rot on the paddy fields using Kono Weeder to turn them into organic manure later.

Unlike traditional methods of rice cultivation, farmers need not retain water in the fields.

Rather, farmers should ensure that there is very little water in the fields.

So far, many agriculture scientists have experimented with different varieties of paddy breeds under SRI method of cultivation and it has been found that hybrid varieties are most suited to this method.

According to experts, 5 kgs of hybrid rice seedlings planted over one pari can yield 160 to 200 bags of rice .

ICDP scheme in-charge L Ibomcha said that necessary arrangements have been made to introduce SRI method of cultivation to all the nine districts of Manipur in an extensive scale.

Some farmers from the valley have already appealed to Agriculture Department for support towards adopting the new method.

The Department has been making all possible efforts to advance this method of cultivation and also to help farmers of both the hills and valley interested in adopting SRI method.