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

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

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

4.
Experience. . S. NO Subject 2007 -Rabi 2008 - Kharif 2008- Rabi 2009-Rabi Remarks 1 Number of tanks 1 2 3 11 Contiguous area in demos with incentives. Fast spread & less drop-outs 2 Number of farmers 15 92 48 189 3 Acres 7 113 29 525 4 Total area 7 142 525+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 <ul><li>Irrigation systems to be redesigned </li></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Present design is for inundation </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Re-design for wet & dry system of irrigation </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Neerugatti ( water distributor) needs to reorient his irrigation schedule / knowledge </li></ul></ul></ul><ul><li>Block approach </li></ul><ul><ul><li>Large area in one pocket – requirements </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Labor skill-building </li></ul></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Equipment - need timely availability </li></ul></ul></ul></ul><ul><ul><ul><ul><li>Handholding support </li></ul></ul></ul></ul>

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

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) SRI Conv. SRI Conv SRI Conv. SRI Conv. 1 MTU-1010 Sandy loam 256 303 238 280 6 5.21 24.5 21 2 Tellahamsa Saline 252 286 230 271 5.1 4.47 20.3 17.5 <ul><ul><li>Crop Cutting & Field Days </li></ul></ul>

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. . <ul><li>Input subsidies </li></ul><ul><li>Demonstrate & expect to diffuse </li></ul><ul><li>Trainings </li></ul><ul><li>One-season demos </li></ul><ul><li>Area approach </li></ul><ul><li>Community-based institutional arrangements </li></ul><ul><li>Skill building of labor </li></ul><ul><li>Subsidies for specific constraints </li></ul><ul><li>Three years duration </li></ul>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. . Parameter NFSM 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 Equipment Centrally 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 <ul><li>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. </li></ul><ul><li>A field-level facilitator to anchor the process </li></ul>

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

15.
Conti. . <ul><li>Training skill-building labor in nursery bed preparation, transplantation, and weeding </li></ul><ul><li>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 </li></ul>

16.
Thank You