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Experience with the system of rice intensification for sustainable rainfed paddy farming systems in India

ABSTRACT Principles of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), an agroecological methodology for improving rice crop performance, were introduced in the Dharwad district of Karnataka, India, in 2008 by an NGO wanting to improve the sustainability of rainfed paddy-farming systems. Farmer field schools enabled 82 farmers to adopt and adapt SRI practices in the initial season. SRI’s alternative practices were found to contribute to healthier roots and more productive tillers, the average number of tillers per plant on farmers’ SRI and control plots being 19 and 7, respectively. SRI was found to require 87% less seed than with traditional methods; yet, it gave 40% more yield per unit area in a drought year. The economic returns per hectare were 76% greater. There was some early evidence of soil-fertility improvement, but this can only be assessed over longer periods of time. Three years after introduction, over 3,000 farmers had continued adopting SRI practices in the district. In another 3 years, the number using these new methods had reached almost 29,000 in Dharwad and neighboring districts.