TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Two years back when the Directorate of Agriculture introduced system of rice intensification (SRI) in a bid to increase the yield of paddy cultivation in the state, the department today boasts that most paddy farmers are now going for this technology.
‘There are more and more paddy farmers switching over to the SRI methodology because it increases production one and half to two times double than the conventional method of cropping,” Agriculture Director Prajapati Toofani told Herald.
He explained that the agro-ecological method increases productivity of irrigated rice by changing the management of plants, soil, water and nutrients. “It improves plant establishment methods… it is also enhancing the profitability of farmers,” he claimed.
While in conventional system of cultivation, 20 kg seed is required per acre; under the SRI system only two kg see in one acre of seed per acre gives a profitable result. “If organic manure is added, then the yield will be even more,” the director.
With the department leaving no stone unturned to promote the SRI, the new method has shown an impressive result with Toofani disclosing that the rice yield has been raised up to eight tons beating 3.5 to four tons production through the traditional method.
In its third year, the department will cover 1,000 hectares spread across many parts of the State under this system only to expand it further in future. “The SRI will cover all talukas but at present we are holding motivation meetings at zonal and taluka level to decide the exact location,” the director added.
The experts are also creating awareness on how to use this system among the paddy cultivators including youths who plan to plunge in farming business. According to the department figures, around 28,380 hectares are covered under paddy cultivation.
