Rice Cultivation with SRI Method

(Jeeraphool Rice)

SRI method is a scientific method of rice cultivation, which has the potential to double the production of rice compared to traditional methods on the same land. It is less water, labour and seed intensive method of rice cultivation.

Principles of SRI Method

• (2 leaf stage)Seedling transplantation, as after 15 days if transplantation is done then growth of rice reduces.
• Protecting the seedling’s root and transplanting shocks, saving it from dryness, as any damage to the roots damages the plant growth.
• Each transplantation has to be done at a distance of 10-12 inches in a line so that the root and the plant get ambient nutrition and environment.
• Rice is not an aquatic plant and hence only adequate moisture is sufficient.

• Weeding through weeder shall be done two to three times to ensure aeration of the soil so that plants can grow. Weeding through machine can increase the produce by 4 quintal per acre.
• Use of sufficient organic manure so that soil’s fertility, water holding capacity increases and simultaneously production increases as well.

Segregation of Seeds and Treatment

• For 1 acre of land 2kg of healthy seeds (the seeds shall be of similar colour and shouldn’t have any stains)
• Mix an amount of salt in half bucket of water so that an egg or similar sized potato begins to float.
• In this water soak the seeds.
• The seeds which begin to float shall be eliminated.
• The healthy seeds shall be taken out and shall be washed in clean water 3-4 times.

Treatment through Organic Methods

• Take water in a utensil so that seeds get submerged in it. In this add 10 ml of indigenous cow’s urine or 40 ml of Beejamrita per litre of water.
• Seeds shall be soaked for 3-4 hours in this mixture.
• For germination, the seeds shall be taken out packed in jute bags and left in shade for 24 hours.

Preparation of Nursery

• Nursery shall be made in the field where transplantation has to be done or close by.
• For 1 acre land for plantation plots of size 20 feet* 5feet shall be made.
• For irrigation and removing excess water each field shall be 1.5 feet apart.
• Every plot shall be provided with 2-3 basket cow-dung compost.
• For 1 acre of rice plantation 2kg of seeds are required.
• Treated germinated seeds are divided into 4 equal parts and every part is applied in the 4 plots of the field.

Preparation of the Main field

• A month or month and a half before transplantation, as manure Dhaincha, seeds of kidney beans, black gram or Charauta. Subabul or leaves of trees which can decompose fast can be added as well. 15 days before plantation the field shall be ploughed.
• Field shall be properly prepared after ploughing. In 1 acre field, 50 quintal of cow-dung or 3 tractors of it shall pe applied.
• Per acre 200kg of Ghanjeevamrita shall be applied.
• After ploughing the field properly, around the boundary of the field a trench of width 1.5 feet and depth 1 foot shall be dug and within the field a trench between every 10 feet shall be formed.
• By last ploughing the field shall have 1 inch water over and above the soil.

Seedling uprooting and Transplantation

• On the 14^th day or when 2-leaf stage is reached the seedling shall be carefully uprooted along with soil.
• For carrying till the mail field broad utensil shall be used.
• In the main field with the help of marker or ropes 10-12inch line shall be made
• The uprooted seedling shall be planted at the marked places within half an hour of uprooting. Roots shall not be forced into the ground.

Weeding and Water Management

• 10-15 days after plantation, at least 3 weedings shall be done by weeder machine.
• Conoweeder shall be run along the line of the plantation. Weeding machine turns up the soil and hence the decaying materials reach deeper into the soil.
• Ensure that water levels are not more than 1 inches.
• After every weeding, Ghanjeevamrita, (200kg distribute in 3 parts) or Jeevamrita( 1 litre Jeevamrita in 20 litres of water) shall be used.

Diseases and Treatments

• Rice primarily gets infected by stinking bugs, stem piercing beetles, pathogens on leaves, blasters and blight.
• To ensure prevention after every 15 days Neemastra or Handidawa shall be mixed with water and sprayed.
• HAndidawa, Neemastra, Jeevamrita, and Ghanjeevamrita shall be stored beforehand so that the can be applied timely.

Productivity and Income

Productivity achieved can be 30-40 quintal per acre that is 8-10 quintal per 25 dismile.

For 25 dismil land, the production cost including seeds, manures, irrigation and workers comes at around Rs4600, which gives a produce of 800kg. On being sold at Rs12 per kg, one can earn a profit of Rs5000.

1800 farmers followed this model and have earned 5000-15000.