The document discusses sustainable agricultural practices in the western Himalayan region, focusing on food security in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. It highlights the impact of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) on improving yields through practices such as transplanting young seedlings, wider spacing, and organic matter addition. Data from trials show significant increases in grain yield and resilience during drought years, demonstrating the effectiveness of SRI methodologies across various crops.

1. SCI – A Pathway to Food Security - Experiences from HP and UKD - PEOPLE’S SCIENCE INSTITUTE, DEHRADUN

2. Sub-tropical to dry temperate climate (elevation: 200 m to >2200 m) Mean annual rainfall: 1500 mm Soils: shallow to deep loamy, having high organic matter 15% of the area is under cultivation 12% of net sown area (NSA) is irrigated, mostly rainfed terraced farming Isolated, fragmented and small landholdings (average: 1 acre/ hh) Common crops: wheat (37%), paddy (31%), maize (26%) and millets Western Himalayan Region

3. Uttarakhand: Trends in Rice & Wheat Production Source: Department of Agriculture, Uttarakhand, 2009 Total Geographical Area (lakh ha) Total Population (lakh) Average Rainfall (mm) Net Sown Area (lakh ha) Area under Paddy (lakh ha) Total Rice Production (lakh tonnes) Average Yield of Rice (t/ha) Area under Wheat (lakh ha) Total Wheat Production (lakh tonnes) Average Yield of Wheat (t/ha) 53.49 85 1547 7.66 2.76 5.50 1.9 3.92 8.15 2.1

4. Uttarakhand : A Food-Deficit State Source: Uttarakhand at a Glance, 2008

5. Himachal Pradesh: Trends in Rice & Wheat Production Source: Department of Agriculture, HP, 2009 Total Geographical Area (lakh ha) Total Population (lakh) Average Rainfall (mm) Net Sown Area (lakh ha) Area under Paddy (lakh ha) Total Rice Production (lakh tonnes) Average Yield of Rice (t/ha) Area under Wheat (lakh ha) Total Wheat Production (lakh tonnes) Average Yield of Wheat (t/ha) 55.67 60.78 1469 5.60 0.8 1.07 1.34 3.27 5.44 1.66

6. Himachal Pradesh : A Food- Deficit State Source: Statistical Outline of H.P., 2008

7. SRI : Practices and Principles SRI’s package of practices involving sustainable management of plants, soil, water and nutrients resulting in higher production with reduced external inputs could be extrapolated to other crops RECOMMENDED PRACTICES PRINCIPLES 1 Transplanting of young seedlings Utilizing early vigour of young seedlings 2 Wider spacing Reducing competition for light and nutrients 3 Single seedling per hill Reducing external inputs in form of seeds, water, etc 4 Alternate wetting and drying with shallow irrigation Keeping soil from becoming anoxic 5 Inter-cultivation with weeder Promoting healthy root growth 6 Addition of organic matter Increasing soil microbial activity and enhancing soil organic matter

8. Wheat Finger Millet Kidney Bean

9. Adaptations for Wheat, Finger Millet & Kidney Bean PAM: Panchgavya, Amritghol, Matkakhad Practice Wheat Finger Millet (Mandwa) Kidney Bean (Rajma) Young Seedlings Direct seed sowing in line / Transplanting of 10-25 day old seedlings Direct seed sowing in line / Transplanting of 15-20 day old seedlings Direct seed sowing in line Wider Spacing P to P : 15/20cm R to R : 15/20 cm P to P : 20 cm R to R : 20 cm P to P : 25 cm R to R : 30 cm Single Seedling / hill 1-2 seeds/seedlings per hill Line sowing or 1 seedling/hill 1-2 seeds/ hill Inter- Cultivation 2+ (manual weeding/ weeder/rake) 2+ (manual weeding) 2+ (manual weeding) Organic Matter Compost + PAM Compost + PAM Compost + PAM

10. Results of Trials on Other Crops (2006-08) The average increase in grain yield was more than 60 per cent 2006 2007 2008 Crop No. of farmers (area in ha) Conv. grain yield (Q/ha) SCI grain yield (Q/ha) (% incr.) No. of farmers (area in ha) Conv. grain yield (Q/ha) SCI grain yield (Q/ha) (% incr.) No. of farmers (area in ha) Conv. grain yield (Q/ha) SCI grain yield (Q/ha) (% incr.) Wheat (I) Research Farm (5.0 Ha) 16 22 (38%) 30 (0.224) 23.5 42.5 (81%) 557 (14.5) 24.4 48 (97%) Wheat (UI) - - - 19 (0.086) 15.5 25 (61%) 491 (6.7) 17.7 32.1 (81%) Mandwa - - - 5 (0.40) 18 24 (33%) 43 (0.80) 15 24 (60%) Rajma - - - 5 (0.40) 14 20 (43%) 113 (2.26) 18 30 (67%)

11. Coverage under SRI during Kharif 2009 Average landholding under SRI : 0.04 ha/household. In addition, about 1,700 farmers were mobilized to apply SRI principles in other crops covering 41.98 ha % Rainfall Reductions from Usual during 2009 Source: Indian Meteorological Department, 2009 Field Condition Farmers Area (ha) Target Achievement Target Achievement Irrigated - 3,161 - 104.24 Rainfed - 10,313 - 447.30 Total 16,000 13,474 (84%) 897 551.54 (61%) State June July August September Uttarakhand -58% -46% -52% +31% Himachal Pradesh -59% -25% -37% + 6%

12. Alterations in SRI Practices in Drought Year Recommended Practices Normal Year Drought Year (2009) Young Seedling 8-12 days 10-25 days Wider Spacing 25 x 25 cm P to P : 15-25cm R to R : 15-20cm Single Seedling / hill 1 / hill 1-3/ hill Alternative Wetting & Drying  Not under control Inter-Cultivation 2+ (mechanical weeding) 1+ (mechanical/ manual weeding) Organic Matter PAM PAM

13. Comparative Crop Cutting Results of 2009 The grain yields of conventional crop decreased by 31% as compared to a reduction of only 13% in SRI crops. In the drought year, while non-SRI yields stood close to 25 quintals per ha, the SRI yields were about 48 quintals per ha (an average increase of 92%). S. No. Particulars Normal Year (2006-2008) Drought Year (2009) Conventional SRI Conventional SRI 1 Ave. no. of effective tillers/ plant 7 21 5 18 2 Average plant height (cm) 99 122 88 102 3 Average panicle length (cm) 18 24 19 25 4 Average no. of grains/panicle 93 177 90 174 5 Grain yield (Q/ha) 36 55 25 48 6 Straw yield (Q/ha) 111 145 51 85

14. Adaptations for Other Kharif Crops in Drought Practice Conventional SCI Maize SCI Black Gram SCI Soyabean Young Seedling Direct seed Sowing Direct seed sowing in line Direct seed sowing in line Direct seed sowing in line Spacing Broadcasting P to P : 30/40 cm R to R : 30/40 cm P to P : 25 cm R to R : 30cm P to P : 30 cm R to R : 30 cm Single Seedling/hill - 1-2 seeds/hill 1-2 seeds/ hill 1-2 seeds/hill Inter- Culture 1+ (manual weeding) 3+ (manual weeding) 2+ (manual weeding) 2+ (manual weeding) Organic matter Compost Compost, PAM Compost, PAM Compost, PAM

15. Adaptations for Other Rabi Crops Practice Conventional SCI Mustard SCI Peas SCI Lentil SCI Gram Young Seedling Direct seed Sowing Direct seed sowing in line Direct seed sowing in line Direct seed sowing in line Direct seed sowing in line Spacing Broadcasting R to R : 15/20 cm P to P: 20 cm R to R: 30 cm P to P : 15 cm R to R : 15 cm P to P : 15-20 cm R to R : 30-45 cm Single seedling/hill - 1-2 seed/hill 1-2 seed/ hill 1-2 seed/hill 1-2 seed/hill Inter- culture 1+ (manual weeding) 2+ (manual weeding) 2+ (manual weeding) 2+ (manual weeding) 2+ (manual weeding) Organic matter Compost Compost, PAM Compost, PAM Compost, PAM Compost, PAM

16. Crop Coverage under SCI Management, 2009 -10 Kharif Rabi Name of crop Total farmers Area (in Ha) Name of crop Total farmers Area (in Ha) Maize 183 10.34 Wheat 4,151 84.03 Finger millet ( Mandwa ) 340 8.04 Mustard 68 1.74 Kidney bean ( Rajma ) 679 14.01 Peas 215 3.92 Black gram ( Urad ) 314 2.00 Gram 48 2.68 Soyabean 77 2.47 Lentil 31 1.88 Others 111 5.12 Others 82 1.46 1,704 41.98 4,595 95.71

17. SCI Crop Performance with Coarse Cereals, Kharif 2009 Particulars Finger Millet Maize Conven. SCI Conven. SCI Ave. no. of ears/plant (in maize: cob/plant) 3 5 2 3 Average plant height (cm) 69 87 142 177 Average no. of grains /ear (in maize: corns/cob) 310 493 230 380 Grain yield (T/ha) 1.2 2.2 1.7 2.3 % increase in grain yield - 83 - 35

18. SCI Crop Performance with Pulses, Kharif 2009 Particulars Black Gram Soyabean Kidney Bean Conven. SCI Conven. SCI Conven. SCI Ave. no. of pods /plant 46 79 35 56 36 55 Average plant height (cm) 42 56 47 66 160 210 Average no. of grains /pod 4 5 3 4 5 7 Grain yield (T/ha) 1.1 1.8 2.8 3.6 1.3 1.9 % increase in grain yield - 64 - 29 - 46

19. Crop Performance in SWI Crop Cuttings, Rabi 2009 Particulars Conv. SWI Average no. of effective tillers/ hill 2 10 Average plant height (cm) 83 105 Average panicle length (cm) 9 13 Average no. of grains /panicle 39 60 Grain yield (Q/ha) 28 51 Straw yield (Q/ha) 48 85 % increase in grain yield 82 % increase in straw yield 77

20. SCI Crop Performance with Other Crops, Rabi 2009 Particulars Mustard Pea (Vegetable) Gram Conv. SCI Conv. SCI Conv. SCI Average plant height (cm) 105 150 53 61 33 40 No. of siliquae/pods per plant 150 275 19 27 9 14 Average no. of seed/siliquae or grains /pod 10 15 3 5 1 2 Grain yield (T/ha) 1.4 2.0 21.3 30.2 0.9 1.3 % increase in grain yield 42 - 42 - 44

21. Coverage & Crop Performance under SCI, 2010-11 Rabi 2010: Wheat : 8267 farmers (358.84 ha); Other Crops: 745 farmers (34.46 ha) Name of Kharif crops Total Farmers Area (in Ha) Conventional grain yield (T/ha) SCI grain yield (T/ha) % Inc. Maize 682 63.61 2.3 4.7 104 Finger Millet ( Mandwa ) 747 15.66 0.9 1.8 100 Kidney bean ( Rajma ) 624 12.65 1.2 1.8 50 Black gram ( Urad ) 147 4.66 0.6 1.0 67 Soyabean 307 7.56 1.5 2.9 93 Others 160 6.67 - - 2,667 110.81

22. Research on SCI Trials on wheat crop performance under direct seed sowing with different spacing Trials on wheat crop performance under transplantation with different spacing Trials on wheat crop performance under inter cropping with pulses crops Trials on maize, mustard and peas with different spacing and no. of seeds Trials on newly designed seed drill

23. Results of trials conducted on directly-seeded SWI crop Dharamshala Block, Kangra Jhandutta Block, Bilaspur Variety: HS 295 Variety: HS 277 Parameter Conv. LS SWI -1 SWI-2 Conv. LS SWI-1 SWI-2 Line distance (cm) 25 25 x 25 20 x 20 22.5 20 x 20 15 x 15 Seed distance (cm) 25 x 25 20 x 20 20 x 20 15 x 15 No. of seed/hill 2 1 2 1 2 1 No. of tillers/Plant 2 10 13 7 12 7 2 14 10 Ave. plant height (cm) 73 70 72 80 85 76 73 84 85 82 Ave. ear length (cm) 7.5 11 9.5 8.0 9.5 9 11 9.3 13 13 Ave. no .of grain/ear 31 58 46 41 49 55 64 82 92 87 Grain yield (Q/ha) 15 25 20 17 22 25 30 43 60 33 Straw yield (Q/ha) 24 30 40 28 30 35 62 70 83 65

24. Results of trials conducted on directly-seeded SWI crop Karsog Block, Mandi Variety: HPW 249 Parameter Conv. LS-Drill LS-Plough SWI -1 SWI-2 Line distance (cm) 25 25 25 x 25 20 x 20 Seed distance (cm) 25 x 25 20 x 20 No. of seed/hill 2 1 2 1 No. of tillers/plant 2 4 1 11 9 8 11 Ave. plant height (cm) 63 66 67 67 71 67 68 Ave. ear length (cm) 8.8 9.2 8.4 11 11.2 10.8 11.8 Ave. no .of grain/ear 45 49 48 59 62 53 65 Grain yield (Q/ha) 20 35 30 42 44 50 53 Straw yield (Q/ha) 30 48 38 67 80 67 80

25. Results of trials on SWI crop performance under direct seed sowing (Dehradun) Maximum grain and straw yield was obtained under 20 cm spacing – line to line and seed Variety: PBW 502 Plot Size: 25 sq.m. T -1 T -2 T-3 T-4 T-5 Parameter Conv. SWI SWI SWI SWI SWI Line distance (cm) 10 15 20 25 20 Plant distance (cm) 10 15 20 25 15 No. of seeds/hill 2 seeds 2 seeds 2 seeds 2 seeds 2 seeds Total no. of productive tillers/hill 5 12 14 20 15 19 Average plant height (cm) 69 76 83 82 74 81 Average ear length (cm) 15 16.7 18.2 20.5 18.6 17.6 Grain yield (Q/ha) 29 43 49 54 33 49 Straw yield (Q/ha) 46 59 66 70 49 65

26. Results of trials conducted on transplanted SWI crop Under transplanted SWI, increases in grain yield of 41 to 87% were obtained Dharamshala Block, Kangra Jhandutta Block, Bilaspur Variety: HS 295 Variety: HS 277 Parameter Conv. SWI-1 SWI -2 SWI-3 Conv. SWI-1 SWI-2 SWI-2 Line distance (cm) 25 x 25 20 x 20 15 x 15 20 x 20 20 x 20 15 x 15 Seed distance (cm) 25 x 25 20 x 20 15 x 15 15 x 15 20 x 20 15 x 15 No. of seed/hill 2 2 2 1 1 1 No. of tillers/plant 2 13 7 5 2 14 12 9 Ave. plant height (cm) 73 85 78 82 73 84 84 84 Ave. ear length (cm) 7.5 11 9 9 11 14.4 12 9 Ave. no .of grain/ear 29 44 35 37 41 58 49 35 Grain yield (Q/ha) 9 13 15 10 30 63 55 50 Straw yield (Q/ha) 16 20 24 16 62 90 75 70

27. Impact of SWI crop on soil nutrient status Nitrogen Phosphorus Organic Carbon Treatment BS AH % Reduction BS AH % Reduction BS AH % Increase Conv. method 3.78 3.39 10 6.76 4.11 39 0.90 1.51 68 10 cm x 10 cm 10 cm x 10 cm 6.33 1.74 73 6.37 3.26 49 1.05 1.85 77 15 cm x 15 cm 15 cm x 15 cm 2.91 2.17 25 6.46 2.89 55 0.74 2.04 175 20 cm x 20 cm 20 cm x 20 cm 4.26 2.75 35 4.73 2.48 47 1.01 1.73 72 25 cm x 25 cm 25 cm x 25 cm 4.40 1.81 59 6.95 3.64 48 1.04 1.66 60 20 cm x 20 cm 15 cm x 15 cm 2.41 1.84 24 6.15 3.79 38 0.91 1.83 102 SWI method 4.06 2.06 49 6.13 3.21 48 0.95 1.82 92

28. Results of SWI trials conducted on inter-cropping with pulses Treatment -1 Treatment -2 Treatment-3 Parameter Wheat (HS 277) + Lentil /Masur (HPL 5) Wheat (HS 277) + Gram (HPG 17) Wheat (HS 277) + Masur (HPL 5) + Gram (HPG 17) Line distance (cm) 25 x 25 25 x 25 25 x 25 Crop production Wheat – 18.3 Q/ha Wheat - 18.7 Q/ha Wheat – 9.5 Q/ha Crop production Masur – 12.3 Q/ha Gram - 23.3 Q/ha Masur – 3 Q/ha Crop production Gram – 7.5 Q/ha

29. Results of trials on maize with different spacing (cm) Results of trials on maize with different no. of seeds Parameters Average plant height (cm) Average grains/cob Average cob length (cm) Grain yield (T/Ha) 50-50 X 50-05 (T-1) 185 322 25 5.7 40-40 X 40-40 (T-2) 192 356 29 6.5 30-30 X 30-30 (T-3) 187 297 23 5.8 Line sowing ( T-4) 193 255 20 4.8 Farmers’ practice (T-5) 155 191 17 2.3 Note: Line to line distance = 30 cm Parameters Average plant height (cm) Average grains/cob Average cob length (cm) Grain yield (T/Ha) One seed (T-1) 227 341 28 6.1 Two seed (T-2) 188 309 25 5.3 Farmers' practice (T-3) 171 215 20 2.8 Note: Line to line distance = 40 cm , Plant to plant distance = 40 cm

30. Cost:Benefit Analysis for SCI Crops vs. Conventional Method of Cultivation B:C ratio is more than 2:1 for most SCI crops Method Conventional SCI Total Expen-diture (Rs./ha) Gross Income (Rs./ha) Net Profit (Rs./ha) C-B Ratio Total Expen-diture (Rs./ha) Gross Income (Rs./ha) Net Profit (Rs./ha) C-B Ratio Direct seed sowing (wheat) 22,720 30,600 7,880 1:1.3 25,850 51,600 25,750 1:2.0 Finger millet ( mandwa ) 14,920 25,900 10,980 1:1.7 15,640 34,400 18,760 1:2.2 Kidney bean ( rajma ) 28,250 56,000 27,775 1:2.0 30,250 80,000 49,750 1:2.6 Mustard 21,630 32,000 10,370 1:1.4 17,500 48,000 30,500 1:2.7

31. Up-scaling Strategy Saturate villages where SRI has been successfully demonstrated by increasing the number of households and area coverage per household. Average family size = 5-6 members/household Ave. landholding = 0.3-0.4 ha/HH; 0.1 ha irrigated area (5 nalis ) Adoption of SCI on 3.25 lakh ha in UKD (45% of NSA) and on 1.31 lakh ha in HP (23% of NSA) can bring these states to foodgrain security Daily requirement (gm/p/d) Total annual HH require-ment (T) Average SCI production (T/ha/season) Target area coverage (ha/HH) Cereals 420 0.85-1.00 3 = 120 kg/nali/yr 0.14 = 7 nalis Pulses 40 0.08-0.09 1.5 = 60 kg/nali/yr 0.03 = 1.5 nalis

32. Critical Areas for Up-scaling SCI Research Improvements in package of practices Effective capacity-building strategy Networking among stakeholders Convergence with other programmes Policy framework Farmers should be provided flexibility for adoption of different principles under SCI

33. R ice-wheat is the predominant system, with yields lower than 2 T/ha Subsistence-oriented agriculture Forestry & livestock rearing - an integral component of farming Active participation of women High utilization of organic matter Mostly local varieties are used Inadequate market linkages and non- accessibility to roads Restricted availability of credit and extension services Weak village-level institutions Crop Production System in Western Himalayas Introduction of SRI in 2006

34. Field Support Activities Field Marking Seed Sowing Line Sowing Weeding

35. Conclusion: SCI is Boon for Mountain Farmers 88% of households are small or marginal with less than 0.4 ha (1 acre) per family. Rice and wheat are the staple foods of the populace. Higher stalk volume means more fodder for the cattle. More farmyard manure and possibly increased milk yields. POTENTIAL TO ADDRESS THE FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOOD NEEDS OF SMALL AND MARGINAL FARMERS

36. SCI Farmers’ Perceived Benefits & Constraints A. BENEFITS Less seed requirement Saving in water Less disease occurrence Less lodging Earlier maturity Higher grain yields Higher grain quality Increased biomass Improved soil fertility B. CONSTRAINTS Difficulty in changing mindset Time-bound operations Labour-intensive Unavailability of irrigation and rainfall aberrations Limited availability of quality equipments Inadequate compost material More effort is required in operating weeder for small terraces & hard soil

37. Cost:Benefit Analysis for SWI Crop vs. Conventional Methods of Cultivation For SWI crop -- B:C ratio is more than 2:1 Expenditure (in Rs./ha) Method Plough- ing Seed Seed Sowing Manure Weeding Insect & Pest Control Harvesting & Threshing Others Total Conven-tional 10,000 2,500 4,062 2,400 1,200 850 4,100 2,000 27,112 SWI 10,000 500 6,250 3,450 5,400 500 4,800 2,500 33,400 Ave. Crop Yields (Q/ha) Value of Grain and Straw (Rs.) Net Profit (Rs/ha) Benefit- Cost Ratio Grain Straw Grain Straw Total Conven-tional 28 48 30,800 9,600 40,400 13,288 1.5 :1 SWI 50 85 55,000 17,000 72,000 38,600 2.2:1

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