This document summarizes a policy dialogue workshop on promoting the SRI (System of Rice Intensification) method in Chhattisgarh, India. SRI has the potential to quadruple rice yields with less water, seeds, and chemicals. The workshop aimed to increase coordination between policymakers, scientists, and farmers to promote SRI adoption. Key presentations discussed Chhattisgarh's rice culture and need to improve nutrition, an overview of SRI's water and yield benefits, and details on implementing SRI's agronomic practices. The goal was to establish a supportive policy environment and programs to help more farmers adopt SRI.

1. REPORT OF CHATTISGARH STATE LEVEL POLICY
DIALOGUE AND ORIENTATION WORKSHOP ON
MADAGASKAR SYSTEM ( SRI) PROMOTION
Background
Chattisgarh is a rice growing state with nearly 85 percent of cultivated area
under rice. Most of this is a single monsoon crop in rain-fed conditions.
Traditional rice farming and practices are part and parcel of the culture and
economy of rural life. The traditional system, broadcast-biyasi is the most
prevalent and transplanting had spread mostly in irrigated areas which is
limited to around 20% of the rice area. Average yield improvement even
after introduction of HYV’s and chemicals in the last 40 years; is only a
minimal 40% , from 9-10 tons to 14-15 tons per hectare. This approximate 1
percent annual growth in productivity comes with a greater production costs
to farmers in the form of fertilsers, chemicals and increased energy use. Both
of these costs are continuously increasing enormously adding burden not
only to farmers; but also on government expenditure on these items.
Attempts to introduce techno-fixes like Hybrid rice will not be helpful to
farmers in Chattisgarh who are particular about adaptability and eating
quality of rice more than just yield.
A tall indigenous rice under SRI in dry-land at JSS
The Madagaskar system or SRI as an agronomic practice has the potential to
quadruple yields from present low levels. This has been demonstrated in
Chattisgarh by experiments conducted by Jan Swasthya Sahayog in

2. Bilaspur and some other NGO’s like Dharohar in Bastar. Some extension
workers of Agriculture Department and some KVK’s also had done farmer
field trials with encouraging results. Even though IGAU scientists had been
attending the National symposiums on SRI not enough work had been
initiated by University.
The Second National Symposium on SRI held in Agartala was attended by
IGAU scientists and representatives and farmers from JSS Bilaspur and
Dharohar etc. Here the idea of a state level meeting on SRI promotion was
conceived during discussions with Dr. Biksham Gujja, Dr Goud etc of
WWF,Hyderabad. The responsibility of pursuing this idea was taken up by
Jacob Nellithanam of JSS, Bilaspur. Personal meetings with the Director of
Agriculture Mr Pratap Kridutt, IAS and Dr R K Singh, IFS: Director of the
State Institute of Rural Development helped in crystallizing the idea further
to two meetings. One of them being a policy dialogue with Agricultural
department officials and research scientists from IGAU, Raipur. Another one
to give Orientation to NGO’s and interested farmers by sharing experience
gained in the state by farmers and with the help of experts and promoters
from other states. This was first of its kind of effort on SRI promotion in
Chattisgarh.
A fine rice variety close-up having yield potential of 8 tons

3. The aim was to bring in more co-ordination of efforts at experimenting and
promoting SRI in the state. SRI promotion needs more efforts than to take it
up as one of the programs for extension; because the nature of it being more
intensive in time management and farmers involvement. Better
understanding among policy makers and scientists can promote a conducive
policy environment and programmatic support for farmers demonstrating
the technique in villages. This kind of a clear policy is lacking in State in
spite of field trials since past 3 years.
Another important aspect of Chattisgarh farming is the huge numbers of
adapted rice varieties with high yield potential and various quality traits.
There is many scented rice varieties which are short-fine having a premium
price available in the regional markets. The varieties like Dubraj, Chinnor,
Badshabhog Wishnubhog, Ramjhira, Karikamod etc. are quite famous.
Indigenous varieties suitable for rain-fed areas
Fine varieties like HMT, DRK and traditional ones like Luchai group and
Safri group has also great market potential. Since SRI yield increase is not
dependant on varieties; these varieties can be grown under Organic
conditions to double or even triple their yields; and the surpluses can be
marketed to give the advantage of better prices to the Adhivasi and marginal
farmers. Direct marketing linkages can be created through Self-help groups,
once enough surplus organic produce is made possible through SRI
adoption.

4. Policy Dialogue on SRI Promotion in
Chattisgarh.
Date: 19th December 2007
Venue: Chattisgarh State Agricultural Training Academy
Indira Gandhi Agricultural University Campus,
Raipur, Chattisgarh
The dialogue program started late due to some delay in the arrival
of agricultural department officials. Secretary, Food and civil supplies Dr
Alok Shukla IAS was present but had to leave early after an informal
session due to delay in starting the proceedings.
Director Agriculture, Pratap Kridut welcomes Dr Alok Shukla, IAS
The Inaugural Session was Presided by Agricultural Produce commissioner,
Mr Sergius Minz IAS.The Session was conducted by Jacob Nellithanam of
Jan Swasthya Sahayog, Bilaspur.
Dr Yogesh Jain, MD; physician and Executive Member of Jan Swasthya
Sahayog, Bilaspur gave his lecture as an introduction to the dialogue.
Sharing his experience as a doctor catering to more than 1000 villages in
rural Chattisgarh, he focused on the stark reality of poor nutrition leading to
low weights of population, much lower than minimum standards. This

5. shows the consistently low food intake and nutrition among people. Low
weights leads low efficiency in doing manual work leading to lower
agricultural production and lower wages. Low nutrition and weights leads to
more diseases in rural agrarian communities. More than 60% children are
severely undernourished and most rural women are anemic and have lower
than required body weights. Lower nutrition from food through PDS and
agricultural chemical residues in vegetables, and water also increases
disease burden .
Due to poor nutrition and calorie intake rural areas have more diseases than
urban areas including diseases like blood pressure, cancer , diabetes etc;
along with usual diseases like tuberculosis, malaria , diarrhea etc. Under
these circumstances prevailing in the state, there is urgent need to improve
food production in all rural communities. There is need to increase diversity
in food produced locally and should be done organically. So Madagaskar
system of rice production known as SRI becomes important as program for
the rice growing state of Chattisgarh.
Dr. Vinod Goud, from World Wide Fund for Nature, Hyderabad; who is
working with WWF-ICRISAT project on water in his lecture gave an
overview of the SRI promotion and spread scenario in India. He pointed
out the notion that, “ the more the water used in farming the more will be
the yield’ had become entrenched among farmers. This notion is harming
environment and our farming ecosystem. To change this false notion WWF
decided to take up and promote SRI in India which uses less water to
increase production.
Dr Vinod Goud gives an overview of SRI promotion in India

6. WWF had organised two National symposium on SRI in November 2006 at
Hyderabad and one in October 2007 at Agartala in Tripura. There is increase
in consumption of rice and rice farming consumes 50% of the irrigation
water; which is nearly 80% of all available water resources. Also pollution
caused by fertilisers and pesticides makes a lot of fresh water un usable.
Thus SRI becomes relevant because of its capacity to produce more using
less water, seeds, fertilsers & pesticides. In Madagaskar this method was
developed by a priest Fr Laughline and farmers who worked with him
around 1983. Later Cornell University Professor Dr. Norman Uphoff had
helped spread the system world wide. Nearly in 20 states of India farmers
are experimenting and adopting SRI. The state of Tripura had promoted the
system in 10% rice area by State Government Agriculture Department.
This is a simple system where some agronomic practice changes are
involved; like planting young seedlings at wider distance in lines and rows,
using manual weeder between rows to incorporate weeds in the soil, water
management through well drained fields and organic inputs for soil fertility
are major components. Farmers may face some problems like managing
water to keep fields drained or irrigate at regular intervals. Manpower
availability for planting, weeding etc. All these issues can be solved
depending on the conditions prevailing. There is need for much more
awareness building and training. As more and more farmers adopt, solutions
to minor problems in adoption will emerge locally. Increased production and
decrease in use of water will reduce conflict related to water sharing and use.
Dr.Bahrul Islam Mazumdar, Chief Agronomist, State Agricultural
Research Station, Agartala; was the main resource person for the Dialogue.
He through his presentation explained the questions Why & How of SRI
based on his experience on experimenting and extension work of SRI in
Tripura state through the Department of agriculture.
According to him SRI is a simple technique, but people don’t easily
understand because they tends to think in a complicated fashion. Using a
power point presentation having lot of visuals he explained the practice in
detail. Since rice seedling needs to be transplanted at 8-12 days age, there is
need to handle seedling like infants in all stages of uprooting, transporting
and planting. It may take more time in doing the planting because of the care
needed, but after a few seasons farmers will become skilled and efficient.

7. Dr Bahrul Majumdar speaks, APC Mr Sergius Minz,IAS on the dias
He stressed the need for soil to breath because soil fertility is maintained by
living creatures and micro organisms with in the topsoil. There should not be
standing water in the soil making it possible for more oxygen to reach the
soil in the root zone. To control the increased growth of weeds rotary weeder
should be used timely. If this is done between rows of plants 3-4 times
during the first 1 ½ months from transplanting at intervals of 10 -12 days
weeds will be controlled and soil aeration facilitates root growth and
tillering. First weeding at 10 -12 days transplanting dates is very critical to
vegetative growth and number of tillers.
Mr Sergius Minj IAS, the Agricultural Produce commissioner of the state ,
attended the inaugural session in his address mentioned that this Dialogue on
SRI- Promotion and the Orientation Workshop is important for the
Chattisgarh State. He said he learned a lot about SRI and its potential by
listening to the sessions presentations. This is critical times in farming and
agricultural production and the crisis is revealed in the form of farmer
suicides in the country. Governments are concerned and started two main
programs named National Agriculture Development Program and the Food
Security Mission. The objective is to increase the growth rate of production
and income of farmers. SRI will be a great boon to the state if promoted
effectively through the state; if we can save water and increase production
at least by 20 % over all in rice. This system doesn’t look very difficult to
promote and next year government should take this up as an essential
component of extension program.

8. Sergius Minz IAS, Agricultural Produce Commissioner speaks
Due to delay in the proceedings not much interactions with participants
happened before the lunch period . The venue turned out to be small due to
the number of participants who has attended. Some farmers who were to
attend next day Orientation also came early.
Afternoon session began late because of previous delay and some
practical difficulties in lunch arrangements. This happened because the
venue being a new and its facilities being still under development.
Selvam Ramaswamy an experienced organic Farmer and Activist
from Erode district Tamilnadu as a resource person shared his Organic
Farming and SRI experience. His Organic farming vision is understanding
nature and playing like a child with it. This way the farm has to be
developed by farmers themselves. He uses preparations like Panchagavya,
Amruthpanni and vermi-compost as inputs to his fields. He also prepares
insect repellant sprays from leaves of plants which are not browsed by goats
from around his fields and waste lands. The leaves are crushed together and
mixed with cow urine to prepare bio-pesticides.

9. Officers of the Agriculture Department and scientists
‘Panchagavya’ is an effective bio-fertilizer prepared from five products from
cow; the cow dung, cow urine, milk, curd and ghee. All this is mixed along
with some Jaggery and ripe bananas and fermented for a fortnight to prepare
Panchagaya. Farmer doesn’t need to apply any other inputs to his farm.
Sharing his experience as the first farmer to adopt SRI in his district; he said
farmers have to be patient in the in the initial stage of SRI adoption. Other
farmers and neighbors will start ridiculing and laugh at you when you plant
single seedling at wide spacing. But they will change their opinion when
they see large number of tillers after two weedings using cono-weeder and
on maturity.
SRI should be practiced with traditional local seeds which will give more
straw along with higher grain yields. More straw gives more fodder to farm
animals. Local varieties gives less chaffy seeds and can produce up to 90-95
tillers. When he was doing this in initial years an old laborers women told
that in her younger days they also used to plant rice with very wide spacing.
Prof Ajay Verma , Professor from Faculty of agricultural Engineering ,
IGAU, Raipur; shared his work on developing implements for SRI. He
specially discussed the Ambika Paddy weeder, a rotary weeder promoted by
IGAU, which is best suited for SRI operations. He also mentioned the need
to do further research and modification on implements as SRI tools.
Miss Sabarmati involved in promotion of SRI in Orrissa, through
Sambhav, an Ngo based in Nayagarh district shared about her SRI
experiments and promotional efforts and related training issues in Orrissa.
In Orissa farmers are in the forefront in adopting SRI and Government
initiatives have only begun. Use of only a small amount of seeds in SRI is of

10. great advantage in adhivasi dominated Orissa. Sambhav is doing Organic
farming since a decade. Chemical fertilisers are supposed to increase fertility
but they are actually making soil infertile. Experimental land in Sambhav is
of poor quality with more sand than clay making water retention difficult. In
organic farming there is no weeds but one can use them as fertilisers by
composting or mulching.
Exhibition of SRI posters and local seeds from JSS & Dharohar
Mr Chandrasekhar Sahu, Chairman, Chattisgarh State Seed
Corporation participated in the afternoon deliberations. He said now there is
an urgent need to focus on the ideas and research work done by late Dr. R H
Richharia. His work on traditional rice varieties and farming knowledge is
very relevant now. The varieties from farmers and traditional knowledge
should be used and systematically promoted. There is an urgent need to do a
thorough critique of green revolution strategies. Modern chemical farming
had made cotton and orange farmers of Vidharbha completely debt ridden.
So we have to develop a program to make Chattisgarh an organic rice
producing state in a big way. He concluded his remarks with a slogan,
“Local Rice ,very nice”.
Mr Prafull Katre, Asso: Prof., Agri Engg Collage gave the vote of
thanks on behalf of all the organisers. In spite of the deliberations not
leading to any policy decisions or discussions due to lack of time; the
participation of officials and farmers from civil society was encouraging.
Even though the event took place in the IGAU campus participation of
scientists was only minimal. This could be due to the still prevailing
Prejudice against SRI among scientists and university administrators.

11. Orientation Workshop on Madagaskar
System (SRI)
Date: 20th September 2007.
Venue: State Institute of Rural Development,
Nimora, Raipur.
The inaugural Session of the Orientation workshop was attended and
Chaired by Dr. R K Singh, Director SIRD.
Jacob Nellithanam, Program Coordinator, Jan Swasthya Sahayog, Bilaspur,
gave the introduction and welcomed the participants.
Dr R K Singh , Director SIRD speaks at the Inaugural Session
A formal Inauguration was done by lighting of the lamp ceremony and
planting rice seedlings on a field model in a tray. Dr R K Singh Dr Bahrul
Majumdar and Dr Goud and other guests jointly lighted the lamp.

12. One of the Women farmers inaugurates by lighting the lamp
Dr Bahurul Majumdar gave detailed presentation on Madagaskar method.
He started by stating that if Tripura state can promote SRI rice cultivation, it
can be done in Chattisgarh state also. The method needs only 2 Kg seeds
compared to existing requirement of 30-50 Kg per acre. This method is more
intensive in terms of farmers thinking and involvement on a regular basis
and is not limited to sowing and a few operations in conventional methods.
Keeping the farming crisis in mind we should think not only about today but
also for tomorrow. Looking at the crisis developing regarding water , we
should device ways to do rice farming using less water . Using a Power point
presentation noted the system was being adapted and developed by tribal
marginal farmers through their innovative thinking and trials.
A system in which every thing from seeds, water, labor, fertilisers and
pesticides is less but higher in yields per acre is beneficial to farmers. Care
needs to be taken in uprooting the nursery seedlings; so that each seedling
has soil and seed attached to it while planting. Plant seedlings gently by
placing seedling on top of the mud, taking care not to push down the
seedling deep. This allow seedling to establish soon with out yellowing.

13. A section of the women participants
In well drained fields more weed growth occurs should not be considered
a problem; but can be incorporated as a green manure using rotary weeders
at regular intervals of 10 days after planting. With about an inch of standing
water a minimum of 3 weeding should be done to incorporate weeds and
allow soil aeration.
Dr Anurag Bhargav, MD a physician from J S S, Bilaspur, made a
presentation regarding the need for increased food production through
Organic methods. Sharing from his experience of seeing around 250
patients daily at JSS health centre what they see is the problems
representative of the whole of rural India. Each day some 3 or 4 new
tuberculosis patients comes, and is not seasonal like other common illness
like malaria, diarrhea, cholera , fevers etc. If look at key reasons to illness
and death in rural India, we find under nutrition as the key to causation due
to lack of sufficient food intake and persistent hunger. Due to persistent low
food intake the population don’t have weights according to their age and is
much below minimum required for a healthy working person.
Pregnant women are weighing only 25-30 kilograms. Infants are
malnourished from mothers womb itself and will continue to be underweight
throughout life. A person with low body weight will continuously fall sick.
So in Chattisgarh, there is an urgent need to increase rice production and
promotion of Madagaskar system of organic rice production is the best

14. option before the state. JSS tries to popularize the system by farmer field
trials in villages of intensive health work.
Fertilisers and pesticides used for chemical farming affect health by causing
water pollution and residues in food. It affects wildlife like birds, fishes and
environment and farming eco-system adversely. Most vegetables we eat are
polluted with pesticide residues causing even fertility problems in
population. There fore diversified organic farming which will produce more
cereals, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables and fruits to cater to the food needs each
region is an urgent need.
Roundtable seating facilities at the SIRD helped better communication
Selvam Ramaswamy organic farmer from Tamilnadu, explained in detail the
farming crisis and the alternatives developed by Organic farmers. Chemical
farming kills the micro organisms in soil, thus increasing input costs further.
This leads to indebtedness among farmers. Organic farmers produce
‘Panchagavya’ and ‘Amrit Pani’ and apply to the fields thus increasing
microbial growth and better nutrient availability to plants. These
preparations acts as growth hormones and provides resistance to plant
diseases and pests.
Miss Sabarmatee, an expert organic farming trainer, in Orissa shared lessons
from experiments and training workshops in the state to promote SRI. In
Orissa several orientation workshops and a policy dialogue with state
department were organised and government is taking measures to support

15. promotion of SRI. More over a lot of NGO’s is working notably Pradhan in
a large scale.
Farmers experience sharing session
Farmers who have experimented in their own fields during the past one or
two years were requested to share experience and opinion with the
participants. Most of them did small plot trials measuring 10 to 20 decimals
An women farmer sharing her SRI experience
Balram Baghel, Adhivasi farmer from Khajgaon in Kondagaon, Bastar his
10 decimal plot where he planted local rice Safri yielded 2 Quintal Paddy,
which means an yield of 5 tons per hectare.
Sukhruram Nag also from Kondagaon said his villagers laughed at him
seeing his SRI trial field initially but changed their opinion seeing better
yields on standing crop at maturity.
Baliram Khasyap , Adhivasi from village Khadparhi, Kondagaon,
experimented with local scented variety, Basmukhi and got good yield at the
first trials itself.
Revathi Bai a women farmer from village Barrar in Kota , Bilaspur; in her
experiment in 10 decimals planted with a superfine rice variety DRK got an
yield of 1 ½ quintals. The number of tillers per plants was on an average 35.

16. Amarsingh a farmer from Rathkhandi in Kota, Bilaspur shared his
experience in interesting details. In his 12 decimal plot he used less than 150
gram seed and produced 350 Kg of paddy using a fine variety DRK. The
yield per acre work out to 30 Quintals .
Mahesh Sharma , Program Manager, Organic Farming at JSS Bilaspur
shared the overall experience of SRI promotion program in farmers fields
and experimental trials at JSS campus. JSS maintain and experiments with
more than 70 local rice to estimate yield potential under SRI with only
organic inputs and do experiments to adapt SRI to rain-fed rice farming
systems. In JSS program one farmer produced 9 Quintals of Paddy from his
32 decimal SRI plot. If there is shortage of farmyard manure or compost
green manure crop like Sunhemp or Daincha should be grown in the field
and incorporated before transplanting after mid July or early August.
Concluding Session
Post-lunch session was dedicated to discuss policy support and further
promotion programs in Chattisgarh, learning from other states experiences
Dr. Majumdar explained about Tripura governments initiatives on SRI
promotion. In Tripura government gives a grant of 4,500 rupees per hectare
to SRI farmers and provides weeders and bio-fertilisers. The SRI benefits
were explained to ministers and legislators to create political support. In the
year 2006-07, 14,000 hectares of rice area was brought under SRI
cultivation. Chief Minister visited trial fields and is taking lot of interest.
Training and video exhibition was organised through out state to create
awareness and tours were organised by extension officers. Pamphlets and
posters were printed. Even competitions were done among farmers.
Dr Vinod Goud opined that the governments role is critical in SRI
promotion. Panchayat Raj Institutions can be mobilized and to promote
farmers field trials. There is a need to bring it to the notice of legislators.
Training materials needs to be produced to give extensive training to farmers
Farmers from various parts of the state like Rajnandgaon, Jhanjgir-Champa,
Narayanpur in Bastar and Raipur expressed their interest to start SRI
cultivation from next Kharif season.

17. Swami Adyanandji from Ramakrishna Ashram in Narayanpur, Bastar who
attended with his colleagues said they have benefited from the workshop and
committed himself to initiate experiments and promote SRI in the
forthcoming season.
Mr Prafull Katre from IGAU discussing the needs of SRI- promotion and
efforts of Agricultural Engineering college said they will work on improving
and adapting different weeders to SRI field conditions prevailing in
Chattisgarh. Will develop promotional material with the help of Extension
Department and ATIC in IGAU, Campus.
A group picture of the Orientation workshop participants
Dr R K Singh, Director SIRD, giving his ideas on promotional needs said;
there should be selection of farmers from each district who will demonstrate
for other farmers. A district level coordinator should be also assigned
responsibility. Good training material needs to be produced for the whole
state. A website also will be a good tool. He had promised that SIRD will
produce a documentary on SRI next year with visuals from Chattisgarh.
There is need for strong networking to share experience and ideas.
The vote of thanks was given by freelance journalist Baba Mayaram. He
also undertook the responsibility of reporting the proceedings
Mr Ajay T G, a documentary film maker did the video recording of the
proceedings of both days meetings.