The document summarizes a workshop held in Chhattisgarh, India on promoting the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method of cultivation. [1] SRI has led to improved rice yields of 50-300% in trials over the past decade. [2] The workshop brought together over 225 participants, including farmers, scientists, and government officials, to discuss experiences with and strategies for expanding SRI. [3] Government leaders expressed support for further promoting SRI to increase food security and productivity in Chhattisgarh, a major rice producing state.

1. Report on the workshop on “Productivity enhancement through up-scaling SRI
experience in Chhattisgarh”
On May 25 2010 a one day workshop on ‘Productivity Enhancement through Up-scaling SRI Experience in
Chhattisgarh’ was organised by PRADAN and JSS in collaboration with Dept. of Agriculture (NFSM),
Government of Chhattisgarh, IGKV, Raipur and SDTT, Mumbai.
The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is an innovative approach to paddy cultivation that has become
popular in India (and the rest of the rice growing parts of the world) and holds out great promise for the much
needed enhancement in grain production. SRI can ensure year-round food security for families with
landholdings of approximately one acre. In trials over the past decade, this package of practices has worked
well under rain-fed conditions, resulting in improved yields of 50% to 300%. SRI is a boon for small and
marginal farmers who have little to irrigation, and also provides a solution to distress migration through
enhanced productivity and year-round food security.
SRI has been popularized in India over the last 6 years. Having shown immense results there is an ongoing
effort on the part of both researchers and practitioners to extend the fundamentals of this technology to other
crops as well. Thus technologies such as the System of Root Intensification of Wheat, Sugarcane Intensification
System (SIS) and SMI (Millets) have emerged.
In May 2008, PRADAN initiated the SRI method of paddy cultivation in selected areas of Chhattisgarh through
its partner organisations with financial support from Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT). It supported 11 NGOs in 7
districts. These NGOs executed field trials of SRI covering 800 farmers with an area of 80 Ha. In these areas
paddy crop cultivated by SRI method have shown encouraging results and in the following year the programme
could reach to 4000 famers in 9 districts of Chhattisgarh.
The workshop had the borad objectives of
• Sharing the experiences by practicing farmers and researchers from diverse background within and
outside state would ensure better learning.
• Knowledge and understanding of the participants on SRI will be enhanced
• Effective partnership between civil society organisations and state agencies for effective promotion of
SRI in the state
• Up-scaling of promotional activities of SRI in the state.
The workshop which was the first of this kind, succeeded in bringing together diverse stakeholders involved in
promoting SRI. It was a real challenge to bring appreciation among Government departments and University to
support this endeavour. Presentations were made by the Farmers from 9 districts of Chhattisgarh, facilitating
agencies, scientists and senior government officials. A total of 225 participants were present at the workshop.
Honourable agriculture minister, Mr. Chandrasekhar Sahu honoured the workshop as the chief guest and Chief
Secretary; Government of Chhattisgarh Mr.P.Joy Ommen was present as special guest to chair the concluding
session for the focus area and recommendation. The Vice Chancellor IGKV Dr.M.P.Pandey, Director
Agriculture. Mr.P. Kridatt and NFSM director Mr. C.L.Jain chaired different sessions of the workshop. Professor
Radha Mohan from Orissa, Biswanath Sinha from SDTT, Mumbai and Anil Verma from PRADAN, Bihar were
present to share their SRI-promotion experiences in their respective states.
Mr.P.Kridatt, Director Agriculture, Government of Chhattisgarh welcomed the participants and said that SRI is
one of the potential yield enhancing methods. He said that this meeting would help learn from the experiences

2. of various stakeholders and help furthering SRI adoption. He emphasized that to ensure success in the long
run, the importance of availability and management of water would be crucial.
Mr. C. L. Jain, Mission director, NFSM, Chhattisgarh, in his opening remarks shared the results of SRI promotion
by the Department which showed higher yield potential. He focussed on the challenge to deal with the
expected decrease in the water availability and efficient nutrient management. At the same time he shared
about the importance of sustainable way of agriculture.
Professor Radha Mohan, Sambhav, Orissa opined that this is a unique meeting in several fronts where in
Government officials, Agriculture department and University, scientists, farmers, extension departments, and
civil society organizations are sitting together and discussing matters related to SRI. He put his thoughts about
the dependency of farmers on Government at different level of production and marketing chain and how SRI
can be an escape way for having more and more inputs from fewer inputs. He emphasized that the conflicts of
water are going to surpass all other conflicts and thus the water saving SRI-method will become more and
more relevant. He suggested the forum to consider the other state’s experience on applying the concepts of
SRI in other water intensive crops such as sugarcane and less intensive crops like millets.He also indicated that
as the resources with the NGOs are limited the Government needs to play an important role in expansion.
The Vice Chancellor, IGKV Mr. Pandey who was the chair of the inaugural session shared in detail about the
potential of SRI and the principles on which the method is based. He appreciated the effort by PRADAN and JSS
in organising such kind of workshop and shared his willingness to support the expansion of the SRI in the state.
Mr. Biswanath Sinha from Sir Dorabji Tata Trust shared the trust’s initiative at the national as well as State
level. The trust in collaboration with partners could reach 65000 farmers in 2009-10 at national level under the
programme to pilot SRI in 5 eastern states. The programme spent about 11 Crore in three years. He also
shared that in the country an estimated coverage of 8 Lakh Ha had come under SRI rice cultivation
(Government and CSO’s together). He also emphasized that Chhattisgarh Chhattisgarh being a leading paddy
growing State where majority of farmers are small land holders a, needs to take lead in this SRI promotion
endeavor.
Scientist Dr. N. Pandey from IGKV shared about their research experience on the effect of different variables
like days of transplantation, seed treatment, application of organic and chemical fertilizer and equipments
whereas Dr. Deepak Sharma shared about the experimentation on SRI with hybrid seed in IGKV.
Mr. Anil Verma from PRADAN, Bihar shared Experience of SRI in Bihar, particularly in Gaya. In the last financial
year more than 5000 marginal farmers adopted SRI covering 319 ha. The average yield was 5.8 MT/Ha
whereas the highest yield achieved was of 14.1 MT/Ha.. SRI principles were practiced in wheat farming by
1500 farmers covering 800 ha. Average yield of Wheat for these farmers were 4.5 t/ha and highest yield
achieved was 10.1 MT/Ha. He shared about how the programme has brought SRI as theme of practice not only
for paddy but for all crops and being treated as System of Root Intensification in the State and the proactive
role of Government machinery made it possible.
Honorable Chief Minister, Mr. Chandrashekhar Sahu honored the workshop as chief guest during the Plenary.
In his address he appreciated the effort in bringing different stakeholders in one forum. While sharing about
the national scenario and position of Chhattisgarh as one of the major rice producing state he shared that the
productivity needs to be increased to address the food security challenge. While appreciating the potential of
SRI method he put an emphasis on promoting local variety such as ‘Safri’ for better adoption among farmers.
He also gave emphasis in bringing innovation in the water conservation along with change in the cultivation
practice.

3. In the session following the presentations, farmers were encouraged to share and discuss their experiences in
SRI paddy cultivation with other Workshop participants. Around 15 men and women farmers shared their
challenges and achievement in the SRI intervention.
Basant Yadav from Sahbhagi Samaj Sewi Sanstha and Philip Ekka from Karma shared their experience on
promoting SRI on behalf of the 11 NGO partners in the SRI promotion programme in Chhattisgarh.
Saroj Mahaptra, PRADAN presented about the achievement of the project supported by SDTT in Chhattisgarh
in partnership with 11 NGOs. The project could reach 4000 farmers. Even in a drought year like 2009, the SRI
farmers average yields was 4.8 metric tons/ha. Highest yields achieved was up to 10 tons/ha.
Valedictory session was chaired by the Chief Secretary, Government of Chattisgarh, Mr. P.Joy Ommen, IAS. He
appreciated the farmers’ willingness to adopt the new SRI method, and promised fuller cooperation from
Government for further promotion, by ensuring availability of support, especially tools need for practice and
water- conservation structures in farmers’ fields using various program funds and NREGA.
Mr. Jacob Nellithanam gave the vote of thanks expressing happiness on the way the proceedings took place
and thanked each and every one for participating actively in the workshop by sharing their knowledge,
experiences and doubts on SRI. He thanked the resource persons from other states to share their experience
and Organisers for their significant efforts to make the workshop fruitful.