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A Case Study of THE ANDHRA PRADESH RURAL LIVELIHOODS PROJECT”
A Case Study of THE ANDHRA PRADESH RURAL LIVELIHOODS PROJECT”
The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method of cultivating paddy is new and innovative. With this method there is no need to retain water in the paddy field or keep it too damp. The field needs to be weeded four times. A quintal of 20:20:0 fertiliser should be applied in the middle of the growth period. This ensures lush green growth. This method is ideal in areas where the rainfall is scanty and the need for water conservation is great. Results show that the SRI method of cultivating paddy is as productive, if not more productive, than the conventional method.
Babumiya belongs to the Katyala watershed. He and his family of seven own 1.5 acres of wetland and 2.5 acres of dryland. Babumiya has studied only up to the 5th standard but he has played a lead role in the watershed development activities. He was part of a ten-member team which attended a training programme in Hyderabad on SRI paddy cultivation. The watershed development committee helped him to visit other places where SRI paddy was being cultivated. The training programmes inspired Babumiya. He was determined to cultivate SRI paddy. The neighbouring farmers ridiculed him for his fanciful ideas, but he was undeterred. He further upgraded his learning by reading books and consulting the local Agriculture Officer. Babumiya started by preparing beds which were 9 feet long and 3 feet wide and raised seedlings in them. He ploughed his 1.5 acres of wetland twice and applied 2 tons of farmyard manure and 2 tons of compost to enhance its fertility. He used 3 Kgs of seed for raising a nursery to transplant in his 1.5 acres of land and when the seedlings were 8 days old; he transplanted them in neat rows, keeping the required distance of 25 Cms. between saplings. He followed the SRI method correctly, and therefore his crop was lush and green and pestfree.
This success story raised enthusiasm among farmers who came in groups to see it and learn about its benefits. “I explained to them the method of cultivation and they were quite thrilled at the growth of the crop,” says Babumiya. The crop yielded 65 bags of paddy. This is double the 30-35 bags he used to get, with a very high cost of cultivation on seed, irrigation and pesticide. Now Babumiya’s family eats Basmathi rice at home and his children study in good schools. He was elected the best farmer in the Mandal.
Babumiya has proved that with persistence and hard work anything can be achieved.
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