System of Rice Intensification: Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change

System of Rice Intensification (SRI) offers three major benefits that have significant influence on climate change:

1.      Reduced emissions of methane

2.      Reduced demand for water

3.      Reduced use of Nitrogen fertilizers   

Reduced emissions of methane:

Methane released from agriculture activities are mainly from inundated rice fields and ruminant animals. Methane is produced from anerobic methane that is deprived from oxygen due to continuous flooding. Making Paddy fields alternately wet and dry will reduce the methane gas emissions.

Reduced demand for water:

It is estimated that 24-30% of the world fresh water resources are used to irrigate paddy fields. With SRI methods irrigation requirement for paddy cultivation is reduced by 25 – 50%.  Reduced water requirement for paddy means availability of more water for other crops, human requirement etc. Reduced water requirement for paddy also leads reduction in ground water exploitation.

Reduced use of Nitrogen fertilizers:

About 16% of Nitrogen fertilizers are used in Paddy fields. SRI method promotes usage of organic manure and subsequently reduced usage of Nitrogen fertilizers.

Soil Organic Carbon – Basis for Sustainable Production

What is Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)?

Soil organic Carbon is the fraction of carbon associated with soil organic matter. Soil organic matter is the organic fraction of the soil that is made up of decomposed plant and animal material as well as micro organisams.

Why soil organic carbon is important?

A.      Increasing soil organic carbon can improve soil health and also mitigate climate change

B.      Soil organic carbon is important for chemical, physical and biological fertility of the soil

C.      Decomposition of soil organic matter releases nitrogen, phospohorus and range of other nutrients  for plant growth

D.      Soil organic carbon improves soil structure and physical properties like water holding capacity, water infiltration, gaseous exchange, root growth and ease of cultivation

E.       Improve soil biological health. SOC will act as source of food for flora and fauna in the soil

F.       Soil organic carbon lessen the effects of harmful substances such as toxins and heavy metals

Factors affecting SOC:

A.      Rain fall

B.      Temperature

C.      Vegetation

D.      Soil type

Management practices that reduce soil organic carbon:

A.      Fallowing

B.      Cultivation  

C.      Stubble burning or removal

D.      Over Grazing

Management Practices that increase soil organic Carbon:

A.      Crop rotation with legumes and non-legumes

B.      Green manuring

C.      Green leaf manuring

D.      Application of FYM

E.       Application of leaf based composts such as nadep compost

F.       Mulching

G.     Incorporation of crop residues

Characters of a Sustainable Farm

Recycling:

To become a sustainable farm it should feed the soil by recycling the crop residues. Incorporation of crop residues increases the soil organic carbon in the farm, further it will make the soil more favorable for micro organisms and earth worms. Over a period of time repeated application of crop residues will make the soil healthy and the micro organisams in the soil ensure regular supply of nutrients to the plants

Crop rotation:

Rotating crops with legumes and non-legumes will ensure removal of nutrients and addition of nutrients into the soil.  Crop rotation helps in improving the soil structure and growth of nitrogen fixing bacteria in the soil.

Addition of Farm Yard Manure and composting:

Regular application of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and compost will improve soil organic content. Further it will improve water holding capacity of the soil

Growing green manure crops and green leaf manuring:

Green manure crops such as Dhanchia will be useful in reducing soil salinity. Further green manure crops will increase the soil fertility and productivity. Application of green leaf manure will improve the soil texture.

Poly crops:

Growing of 5-7 crops in a single holding will reduce the risk in agriculture, particularly in rain fed areas.

In-situ rain water harvesting:

In-situ rain water harvesting by making each farm as a mini watershed is critical in rain fed areas.  

Knowledge:

Knowledge on pests and their life cycles, soil and interactions of microbes in the soil, marketing intelligence, understanding natural processes are critical. Farmer should have a right eye to observe pests and diseases. He /she should have right information on pests and diseases – their nature, favorable conditions and managing soil fertility, weather related issues etc. This information and knowledge help the farmer in taking right decisions.    

Community Managed Sustainable Agriculture – A Path Way out of Poverty

Community Managed Sustainable Agriculture (CMSA) refers to low cost, natural resource based agriculture managed by women SHGs in Andhra Pradesh. CMSA is initiated in the year 2004 in Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh to address the major causes of agriculture distress like high costs of agriculture, extensive use of chemical inputs, displacement of local knowledge, unsustainable agricultural practices like mono cropping, markets unfavorable to small holders, etc.

Main objective of the CMSA is to bring sustainability to agriculture based livelihoods, to improve quality of life of farmers, and to increase net incomes of the farming community.

Methods promoted under CMSA are blend of scientifically proven technology, traditional wisdom, and, farmers’ innovations. CMSA methods are mainly focusing on Non-Pesticide Management (NPM), Comprehensive soil fertility Management, and harvesting rain water, soil conservation and improved cropping pattern in rain fed areas. Over a period of time these methods are building good ecology, where there is a balance between friendly insects and crop pests, increased role of local earthworms and other soil microbes, increased ground water etc.

The results of the intervention have been so beneficial to the farmers that there has been an exponential increase in the area under sustainable agriculture. It is an expansion driven by the positive experience of the farmers. There are no predetermined targets. CMSA is scaled up from 450 farmers to 10.47 lakh farmers in 7 years. CMSA is now covered 27 lakh acres in 8033 villages in 22 districts.

The Key features of CMSA are decentralized extension system owned and managed by community, collection of farmers registration fee, natural resourced based agriculture, Comprehensive livelihoods support and not a standalone intervention, providing end – to end solution, investment is on capacity building, no input subsidy and transfer of technology is through best practitioners. The flagship components of the Program are Poorest of the Poor strategy (POP strategy- converting “land less agriculture labourer” into “net food producer”), Rain fed Sustainable Agriculture, System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and Food and Nutritional Security Models (36X36 models) at house hold level. These programs contributed towards increasing income levels of farmers, come out of poverty, conserving and enhancing natural resource base and providing food and nutritional security at house hold level.

No matter how good the technology is, without peoples’ involvement and strong grassroots institutions it will confined to laboratories or universities. The issue of long term food security and adaptation to climate change is so important that we cannot just have a ‘scientific’ or ‘technology’ solution. We need a ‘people’ centred solution, CMSA is one such solution.

CMSA promoting drudgery reduction infrastructure i.e CMSA shops and custom hiring centers etc at village level which helps in reducing drudgery in farming.  

Practices under CMSA are pro-poor and poorest of the poor are the first to adopt these methods. These are intensive models and require more labour. CMSA makes farmers free from debts and enable them to come out of poverty.

Development of Technologies in Organic Farming from Green Revolution Period

S.No	Production component	Organic Farming Technologies available at the time of Green revolution	Organic Farming Technologies available at present
1	Seed treatment	Seed treatment with Ash	A.      Seed treatment with Bheejamartuham B.      Raw milk treatment C.      Cow urine and asetofida
2	Manuring	A.      Green leaf manuring B.      Farm Yard Manure C.      Heap method of composting D.      Penning with Sheep and Goat	A.      Nadep composting B.      Banglore method of composting C.      Indore method of composting D.      Dabholkar method of green manuring E.       Green manure crops F.       Mulching (Live and dead) G.     Dung based inoculants like Drava Jeevamrutham, Panchagavya etc H.     Bio fertilizers I.        Azolla in Paddy
3	Pest and Disease Management	Dusting with Ash	A.      Botanical extracts B.      Pest Management by understanding pest life cycles C.      Bio pesticides D.      Mixed cropping E.       Trap crops F.       Pheromone traps G.     Border crop H.     Alleys in Paddy

History of Organic Farming

·         1903 – Gustav Simons: wrote an important book on the relationship between the health of soils, growth of plants and health of man kind

·         1924  - Rudolf steiner  -  Foundations for the renewal of Agriculture   

·         1940 - The term “organic farming” Was coined by Northbourne  the term is coined in his book “Look to the land”

·         1939  -  Lady Eve Balfour – Established Experimental plot on organic farming in England

·         1940 -   Albert Howard: “An agricultural Testament”

·         1940 – Manusoba Fukoka proposed “Natural Farming” concept

·         1950 – J.I. Rodale: promoted Organic Gardening  in America

·         1962 – Carson: “Silent Spring” – Describing adverse affects of DDT and other pesticides

·         1972 – International Federation of Organic Movements (IFOAM)  formed in Versailles

·         1975 – Fukoka – “One Straw Revolution”

·         1991 – European Union Regulations for Organic production

·         1992 – IFOAM Accreditation program for accommodating certification agencies

·         1999 – FAO/WHO – Inter Governmental body provided set of guide lines for Organic Production

Root Intensification Technologies for Different Crops

What is System of Wheat Intensification (SWI):

SWI is not SRI in Wheat. SWI is a different set of agronomic practices in Wheat. In SWI, practices like seed rate, sowing of seeds at proper spacing, control of water in the main field, weeding / hoeing are modified to ensure higher ratios of tillers to mother seedling, increased number of effective tillers / hill, enhanced panicle length and bolder grains, or in short enhanced yield of wheat.

The Methodology of SWI:

Seed Selection and treatment:

 Farmers need to start with a fresh stock. The seeds are dipped in hot water at 60 degree Celsius in order to sort out the bold grains that settle down. Seed treatment with cow urine and fungicide is mandatory.

Seed Sowing & Depth of seed sowing:

Seed sowing in time (15^th November to 15^th December) and the depth of seed sowing should be 1-1.5 inch.

Direct sowing of treated seeds in main field:

For SWI direct seeding of wheat is recommended at 1 to 1.5 inches depth in a tilled land. Two seeds are dibbed at one place so that birds and other predators not cause losses. At least one seed germinate properly.

Spacing:

Wider spacing of 20 cm Row-to-Row and also 20 cm seed to seed are given to allow profuse tillering in latter stages.

Weeding and hoeing:

Hoeing and weeding is recommended for 3 times during the growth phases of wheat at 20, 30 and 40 Days after sowing.

System of Root Intensification in Rapeseed  :

The lower seed rate, seed grading & treatment, young age seedlings, wider spacing, single seedling transplantation, organic manuring and inter-cultivation cum weeding will lead to 50-90% yield enhancement.

System of Root Intensification in Moong (Green Gram) :

The lower seed rate, seed grading & treatment, sowing with wider spacing & weeding will lead to 50-90% yield enhancement.

System of Root Intensification in Tomato, Brinjal & Chilli :

The seeds are treated with cow urine, warm water, vermi-compost, jaggery, trichoderma and the germinated or wet seeds are sown in in nursery at 2 inches at either side of spacing. Organic environment is made in nurseries and seeds are sown at proper spacing. Compost and soils are treated with trichoderma. Every care is taken to minimize the shock by taking seedlings attached with soils. Then 8-12 days old young seedlings are uprooted carefully and transplanted in main field. Shallow transplanting is done. One feet deep and 0.5 feet diameter pit is made to provide conducive environment for intensification of roots. The farmers should provide favorable environment for the profuse root growth and shoot growth is outcome of attention on roots.  Proper irrigation channels are made to facilitate aeration in roots and 2-3 inter cultural operation is done by using SRI-Rabi weeder. The productivity enhancement is around 40-85%.

System of Root Intensification in Ladies Finger :  

The Lower seed rate, seed grading & treatment, young age seedling transplantation, wider spacing & weeding, better environment for root zone enhances 45-90% of yield increase.

System of Root Intensification in Ridge Gourd :  

The Lower seed rate, seed grading & treatment, young age seedling transplantation, wider spacing & weeding, better environment for root zone enhances 45-90% of yield increase.

System of Root Intensification in Cauliflower :  

The Lower seed rate, seed grading & treatment, young age seedling transplantation, wider spacing & weeding, better environment for root zone enhances 45-90% of yield increase.

Arhar in Bunds :

The arhar crops will be grown in the bunds of the plots and the yield will be around 1 quintal in 0.5 acres of bund.

Machan Bidhi Bottle Gourd & Bitter Gourd through System of Root Intensification (SRI)

Machan is made particularly in Kharif. It prevents rotting of fruits. It also facilitates fruiting in plants. The Seeds are treated with cow urine, warm water, vermi-compost, jaggery and trichoderma. Germinated and wet seeds are sown in field and shallow sowing of germinated seeds is ensured. Organic environment is made in nurseries and seeds are sown at proper spacing. Compost and soils are treated with trichoderma and sunlight, air, moisture are facilitated due to wider spacing. Then 8-12 days old young seedlings are uprooted carefully and transplanted in main field. Shallow transplanting is done. Two feet deep and 1.5 feet diameter pit is made to provide conducive environment for intensification of roots. The farmers should provide favorable environment for the profuse root growth and shoot growth is outcome of attention on roots.  Proper irrigation channels are made to facilitate aeration in roots and 2-3 inter cultural operation is done by using SRI-Rabi weeder. The productivity enhancement is around 40-85%.