New methods to grow Rice

A new method to grow rice could save hundreds of billions of cubic metres of water while increasing food security, according to a study by World Wildlife Foundation. With a focus on India – a country which faces a major water crisis, yet has the world’s largest rice cultivated area – the study found that the system of rice  intensification (SRI) method has helped increase yields by over 30% — four to five tonnes per hectare instead of three tonnes per hectare, while using 40% less water than conventional methods.This new system is based on eight principles which are different to conventional rice cultivation. They include developing nutrient-rich and un-flooded nurseries instead of flooded ones; ensuring wider spacing between rice seedlings; preferring composts or manure to synthetic fertilizers; and managing water carefully to avoid that the plants’ roots are not saturated.

The method was initially developed in the 1980s in Madagascar and has been demonstrated to be effective in 28 countries.  The report suggests that major rice-producing countries — such as India, China and Indonesia — convert at least 25% of their current rice cultivation to the new system by 2025. This would not only massively reduce the use of water but also help ensure food security. In addition, this will reduce significant amount of methane emissions. SRI fields do not emit methane as is the case with the more conventional system of growing rice.  For example, if the SRI method was applied to 20 million hectares of land under rice cultivation in India, the country could meet its food grain objectives of 220 million tonnes of grain by 2012 instead of 2050.  Authorities in the Indian state of Tripura have already committed to move in that direction.  “Our farmers proved that the system of rice intensification improves productivity and we will convert at least 40% of our rice cultivation using this method over the next five years,” said Manik Sarkar, Chief Minister of Tripura State.

“We urge this as a model for rice cultivation elsewhere as it represents one hope for the water crisis affecting so many billions of people.”  Demand for a water-intensive crop such as rice is expected to increase by 38% by 2040, deepening the water crisis during the same time. However, less than 6% of rice is traded internationally and savings in water have potential for mitigating domestic water conflicts, especially in poor, rural areas where water is scarce.  Already 1.2 billion people have no access to adequate water for drinking and hygiene.  WWF is focusing on sustainable agriculture efforts for cotton, sugar and rice, some of the most consuming crops for which alternative techniques can result in a strong yield and water savings.

INNOVATION METHODS

Tribal dominated disadvantaged district, Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh is characterized by undulating topography, fragmented holdings, rainfed farming, shallow and eroded soils, low and stagnant crop productivity and low income from ancestral farming.  To enhance income of the farmers of the area, an attempt was made to introduce improved vegetable cultivation under National Agricultural Innovation Sub Project “Integrated farming system for sustainable rural livelihood in undulating and rainfed areas of Jhabua and Dhar districts of M.P.” Shri Ramash Bariya is a beneficiary farmer from Rotla village of district Jhabua under this project. After interaction with NAIP-KVK scientists during 2009-10, Shri Ramesh started vegetable cultivation on small area during rainy and winter seasons and got more profit. With this encouragement, he decided to grow cucurbits viz., bitter guard, and sponge guard in late summer season of 2012-13 in 0.1ha area. 

He prepared nursery in May 2012 and sown these crops (12 line bitter guard and 3 line spongy guard) in 1nst week of June 2012. During the early growing stage of these crops, he faced acute shortage of irrigation water due to delayed monsoon. Shri Ramesh was worried about failure of his crops. Then he discussed with NAIP scientists and got advice for adoption of an innovative irrigation technique using waste glucose bottle.In this technique, a cut is made at the top of waste glucose bottle for filling of water and discharge of water could be regulated by glucose regulator system.