This experience is drawn from a project intervention i.e., “Paddy productivity enhancement through package of agriculture practices including SRI” being implemented by Centre for World Solidarity with support from TRIPTI, Panchayati Raj Department, Govt. of Odisha in collaboration with two local organisations, BOJBP and NIRMAN.
“Ame dhana karu thilu, kintu emitia dhana kebe kari na thilu”, (We were growing paddy but has never grown in this method....) says Abhimanyu Ota, a farmer from Godipalli village in Nayagarh District who adopted SRI for the first time. This SRI farmer during an interaction held on 18th Nov 2011 said that this is the first time in his life he is witnessing such a wonderful experience and expects to have a bumper harvest.
Insufficient rainfall has affected agricultural activities in 17 out of 30 districts and the spectre of drought looms over the state for the second successive year. According to the Agriculture Department, Govt. of Odisha, a minimum of 34 blocks in 16 districts have received less than 50% rainfall this year.
Amongst all, Nayagarh is one of the worst affected districts in the state. After initial rain in the first week of June there was absolutely no rain till the second week of July. Most of the farmers in the district had started sowing their land by mid of June. But due to lack of rain, growth of the crops became stunted. The farmers were not able to do transplanting till the second week of July.
Despite of this natural vagary, farmers in Godipalli and neighbouring village of Nayagarh district speaks a different story. The 190 farmers who have adopted SRI for the first time are happy with their crop fields. They claim to have a good harvest from their fields this time in contrast their fellow members who had undertaken paddy cultivation in conventional method.
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