Water management lessons from the Nandi foothills - SRI technique involves less water

This has resulted in a depletion of groundwater resources. There is a scarcity of drinking water too, in the region.

But, a farmer couple in this region, seem to be undaunted by all this, and have in fact gone on to grow paddy in a region which faces such acute water shortage. Radhamma and Krishnappa hailing from Channapura village have grown eight bags of paddy on their ten guntas of land, by following the SRI method of cultivation, initially practised by farmers in Madagascar in the 1980s.

SRI method

The system of rice intensification (SRI) is a method of cultivation where rice seedlings are transported early, and the fields are not flooded at this stage. Also, a lot of organic manure is used. The method envisages a cautious water management approach.

One year back, the Swaraj Swayam Seva Trust provided training to five farmers from the village about using the SRI technique of paddy cultivation, which involves using less water.

Krishnappa followed this method, and today, has reaped a good harvest. “When one follows the traditional method, one needs at least ten kgs of seedlings for sowing. But, the SRI method has ensured that even one-and-a-half kgs of seedlings are sufficient,” explains Swaraj Trust’s field counselor Kantharaj.

The eight quintals of paddy that this farmer-couple has grown, has inspired other farmers in the region to take up organic farming methods to grow grapes, ragi and other crops.
N M Nataraj Nagasandra