The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust Established in 1932 by Sir Dorabji Tata
The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust Established in 1932 by Sir Dorabji Tata
System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in India - Proposals Invited
System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in India - Proposals Invited
Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Allied Trusts, Mumbai seek applications from NGOs, research institutions and universities for the promotion of system of rice intensification (SRI) in India.
The system of rice intensification (SRI) is a system developed in Madagascar in the 1980s and has since 1999 been tried out successfully in 25 countries across the world providing farmers with increased yield and options. SRI is a system of growing rice that involves practices different from the traditional ways of growing rice. It involves single and young seedlings transplantation with care instead of the conventional method of multiple and mature seedlings from the nursery. SRI spaces rice plants more widely and does not depend on continuous flooding of rice fields. It uses lesser seed, chemical inputs and promotes soil biotic activities in and around plant roots, enhanced through liberal applications of compost and weeding with a rotating hoe that aerates the soil.
These changed practices with lower inputs counter-intuitively lead to improved productivity with yields of 7-8 tonnes/hectare (t/ha), about double the present average of 3.8 t/ha.
Typically in the SRI method the following principles are applied:
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Plant young, single seedlings widely spaced, 25 cm apart rather than more
seedlings close together as in the conventional rice growing system
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Soil should be wet but not inundated by flood irrigation
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Weed and aerate soil by use of a simple weeding machine
Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Allied Trusts, Mumbai has been supporting SRI promotion for the last five years. The experiments in six states till 2007 have been very encouraging. After a detailed study in November 2007 on the results of these experiments, the Trusts have launched a program on SRI since April 2008 with an allocation of Rs 1100.00 lakhs spread over three years. The program targets the small and marginal farmers in paddy growing areas. In the current kharif season, the Trusts’ support for SRI has reached out to more than 30,000 households covering more than 6,600 acres of land. The Trusts also support also extends for hosting national symposiums on SRI in India. The program broadly covers the following components:
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Extension work of SRI
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Training of trainers and farmers
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Technical support of SRI promotion (e.g. support for weeders)
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Research and Advocacy of SRI promotion
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Exchange Programs
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Promotion of innovation such as trying out SRI principles on other crops
Interested NGOs, Research Institutions and Universities who are interested in availing of support for this initiative under the Trust’s overall strategy of ensuring food security for small and marginal farmers can contact the Trust at the following address:
M. Biswanath Sinha
Senior Program Officer
Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Allied Trusts
Eruchshaw Building, 5th Floor;
249, DN Road,
Mumbai-400001
E-mail: bsinha@sdtatatrust.com
Phone-022-66657977.
Please note: Each proposal goes through a lengthy and comprehensive appraisal and evaluation process and inviting a proposal does not guarantee future support.
The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust Established in 1932 by Sir Dorabji Tata
