Resource Conservation Technology Based Innovation for
replicated fifteen times in different farmers’ field. The RCT based innovation techniques of system of rice intensification (SRI) involves 10 days old seedlings at 1 seedling/ hill was transplanted in square system with 25 x 25 cm2 spacing and 20 days old seedlings at 2 seedlings/hill in 20 x 20 cm2 spacing under Integrated Crop management (ICM) techniques.
However, in farmers’ practice, sali rice of 35 -40 days old seedlings at 3-4 seedlings/hill were transplanted randomly. The Sali rice variety “Ranjit” was transplanted in July and harvested in November. Application of 40:30:20 kg NPK/ha along with vermicompost 2 t/
ha was done in SRI and ICM rice field. Two cono-weeding and one hand weeding was done in both SRI and ICM plots. However, only one hand weeding was done in farmers practice (rice-fallow). Sali rice harvesting was done at least 7 to 12 days advance in RCTs of SRI and ICM than farmers’ practice which leads to timely sowing of rabi crop. Zero tillage toria was sown after harvest of Sali rice in SRI and ICM plots by opening a furrow by small hand hoe. Fertilisers @ 30:50:20 kg NPK/ha field was applied in furrow and mixed with soil.
Toria (variety TS 36) seeds @ 5 kg/ha were sown in the furrow and covered with the soil in the month of November and harvested in February/March in the following year. Data on productivity of rice and toria under RCT based innovation were recorded in both the years and pooled. System productivity in terms of rice equivalent yield (REY), economics based on prevailing market price were also calculated. Data obtained from various studies were statistically analyzed in Randomised Block Design using the technique of Analysis of Variance. The difference between the treatment means were tested as to their statistical significance with appropriate critical difference (C.D) value at 5 per cent level of probability.
Results
The two years pooled data on RCT based innovation revealed that the productivity of sali rice was recorded significantly highest in SRI (4.77 t/ha) which was followed by ICM (4.22 t/ha) but superior to farmers practices (Table 1). The higher productivity in SRI and ICM compared to farmers practice was due to higher yield attributes (15-20 tillers/hill, 24- 25 cm panicle length etc). Zero tillage toria after the harvest of Sali rice also recorded highest productivity in SRI (0.56 t/ha). However, farmers practice (rice-fallow) produced Table 1 Productivity performance of RCT based innovation in South Garo Hills
RCT based Innovations Rice productivity Toria productivity System productivity
(t/ha) (t/ha) (REY t/ha)
SRI Rice-Zero tillage Toria 4.77 0.56 6.16
ICM Rice – Zero Tillage Toria 4.22 0.54 5.58
Farmers’ Practice (Rice-fallow) 2.19 - 2.19
CD(P=0.05) 0.28 - 0.29
CV (%) 10.31 - 8.46
SRI: System of Rice Intensification, ICM: Integrated Crop Management, RCT: Resource Conservation Technology
significantly lowest yield. SRI rice- zero tillage toria produced significantly higher REY of 6.16 t/ha which was followed by ICM rice- zero tillage toria (5.58 t/ha REY). Moreover, RCT based innovative rice based system recorded 182 and 155 per cent higher productivity in comparison to farmers practice (rice-fallow). Co-efficient of variation (CV) was estimated to 10.31 per cent in rice productivity as compared to system productivity (8.46 per cent) of RCT based interventions.
Results further revealed that the farmers could earn a net income of Rs. 30,800 and Rs. 30,270/ha with profitability ratio of 2.37 and 2.18, respectively, through RCT based innovation of SRI and ICM method of rice cultivation followed by zero tillage toria, respectively (Table 2) which were superior to farmers practice (rice-fallow).
Table 2 Economic performance of RCT based innovations in South Garo Hills
RCT based Innovations Cost of cultivation Gross return Net return Profitability
(Rs/ha) (Rs/ha) (Rs/ha) ratio
SRI Rice-Zero tillage Toria 26050 61650 30800 2.37
ICM Rice – Zero Tillage Toria 25550 55820 30270 2.18
Farmers’ Practice (Rice-fallow) 14500 21900 7400 1.51
SRI: System of Rice Intensification, ICM: Integrated Crop Management, RCT: Resource Conservation Technology, Sale price (Rs/100 kg): Toria-2500, Rice-1000
Conclusion
The RCT based innovative interventions in the Sibbari cluster of South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya have made great impact on farming communities in terms of productivity, economic benefits and profitability in comparison to farmers’ practices (rice- fallow) which leads to self-sufficiency of food for sustainable livelihood improvement. The significant aspect of RCT based innovations in the Sibbari area was that SRI and ICM rice matured 7 to 12 days earlier compared to same variety under farmers practice. Hence, it paved way for timely cultivation of second crops of toria with residual moisture in rice field and thereby, enhancing cropping intensity, productivity and income.
References
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