How SRI changes paddy practices

That the family of Lokman Ali and Buli Khatun could harvest twice the amount of paddy from the same piece of land this past winter season compared to last year, surprised many neighbouring farmers in Dudhiyagacha, a village in Adarvita Union in Madarganj, Jamalpur. As last year early 2012, the family cultivated paddy from February to May on a plot of land of 0.33 acre. “Last year I harvested 720 kg of paddy from this plot but this year it was more than twice that amount, a good1600 kg!”, said Lokman Ali. His wife Buli Khatun is very happy with the big amount of paddy they grew this year. Together with their two sons, she helped her husband with the harvest: “My husband also has a small furniture shop in Madarganj market, but his income is not regular and insufficient (BDT 4,500[1]) for our family. We are very happy with our big harvest of rice. It will feed our family (two meals per day for five people) throughout the year.”

Paddy Cultivation Following SRI Method

Din Mohammad Ali and Sanbau Bibi are paddy farmers with long years of experience. At the age of 60, Din Mohammed discovered another approach to paddy cultivation. They own 1.32 acres of arable land and for the first time this year they cultivated rice following the practices of System of Rice Intensification  on part of their land. Din Mohammed said, “I found paddy cultivation following the SRI method, systematic and profitable as it decreases production cost and increases yield compared to our traditional way of cultivating.”