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.”

Din Mohammad & Sanbau Bibi working in their paddy field

In 2012, the Cross-border project came to their village Howligha in Nalbari district in Assam, India, and Din Mohammed was selected as a beneficiary in field crops.  Nabajit Medhi, a local service provider specialized in field crops and vegetables trained farmers in SRI. After the training, the couple received rice seed of a high yielding variety to cultivate paddy on 2.5 Bigha  of their land and opened a bank account to receive some working capital to implement SRI in their own field. Last year the couple harvested 2000 kg of paddy from 2.5 Bigha of land. This year they are expecting from almost 3500 kg paddy.

Din Mohammed said, “Now I have scope to meet new people. I can learn new things like how to keep records of expenditure and income, and general information regarding HIV/AIDS, family planning, etc. I have my own bank account, which is very helpful and safe for financial management. Apart from this, now I can contact Nabajit Medhi if I face any problem with our paddy. If I have success in paddy cultivation I will start a goat farm in future.”

According to Rabin Kr Sharma, Project Area Coordinator in Nalbari, “Din Mohammad and Sanbau Bibi have adopted SRI in their paddy field without any hesitation. Their faith in the knowledge of the local service provider and the project persons made us more responsible and keen to achieve success.”

The field of Din Mohammed and Sanbau Bibi is fascinating their fellow farmers, as it looks so healthy. After observing their paddy field many of their neighbors are interested to use SRI the coming season in their own fields.