A comparative economic analysis of Traditional and System of Rice Intensification (SRI) rice cultivation practices in Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

System of Rice Intensification (SRI) paddy was introduced to offset the heavy cost of Traditional paddy cultivation. To decrease the cost of cultivation in Traditional paddy, to increase profits of the farmers in rice cultivation by decreasing the use of fertilizers, pesticides and minimizing water use by scientific water management in the face of labour scarcity, SRI paddy was introduced in Madagascar. In Traditional paddy the spacing of 20x15cms was followed and 20 days seedlings were used, and whereas, in SRI paddy cultivation, the wider spacing of 25x25cms was followed and by 8-12 days seedlings were used. Although large number of labour were needed for weed management in Traditional paddy, minimal labour was required for weed management in SRI paddy because of using weeders and machinery for weed management. While large amount of water to the tune of 2”-5” inundation was required for Traditional paddy cultivation, a film of water up to 1” only is maintained throughout in SRI paddy cultivation. The use of pesticides was heavy in Traditional paddy cultivation, where as the pest management is done without chemical pesticides in SRI paddy cultivation. The profits attained due to SRI paddy cultivation was higher as compared to Traditional paddy cultivation, therefore, SRI paddy was called as poor farmers’ crop.