Introduction of SRI Technique for Paddy Growers as a Part of CBM-Raniganj Development

Paddy cultivation contributes 12% of the total methane emitted in the environment by various sources. At EOGEPL, Systematic Rice Intensification (SRI) has been introduced among the paddy farmers which not only increased their crops’ yield but also controlled the emission of methane directly into atmosphere. CBM Development requires numerous parcels of land. The farmers who were apprehensive about selling land for the CBM project, or those who were trying to get rid of their land as farming did not seem a good enough source of income, were targeted for this project. Training on the SRI method was conducted along with education on the benefits of the system from a farmer's perspective. In addition, the beneficiaries were given support in the form of seeds, rudimentary machinery and SOS medicines, required for the paddy farming. The result was awakening for the farmers. In comparison to the traditional method the yield of paddy increased from minimum 37% to maximum 83%, resulting in an increase net income of the farming community. The success factor for EOGEPL, was that by working with 37 farmers on total land area of 4.99 hectare, 45.37 tons of methane emission was controlled. It could be concluded from this project that, the SRI method has the capacity to address 3 major aspects of the modern day. At a time when due to increase of population per head availability of food grain is decreasing, SRI method can double the yield on the same area available. In addition, with decrease in required inputs i.e. the investment and growth of marketable output i.e. yield, the net income of the farmer increases. Most importantly, the practice of SRI controls methane emission which is responsible for greenhouse effect. The additive information in this paper is that, a single move of SRI practice can address very important problems associated with a CBM-Project and can contribute to the nationwide movement of developing a clean environment and increasing the availability of food grain for the future with increase income to farmers.