| Mitra Niketan Agricultural Extension Centre, Vellanad, Thiruvananthapuram 695543 Ph: 0472-882086 |
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To reduce the quantity of water required for paddy cultivation and at the same time increase its production: this is the aim of Madagascar mode of cultivation of rice. In Kerala, in addition to M.S.Swaminathan Foundation, Mitra Niketan of Vellanad too is involved in popularizing the method. After success of the cultivation 4 years ago, the method has been refined with inputs of modern techniques and christened System of Rice Intensification (SRI).
While the cultivation is done in paddy fields as usual, saplings are produced in front yard of the house or even its terrace. In terrace it is cultivated in polythene sheets or jute bags overlaid with cowdung-mixed soil.
The high yielding varieties require only 4 kg of seeds for 1 acre cultivation. After 8 to 10 days in the nursery, the saplings are transplanted when they have reached the ‘two-leaves’ stage. Transplanting is done at intervals of 30cm. According to Johnjo Varghese, Training Associate at the Mitra Niketan Agricultural Extension Centre, this kind of cultivation is able to give 250 to 300 grain per shoot when compared to the 100-140 grains seen in ordinarily.
Courtesy: M.P.Ayyappadas, Mathrubhumi, March 20, 2005
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