KVK to introduce new tech in rice cultivation

MARGAO: As part of its activity to demonstrate technology and train farmers as per the mandate of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Margao-based South Goa Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) will be shortly introducing the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), a new technique in rice cultivation.
Assistant agriculture officer Dattatraya Pandit told TOI that the technique has been successfully introduced by the Tamil Nadu Argriculture University and KVK is set to introduce the technique to farmers in January 2010.
Explaining the project, Pandit said that the purpose is to reduce the seed rate during cultivation. "At present the seed rate is about 50 to 60 kg per hectare, depending upon various varieties. However, with the SRI technique, which reduces the seed rate to 5 kg per hectare, the reduction in seed rate will be significant," he informed, adding that the experiment has been conducted at the KVK farm at Margao. The kendra also intends to hold demonstrations to introduce the 'transplanter' machine to farmers, which further aims to reduce the cost of labour, he said.
Meanwhile, KVK officials informed that the ongoing experiment of multi-storey cropping system, which was to be completed by 2010-2011, will be delayed considerably. Citing the reason for the delay, Pandit said that the soil is still wet due to the extended rainfall. "We need 40 truck loads of soil to be brought from outside the state to the experiment site. We are unable to undertake that exercise now," he said.
The assistant agriculture officer said that the multi-story cropping system is a first-of-its-kind project in the state, experimented on a one acre land of the KVK farm. The system intends to make best use of resources like soil, moisture and space, aiming to increase farm income. Besides it is effective against soil erosion, informed officials.
Divulging details on the project, subject matter specialist Babal Prabhu said, "Also called inter-cropping system, multi-storey cropping has various other advantages especially to coconut cultivators. Since coconut trees are widely spaced, planted in rows and take a long time to produce yields, all varieties of spices can go along with the coconut crop, besides, bananas, pineapples and groundnuts also grow well amidst coconut trees."
He also said that the project when introduced to Goan farmers will help break the monotonous farming patterns of the farmers.
Another important project undertaken by KVK is an experiment on reducing soil acidity. Officials said that farmers in Sanguem, Quepem, Canacona, Salcete and Mormugoa face difficulties owing to acidity in the soil. "KVK has initiated the experiment to reduce acidity by adding lime to the soil, thereby increasing the yield," informed an official.