SRI in Basmati:

A Win-Win Situation for

Farmers & Rice Processors

Anurag Tewari & Bikram Barai

Tilda Riceland Pvt. Ltd.Kurukshetra, Haryana

Tilda Riceland Pvt. Ltd.India’s Largest Processor & Exporter of

Basmati

FACE: Agricultural

Extension Wing

FOSTER: Agricultural

Research Wing

FACE at a Glance

Genesis : 1986

Domicile : Adjoining TRL Premises

Other habitat : All Mandies

Spoken Language : Hindi with local

dialectObjective

To ensure that farmers cultivate Basmati on scientific lines

Extension Activities

Basmati Hotline: 1 800 180 3131

Toll-free facility for farmers - First time in India

Basmati Hotline

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Pre-Launching 2003 2004 2005 2006

Year

No. o

f C

alls

FACE & HotlineHelping more and more farmers to reap the benefits with easy access, since the introduction of Basmati HOTLINE in 2003

District-wise Calls received: 2006

125116

59

36 35 3425 22 22 19 13 8

32

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Kar

nal

Kur

uksh

etra

Kai

thal

Pan

ipat

Am

bala

Jind

Jhaj

jar

Yam

unan

agar

His

ar

Son

epat

Bhi

wan

i

Roh

tak

Oth

ers

Enquiry topic

Seed29%

Disease27%

Insect19%

Others25%

Radio talks

Radio spots

Live phone-in program

Sponsorship of agricultural programs

Wired Communication

Kisaan Program

To help farmers to plan in advance.

District-wise daily weather forecasts on:

Temperature

Rainfall

Communication media:

Commission agents

All-India Radio

Weather Forecast

vf/kd tkudkjh ds fy, lEidZ djsa 1800 180 3131 (fu%'kqYd Qksu)

Basmati Schools for training

Reply cards for queries

Field visits on request

Field demonstrations

Basmati audio cassettes

Basmati Sandesh

Basmati Mitras

Other Extension Services

B A S M A T I S C H O O LB A S M A T I S C H O O LB A S M A T I S C H O O L

Distribution of SUPERIOR Quality Agri-Inputs

Seed Production & Multiplication

HBC 19 since 2000

Pusa Basmati since 2004

We distribute this on a NO PROFIT – NO

LOSS basis

Certified Grade

Seed distribution

0 0 0 0

100

150

225

200620052004200220012000 2003

100

145168

193 200

250

300

-50

50

150

250

350

Year

YearCertified PB 1Certified HBC 19

Quantity (Qtls.)

Providing Spray Pumps to Farmer

On a returnable basis

Free of hire charges

Paddy Coupon Scheme

Paddy Coupon

… All this is done by FACE, free of cost. FACE does not impose any obligation on the part of farmers.

Farmers may buy seed, take information from us, and yet not sell their product to us.

Our Philosophy…

Now to ConsiderNow to Consider

FOSTER(Field Of Systematic Trials & Experiments on

Rice)

AN AGRI-RESEARCH WING OF TILDA RICELAND

F O S T E R(Field Of Systematic Trials & Experiments on

Rice)

Established : 2000

Objective : Basmati cultivation – a profitable enterprise

Philosophy :

- A total approach

CultivatorCultivator ConsumerConsumerFOSTERFOSTER

Farm Yield of Basmati

HAU Claims:

35 Qtls/ha

is achievable

Farmers tell:

25 Qtls/ha

is achieved

FOSTER is venturing to bridge this gap

Rice is life

Prone to lodging

Susceptible to insectsto insects VulnerableVulnerable to diseases

Less turn-around time

Constraints

Testing of SRI in Basmati (2004)

Objective:To study the effect of SRI on farm yield & quality of Basmati

Expected benefits:

•Higher farm yield

•Improved quality

•Economically competitive technique

Research outcome

Kharif 2004 & 2005 at FOSTER

• Significantly higher farm yieldSignificantly higher farm yield

• Reduction in plant height & lodging Reduction in plant height & lodging

• Reduction in incidence of blast Reduction in incidence of blast

• Reduction in % of broken & Reduction in % of broken & immature grainsimmature grains

SRI proved superior to PoP in BasmatiSRI proved superior to PoP in Basmati

SRI in Basmati

Superior Quality

Constraints in SRI in Basmati

More aftercare of nursery

Weed control is problematic

Complicated technique

Difficulty in farmers’ education

Future Prospects of SRI in Basmati

• Haryana farmers are eager to adopt SRI in Basmati

• Potential to solve the major constraints in Basmati cultivation

• Improved quality helps farmer fetch a higher price for their product

• FACE can disseminate the technology in minimum possible time

FOSTER is working on these FOSTER is working on these lines to help farmers lines to help farmers to reap rich harveststo reap rich harvests