The Spread of System of Rice Intensification in the Above

Farmer's Level Network In Andhra Pradesh, India

Soutrik Basu*, Cees LeeuwisWageningen University

The Netherlands

Contents

Introduction

Support Network

SRI

Research Question

Methodology

Results and Discussions

Policy Implications

Introduction Diffusion of innovation is often understood by

measuring (dis)adoption dynamics among farmers

In our approach we are talking about adoption at

above-farmers level network

Above-farmers level network as a necessary

precondition for adoption at farmers level

System of Rice Intensification is researched within

the context of Andhra Pradesh, India

Support Network

Support network refers to the linkages and coalition

between different aspects of the innovation (Leeuwis,

2000; 2004)

Innovative ideas require a support network (Klerkx et al.,

2009; Leeuwis & Aarts, 2011; Schot & Geels, 2008)

Alignment of innovative ideas with new social

relationships, formal and informal rules, incentive

structures, organizational forms and control systems (Rip, 1995; Schot & Geels, 2008)

What is SRI? SRI was developed in Madagascar

Less input and more output than conventional

cultivation

Scientific rationality is heavily contested

SRI-methodology includes: single and young

seedlings, wide spacing, aerobic soil management,

limited irrigation, mechanical weeding, organic manures

SRI: Salient features Research and extension of SRI in 40 countries

A substantial number of peer reviewed article

published

Involvement of international institutions like CIIFAD,

WB, ICRISAT, different MOAs

Rapid spread around the globe

In India also a lot of involvement in above farmer’s

level

SRI related research SRI and increasing factor productivity

Critical assessment of SRI (Dobberman 2004)

Evaluation and validation of SRI (Latiff et al., 2005; 2009)

SRI and sustainable agriculture

SRI and irrigation management

SRI and (dis)adoption dynamics (Moser & Barret 2003; 2006)

SRI and farmer experience (ICRISAT-WWF project 2008)

SRI and its scientific rationality (Sheehy et al., 2005)

Many more…

Research Question

No research has been done on the adoption of SRI at

above-farmers level network

This research aims to fill the gap

How was SRI adopted in the above farmer’s

level in AP, India?

Methodology

Life- History analysis of SRI in AP– Reviewing existing literature from journals, reports etc.

– Informal interviews (15) with people involved with SRI promotion

– Focussed interviews (6) with high level officials, scientists, policy makers and NGO workers

– 5 Group discussions in Institutes involved with SRI debate

Media Analysis– Analysis of SRI website contents (7 website)

– Analysis of newspaper contents (47 articles from The Hindu between 2004-09)

– ‘The Hindu’- for reputation and large agro-based coverage

Results

Chronology of SRI roadmap (1999-2009)

Identification of actors, institutions, events within AP

Profound involvement of mass media

Patterns observed from the life history

Diverse composition of Actors and Institutions

Role of the Champions

Bypassing Research

Resource Mobilization

Media

Diverse composition of Actors Agricultural establishmentANGRAU, DRR, ICAR, DAATTC, KVK, AP Agricultural Department,& WALMTARI

Water conservation instituteWWF, ICRISAT, WASSAN

Policy related institutesNFSM, Planning commission of India

NGOsWASSAN, CROPS, CWS, SDTT, PRADAN etc.

National BankNABARD

SRI promotion transcended beyond agricultural establishment!

Role of champions

Champions (successful, influential, well designated

people )

Dr Norman Uphoff (academician, CIIFAD)

Dr A. Satyanarayana (director of extension,

ANGRAU)

Dr B. Gujja (policy advisor WWF)

Many more…

Bypassing Research

SRI was introduced directly at the farmer’s field

Regular trajectory was not followed

Time savings

Resource Mobilization

Resource mobilised from diverse sources

Initially CIIFAD

WWF-ICRISAT provided grant to DRR for doing

research on SRI as well as for documentation

NABARD, SDTT, WASSAN, DRR, ANGRAU

Chief Minister allotted 40 million INR for popularising

SRI

Media Regular coverage in Newspaper

Positive dimensions of SRI highlighted

Disadvantages ignored

Several specialized websites on SRI

Huge information on SRI has been provided (for scientists,

farmers, policy makers, extension workers)

Feedback and assistance system through website

Regular update on SRI in websites

Policy Implications

1. Do we pay enough attention in coalition building /

support network building?

2. Are networks or coalitions broad enough?

3. Do we sufficiently use mass media / internet?

The presenter gratefully acknowledges the support of following organizations

Rough content analysis of 105 articles on ‘rice’ found in the Andhra Pradesh edition of the Hindu from 2004 to August 2011

Topic Number and percentage of articles

System of Rice Intensification 70 (67%)

Volumes and levels of rice production in the State 9 (9%)

Reports on educational events, seminars, meetings and conferences on rice

8 (8%)

Policies pertaining to rice 8 (8%)

Rice prices, consumption and export 6 (6%)

Constraints in rice cultivation 4 (4%)

Distribution of SRI articles over the years.

Year 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 (till August)

Number of SRI articles

9 27 10 3 12 4 3 2

Glimpses from different websites on SRI (Source: Basu, 2009)

Web Address Provider Content Special feature

www.sri-india.net

ICRISAT-WWF project

· Detailed account on progress of SRI in different states of India

· Good documentation and regular update on SRI activities

· Detailed methodology on SRI · SRI newsletter regularly updated

· Detailed about WWF-ICRISAT partnership and progress

· large amount of publications on SRI is available

· Objectives of the project

· SRI- map of India · Information on national symposiums

on SRI

· Videos and audios on SRI

www.ciifad.cornell.edu/sri/

CIIFAD-Cornell University & TefySaina

· SRI history, detailed methodology · A comprehensive website on SRI

· Discussion forum

· Detailed report from 56 countries updated regularly on SRI

· Articles

· Research

· Videos and audios on SRI

· Slide presentations

· Manuals and Brochures

www.wassan.org/sri

Watershed Support Services and Activities Network

· District-wise information about SRI farmers in Andhra Pradesh

· Detailed description of weeders and markers needed for SRI

· Details SRI methodology

· Farmers experience with SRI

· Photo and video gallery on SRI

· Good documentation (covers almost all the books, articles and SRI newsletters and workshop reports

www.svaindia.org/sri.html

Sahabhagi Vikas Abhiyan

· Documentary film on SRI for sustainable agriculture · Village wise

examples of SRI · Detailed description on weeder and marker

http://info.worldbank.org/etools/docs/library/245848/index.html

World Bank Institute

· A detailed views of farmers, professors, policy makers on SRI

· A detailed multimedia tool kit on SRI

· A detailed methodology on SRI

www.dorabjitatatrust.org/ngo_grants/sri.aspex

Sir Dorabji Tata Trust

· Detailed SRI methodology · Advertisement of SDTT's grant to conduct research on various aspects of SRI

· Statistics of SRI promotion in India

· SDTT's contribution for SRI promotion

www.indg.in/agriculture

C-DAC · Detailed SRI technique with scientific

explanation

· Detailed SRI methodology in 6 languages Bengali, English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu

Characterisation of newspaper articles from 'The Hindu' on SRI in 2004

Date Author Title Summary of the content

05/04/2004 Suman Sahai Should India cultivate GM rice?

SRI- developed in Madagascar Showing spectacular results in India and

other countries 09/06/2004 G.V. Ramana

Rao Plans to train farmers in new method of rice cultivation

FTC action plan to train farmers on SRI SRI uses less water, no chemical fertilizer SRI very high yield SRI methodology Deputy Director of Agriculture (FTC-

Krishna) quotes in favor of SRI 15/06/2004 Staff

Reporter New system of paddy cultivation unveiled

Details SRI methodology SRI requires less seed and more yield

12/07/2004 Staff Reporter

Rice Intensification programme- a boon to farmers

SRI as a boon to farmers Government’s grant of Rs. 500/acre SRI uses 3 kg of seeds instead of 24

kg/acre in conventional method 15-20% yield increase Good option during monsoon failure Joint Director of Agriculture quotes in

favor of SRI 12/09/2004 R. Madhavan

Nair New system to boost rice yield in Wayanad

SRI significant increase in the yield Doubles production of paddy/hectare Uses only 5% seeds than conventional

method Uses 50% less water than conventional

method Details SRI methodology

13/10/2004 Staff Reporter

Paddy field reappear along KC canal

SRI has been doing well Short SRI methodology

25/11/2004 Staff Reporter

Farmers asked to adopt new method of paddy cultivation

SRI cost effective and higher yield Less water use President of Zilla Panchayat asked the

agricultural officers to educate farmers on SRI

Workshop on SRI 04/12/2004 Staff

Reporter Pest attack on paddy detected

Pest attack is negligible in SRI Crop duration is reduced by 10 days with

SRI 27/12/2004 G. Krupakar

Reddy For more rice yield

SRI less input and less water Yield increase Detailed about his experiments