The System of Rice Intensification, (Madagascar) method was developed in Madagascar island by the farmers and NGOs under the leadership of a local priest. The concept of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) focuses on managing the soil, water, plants and nutrients in a balanced relationship, enabling maximum growth of rice plants. The SRI method can double the product ion of paddy per hectare by using only 5% the usual seeds, 50% of usual water, 50% of manuring, and 80% of labour.
Wayanad once had nearly 40,000 hectares of paddy cultivation; today, rice is cultivated only in 17,000 hectares. The remaining area is occupied by banana (12,000 hectares) and arecanut and other non-farm activities. The conversion of paddy fields t o banana fields has resulted in many ecological and social problems. Women used to get substantial labour opportunities in rice (27 person-days per acre per season). Due to the conversion to banana, it could be estimated that women lost nearly 150,000 labor-days per season. This is one of the major reasons for poverty and increasing health hazards in tribal communities. The tribes, especially the Paniya and Adiya communities, had been contributing the major part of the labour force in rice. The new cash crops have adversely affected their livelihood and food security.
Technological intervention, innovations and support services are prerequisite to bring back our rice cultivation. This should focus on increasing productivity, reducing labour costs, and developing ecofriendly pest and disease management practices. The System of Rice Intensification as mentioned above has proved to be a technical intervention with the potential to revive the rice cultivation in Wayanad. RASTA started conducting trials on SRI practices as part of a participatory technology development (PTD) process in 2003 with five farmers. It continued for two years with a larger number of farmers. The experiments have given very promising results for reviving rice cultivation in Wayanad.
The revival of rice cultivation has enhanced the income level of poor families as well as ensures food security to women of tribal and low income groups. SRI helps t hem in improving their livelihood.