System of Rice Intensification in Tamil Nadu: A status report by GEO Foundation and Centre for World Solidarity

This status report  analyses the potential opportunities to popularize the same towards effective utilization of water resource, augmenting yield/income for the livelihood upliftment of farming community. The methodology followed in this study is random sampling of farmers of SRI practitioners and non-practitioners in delta and non-delta regions. Field visits were made to the paddy area of the delta and non-delta regions, held on-site interaction with farmers along with field observations.

The study concludes the following:

• Linkages between the research and non-research actors are missing right now. Similarly, the link between non-research actors and policy makers as well to give more thrust towards SRI. The essential part is coordinated effort and forging linkages with development organizations who are having the similar vision. 
• There is in-sufficient two-way flow of information between farmers and researchers in the system currently which can hinder innovations and lead to rigidities.
• There are also insufficient horizontal linkages between farmers and researchers across regions although immense possibilities of cross learning exist. 
• The response, receptivity level, proactive actions in Government concerns (of research and extension services) appears to be insufficient, there is crisis in expertise, perception level among officials on SRI technology differs widely; some (non-trained) opines that SRI as impossible and some (trained) favor it, hence the enhancement of expertise on SRI among various stakeholders is real challenge than taking it to the field.  
• Various practitioners in isolation adopt SRI approach without much opportunity for cross learning except the websites/e-connected interaction by the experts.                                                                                                       
• SRI should not be misconstrued as technology and spread through schemes and support as any other technology is treated so far. Its core principles should be taught to the farmers in experiential mode. There is no other methodology except Farmer Field School (FFS) to teach farmer on farming system approach. Hence, SRI should be instrumental for all the actors to reach similar destination of ‘potential yielding environment’ for other crops too, which is possible if farming system approach is understood. 
• SRI could be one of the vital approaches needed to address several problems in irrigation projects like water conflicts, equity, water logging, salinity, tail-end deprivation and poor livelihoods at macro level and at farm and farmer level. It would play major role in saving the natural resources especially the water and improve the farm efficiently in production output thereby improving the livelihood status of farm families.

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