As I have already told, I am a Deshpande Foundation fellow. We had a Impact study module of studying the impact of different projects implemented by different NGOs. I with my co-fellow had been for the impact study on Rice intensification in Shiggoan taluk of Haveri district. The project is being implemented by SRIJAN. We nearly had six days study.
The impact was not seen as the project is too young to study the impact and it needs at least three years to have an impact.
Most of the farmers are small and marginal, who have taken up SRI method in 5-10 guntas under the project. Due to late rains the planting was delayed this year. All fields are almost 25-45 kms away from Shiggoan. So it was a very hard time for us. As you know SRI method has five principles viz ., low seed rate, higher spacing, no water logging condition, 10-12 days old seedling transplanting and weed management.
The farmers are becoming aware of the importance of the method but still needs attention as they do not taken up separate seedbed preparation and hence not able to calculate cost of cultivation. The weed management is the main drawback as it is poor. The farmers are supported with 50% input costs and technical guidance by agricultural graduates to promote SRI method.
The farmers are making out the difference between the SRI & conventional methods. Some of the constraints the farmers are facing include high weed infestation, lack of availability of labors and problem of water availability.
Some recommendations were suggested by us which included selection of farmers from a cluster of villages and early selection of the beneficiaries.
Tags: fellowship
