Knowledge Gap Causing Discontinuance of SRI: A Study in Tribal Region of Odisha

Abstract

System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method is being ideally suited to the small farmers in India where rice productivity is comparatively low. But, it has been observed that the farmers are not enthusiastic to continue the practice in spite of all efforts made. Inadequate knowledge about the practices might be the reasons for the discontinuance of the method. A study was therefore, conducted with 96 farmers in the tribal region of Sundargarh district in Odisha to assess the knowledge deficiencies that causing discontinuance of SRI. The findings revealed that the farmers had inadequate knowledge on raising nursery bed at 80-100 cms height, putting single sprouted seed in line in nursery bed, sub-matting at two meters distance, putting seedlings in a thin metal sheet for easy transplanting, use of recommended quantity of well decomposed FYM/manure per hectare, green manuring and vermicomposting to supplement organic manure, minimum of four weeding at ten days interval, alternate drying and wetting of the main field, light irrigation during hair line cracks and keeping 2-3 cms standing water after flowering. Socio – economic attributes like family size, housing pattern, social participation, education, use of agricultural implements, extension contact and annual income had significant influence in increasing knowledge level of the respondents. It is therefore suggested that the extension officials of the state department of Agriculture and Non- Government Organizations promoting SRI have to take possible approaches to expose the respondents further particularly with poor knowledge on practices enabling them to realize the benefits of all these practices and may continue SRI method of rice cultivation for better production till they get better technology.