We conducted SRI trial in two Upazilas of Noakhali district. The farmers practised both SRI and conventional cultivation at the same time to compare the results regarding production cost, yield, and net return. Farmers applied less chemical fertilizers in SRI plots compared to conventional plots which is expected. They did not use pesticides but adopted IPM cultural method for both practices, indicating no attack of pests. Per hectare, irrigation cost was more or less the same for both practices though it was supposed to be less for the SRI method. The water supplier might have counted frequency instead of water volume, or there might have been a system loss of water in SRI plots. SRI farmers drastically saved seed costs (67%) compared to conventional farmers. Farmers weeded their conventional plots by hand while they used hand and also rotary weeders for SRI plots due to wider spacing. The report found that SRI practices permitted soil aeration, better root development, more effective tillering and more panicles, which ultimately increase the yield in SRI method. During the Boro season 2002-03, SRI farmers got 43% more yield than with conventional methods. The yield of straw was 39% higher in SRI compared to traditional methods. Per hectare production cost in SRI was 9% less than the conventional method. So higher yield and lower cost of production in SRI increased their net return to around 109% over that of traditional practice. The benefit-cost ratio was, respectively, 2.87 and 1.84 for SRI and conventional methods.
Authors: Husain, AM Muazzam; Barua, Proloy; Halder, Shantana Rani
Type: Report
Year: 2003