By Jagabandhu Sanda, Consultant, Eastern India Team

The Eastern India regional meeting cum workshop on Ecological Farming in Bankura in June 2025 involved an intensive theoretical and hands on training on System of Rice Intensification (SRI) methods by Jacob Nellithanam with Community Resource Persons (CRPs) and field staff.

After returning from the workshop, Jagabandhu Sanda (Consultant, EI Initiative) along with CRPs organized a series of farmers trainings and workshops on SRI. These trainings comprised of 1 workshop in Gurabanda Block, 4 in Musabani block, and 1 each in Seraikela-Kharsawan District and Manoharpur Block of West Singhbhum District.  

In July 2024, we collected and distributed seeds from traditional rice varieties varieties to 12 farmers across East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan Districts for cultivation using the SRI method. Because of late rainfall, we were unable to meet our target of reaching out to around 30 farmers but still managed to pilot SRI methods with these 12 farmers. Their results are as follows – 

  1. Laxmikant and Chitramoni Patar from Lawkeshra village, Musabani Block, East Singhbhum District cultivated Kala Dhan and his yield was 1400 kgs as compared to 1100 kgs in 2023.
  2. Mohan Murmu from Katsakra village, Musabani Block, East Singhbhum District cultivated Malto Desi Dhan and his yield was 1300 kgs as compared to 1000 kgs in 2023.
  3. Sudhir Murmu from Katsakra village, Musabani Block, East Singhbhum District cultivated Balibhojna Dhan and his yield was 1400 kgs as compared to 1100 kgs in 2023.
  4. Sunita Murmu from Bhadu village, Musabani Block, East Singhbhum District cultivated Balibhojna Dhan and her yield was 1300 kgs as compared to 1200 kgs in 2023.
  5. Pani Hansda from Roam village, Musabani Block, East Singhbhum District cultivated Balibhojna Dhan and her yield was 1100 kgs as compared to 800 kgs in 2023.
  6. Raju Hansda from Somaydih village, Musabani Block, East Singhbhum District cultivated Balibhojna Dhan and his yield was 1400 kgs as compared to 1100 kgs in 2023.
  7. Kavita Mahato from Dongadah village, Gurabanda Block, East Singhbhum District cultivated Badshah Bhog Dhan, and her yield was 1500 kgs as compared to 1200 kgs in 2023.
  8. Chanchala Mahato from Dongadah village, Gurabanda Block, East Singhbhum District cultivated Balibhojna Dhan her yield was 1500 kgs as compared to 1200 kgs in 2023.
  9. Shyam Munda from Joydhantapur village, Gurabanda Block, East Singhbhum District cultivated Kala Basmati and his yield was 1500 kgs as compared to 1300 kgs in 2023.
  10. Surendranath Mahato from Hatnada village, Seraikela-Kharsawan District cultivated Sonarupa Desi Dhan and his yield was 1200 kgs as compared to 900 kgs in 2024. 
  11. Sukhlal from Sardabera village, Seraikela-Kharsawan District cultivated Laxmi Kajal Desi Dhan and his yield was 1100 kgs as compared to 800 kgs in 2024. 
  12. Radhu Sardar from Hatnada village, Seraikela-Kharsawan District cultivated Laxmi Kajal Dhan and his yield was 1200 kgs as compared to 800 kgs in 2024.

Overall, all farmers experienced a higher yield than when they used normal methods of cultivation. However, they all felt that if it was not for adverse climatic conditions, especially late and erratic rainfall and storms they would have much higher yields. All farmers have pledged to bring larger amounts of land under SRI cultivation and other farmers have also expressed interest in adopting these practices. 

Farmers’ Testimonials 

Chitramoni Patar from Laukesra village, Musabani Block, East Singhbhum District,, Jharkhand –  I have done SRI using desi / local rice (Kala Dhan) for the first time in half an acre of low land. The age of the seedings had become 28 days as rainfall came late, so I was hesitant to transplant using SRI method and even my husband told me not to do. But I took up the challenge and transplanted and I had a successful crop, and other farmers are coming to see my field. Next year I will do SRI in a larger area and motivate others to adopt SRI. 

Pani Hansda, Roam village, Musabani Block, East Singhbhum District, Jharkhand – Because of rains coming late the seedlings were over 1 month old. The rains came late so what she did not lose courage and did farming using SRI in 1.5 acres of land of Balibhojna paddy. 20 to 25 stalks from 1 seedling. She feels that she gave a little too much Gobar manure so some paddies fell (lodging) but majority of the crop is still standing. She was able to harvest even the lodged paddy. 

Sumitra Mahato, Dungadoha village, Gurabanda Block, East Singhbhum District, Jharkhand. She cultivated Badshahbhog (Basmati variety) in 10 Decimal using SRI. She did not expect that my crop would do so well using SRI. Next year she will use SRI method in all her paddy land which is around 2 acre. 

Photo credits: Baby Patar, Kapra Mahali and Sulekha Rani Mahato