THE HINDU

Date: 07/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/07/stories/2008020757140300.htm

Tamil Nadu

World Bank teams inspect on-going schemes

System of Rice Intensification brings cheer to farmers

— PHOTO: M. BALAGANESSIN

Scrutiny: I. Abrol, left, World Bank consulting member, interacting with agriculturists at
Vanniyapatti near Pudukottai on Wednesday.

PUDUKOTTAI: "Initially, we were all reluctant to switch over to the new method of System of
Rice Intensification (SRI); but we did realise its success after training under the World Bank-
funded scheme. We will never give it up, even if the flow of subsidy is suspended in future."

This was the feedback from a cross-section of farmers of Vanniyapatti in Arimalalm block in the
district, who have introduced the SRI technique under the World Bank-funded 'Integrated
Agriculture Modernisation and Water Resources Management' (I AM WARM) project. About 44
hectares had so far been brought under the SRI in the block.

The consulting member of the World Bank, I. Abrol, who formed one of the units to assess the
progress of this five-year project, introduced during 2007-08, enquired about every minute detail
of the farmers' achievement. Members of the Multi-Disciplinary Project Unit (I AM WARM),
Chennai, V. K Ravichandran and the Professor and Head, National Pulses Research Centre of the
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) at Vamban near here, explained to Mr. Abrol that
the SRI technique had attracted the farmers, mainly because of reduction in cultivation cost. For
instance, per acre utilisation of seeds had come down to 3 kg from 40 kg under the conventional
method. At Kottaiyur, Mr. Abrol inspected the water conservation technique through the
'casuarina saucer' method adopted by a farmer Ramachandran in five hectares.

The other team, comprising the World Bank's Task Force Leader, Rabi Karky; the Consultant,
Water Resources Organisation, K. Rajagopalan, accompanied by the Project Director of I AM
WARM, Chennai, Vibhu Nayar, held a discussion with District Collector D. Uthirakkumaran.
They later visited Kavinadu and Valanadu. According to the Executive Engineer, PWD, C.
Natarajan, the project involved a total outlay of Rs.142.62 crore including Rs.76.70 crore for the
South Vellar sub-basin and Rs.65.92 crore for the Pambar sub-basin in the district. This year,
Rs.19.24 crore had been allotted including Rs.9.50 crore for the South Vellar sub-basin and
Rs.9.74 crore for the Pambar sub-basin.