Organic Paddy: Experiment
in Wayanad
75 Kg as against 40 kg from 6.18
cents of land
Organic Paddy cultivation through System of Rice
Intensification (SRI) method has been promoted as
part of the implementation of FARM project in
Wayanad. This has been tested on a trial basis in
the plots of the Tribal Community of Arikkalam Colony of Padinjarathara Gram Panchayat,
Kalpatta Block of Vythiri Taluk of Wayanad District, Kerala. This colony is inhibited by 24
tribal families of Kuruchiya community.. The tribals here used to practice conventional method
of farming with farm yard manure and cow dung as the manure. In order to find out the
difference in expenditure and income, the testing was done through the control plot system in
both conventional and SRI method. The testing done on rain fed organic paddy cultivation as
against the conventional method boosted the confidence of the people in this area and is planning
to practice the same in the future The lead farmers were trained by FARM_Wayanad and Caritas
India personnel on various aspects of organic
paddy cultivation. All the methods were
systematically followed with the guidance of
Ms. Sheela V, the Community Facilitator of
FARM project in Wayanad for Wayanad
Social Service Society (WSSS). The testing
was done in the control plots of two areas of
25 meter (82.5 feet) length and 10 meter (33
feet) width which is equal to 2722 square feet.
Hence the paddy cultivation was done in 6.18
cents of land. Both the methods were
experimented in-order to show the difference
in the cost of cultivation and the production. The organic paddy cultivation yielded 75 kilogram
of paddy from 6.18 cents of land. The same in the conventional method was 40 kilogram of
paddy from the same area of 6.18 cents.
The use of organic manure and growth promoters improved the fertility of the soil, which was
visible as there was plenty of earthworm casting on the field. The presence of plenty of
earthworms in the soil improved the moisture, air space, and fertility of the soil, which was
contributing to the healthy growth of each plant and hence the production. It has been done
through the application of growth promoters like “Jeevamruth”, “NPK Organic” and “Fish
Tonic”. During harvesting, it was found that all the plants were fallen to the ground in the
conventional method and not even a single plant fell in the case of organic paddy cultivation
method.
Cost Benefit analysis of both conventional organic and SRI in 6.18 cents of land
Particulars
Land preparation
Bed Preparation, Seed & transplantation
Weeding
Fertilizing
Harvesting
Thrashing
Total Expense
Yield from 6.18 cents
Rate per 1 kilogram of paddy
Amount received
Net profit from 6.18 cents
Difference in income from 6.18 land
Conventional
Organic
SRI
150
50
75
Cow dung : 70
150
50
150
Jeevamruth: Rs. 20
Fish Amino acid: Rs. 30
NPK Organic: Rs. 30
Pest Repellents : 00
50
115
595
75 kilogram
Rs. 17
75 x 14 = 1275
1275-595 = Rs. 680
100
115
560
40 kilogram
Rs. 17
40 x 14 = 680
680-560= Rs. 120
Rs. 560
The cost benefit analysis shows that there is a net profit on Rs. 680 as against Rs. 120 from the
conventional method and the difference in profit from 6.18 cents of land is Rs. 560. This
variation motivated farmers in the area to follow SRI method in the future. Land leveling has
been done well with strong field bunds on all the sides. Vegetables are cultivated on one side of
the field and medicinal plants and Mary gold are cultivated on the other side which has helped to
control pest to some extent. In addition pest repellents have been made with different leaves and
cow urine. Seed selection has been done by putting a fresh egg in salt water and the bed for
seedling was filled with mud, sand and compost. Transplantation was done after 15 days and the
distance between plants was 25 centimeters.
Seed selection method: Selection of the best seeds will help in the better germination, healthy
growth and better grains. The following steps were adopted in selecting best seeds:
 A fresh egg is added to the vessel containing plain water.
 The egg has gone down to the water settling it on the bottom
 Salt was added to the water till the egg comes up
 Removed the egg and put the paddy seeds into the salt solution.
 Selected the seeds that settled down and discarded the floating seeds.
 The selected seeds were rinsed well in fresh water and soaked in starter solution for an
hour for better germination.
 This helped to select the best seeds with an ideal weight of nearly 20 mg/seed.
Method of making growth promoters:
JEEVAMRUTH
Ingredients
Quantity
Cow dung
1 Kilogram
Cow Urine
1 Liter
Jaggary
200 Milligram
Horse gram powder
100 milligram
Water
10 liters
Method of making: Mix well all the above ingredients in a vessel and keep it for 5
days. After 5 days add 10 times water in it and apply to the soil.
NPK ORGANIC
Ingredients
Quantity
Cow dung
100 Milligram
Neem cake (powdered)
100 Milligram
Groundnut cake (Powdered)
200 Milligram
Ash
100 Milligram
Born powder
200 milligram
Water
15 liters
Method of making: Mix well all the above ingredients in a vessel and keep it for 4
days. After 5 days add 20 times water and apply to the soil.
FISH AMINO ACID
Ingredients
Quantity
Fish (Blue/Black coloured)
1 Kilogram
Jaggery
1 Kiligram
Method of making: Mix well the above ingredients in a vessel and keep it for 10
days. After 10 days add 10 times water and apply to the soil.
Pest Prevention: In order to control pest attack, the following methods were done:



Cultivation of Mary Gold plants on the field bunds
Sticking the braches of trees as bird perch
Applying Pest Repellent made out of green leaves which are bitter, bad small, the leaves
producing sap and cow urine.
PEST REPELLENT
Ingredients
Quantity
Leaves (Bitter, Bad Smell, having 1 Kilogram
sap)
Cow Urine
1 Kiligram
Method of making: Mix well the above ingredients in a vessel and keep it
for 10 days. After 10 days add 10 times water and spay on the plants.
Regular spray during the flowering time is beneficial.