Raising Productivity in
Irrigated Agriculture
Presented at International Conference on
Uncommon Opportunities:
Roadmap for Employment, Food & Global Security
November 22, 2004
The Mother’s Service Society, Pondicherry
1
Low Productivity of Indian Agriculture


India ranks among the lowest countries in
the world on productivity of most major
crops.
Huge waste of water resources damaging
crop productivity, increasing soil salinity
and aggravating water shortages -- 80%
of India’s water use is for irrigation.
2
Low farm productivity results in

High unit cost of production

High priced food

Low farm incomes & purchasing power

Low labour absorption

High water consumption/unit of produce
3
Factors Determining Crop Productivity







Soil preparation
Quality of seed
Planting methods & tools
Plant nutrition – type, quality & timing
Water management
Pest management
Time & schedule management
4
Advanced Agricultural Technology
(ATT)
Adapted appropriately to local conditions can
 Raise crop productivity by 100 to 200%
 Raise water use efficiency by 100 to 200%.
5
Enhancing plant nutrition can double
yields & incomes on all crops.

“Every Rs 1 of investment in plant nutrition
returns Rs 5 of additional income”
Dr C. Lakshmanan, CACS

One Tanjore paddy farmer reduced his
production cost from Rs 3.50 to Rs 1.50 per kg
6
Crop Productivity Gap (kg/ha)
Crop
USA
China
India
Maize
8900
4900
2100
Paddy
7500
6000
3000
Soy beans
2250
1740
1050
Seed Cotton
2060
3500
750
Tomato
6250
2400
1430
7
Balanced Soil Fertility & Plant Nutrition

Plants require more than 12 essential nutrients

In India, soil is being tested for only three nutrients.

Without these 12 nutrients, genetic potential of hybrid seeds
cannot be tapped.

The same hybrid rice seed generates 2.8 tons per hectare in
India, 5.4 tons in China & 8 tons in USA.

Methods employed in India for application of fertilizers lead to
low absorption, low fertilizer use efficiency, high wastage and
high cost.

ATT can triple productivity of the same hybrid seed.
8
S
Co oil
O ndu pH
rg
a n ctiv
it
ic
M y
at
Ph
Ni ter
os
tr
ph oge
Ph
o
o s rus n
ph (P
1
or
us )
Po (P
ta 2)
M ssiu
ag
ne m
si
u
Su m
lp
h
Ca ur
lci
um
So
di
um
M
an Zin
ga c
ne
se
Iro
Co n
pp
er
Bo
ro
n
Soil Fertility – before treatment
Optimum Level Required by Plants
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
9
an Zin
ga c
ne
se
Iro
Co n
pp
er
Bo
ro
n
100%
M
S
Co oil
p
O ndu H
rg
a n ctiv
ity
ic
M
at
Ph
Ni ter
o s tro
p
ge
Ph ho
n
o s rus
ph (P
1
or
us )
Po (P2
ta
)
s
s
M
ag ium
ne
si
u
Su m
lp
h
Ca ur
lci
u
So m
di
um
Soil Fertility – after NKP treatment
Optimum Level Required by Plants
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
10
Impact of Improved Soil Nutrition
Crop
(tons/acre)
Rice
Tamil Nadu ATT Adapters in
Average
Tamil Nadu
Potential
2
4
6
310
890
2200
8
17
30
Maize
1.2
2.8
7.8
Okra
2
6
10
Cotton Lint (lb./A)
Bringjal
11
Comparative Tomato Yields

India aver 8-12 tons per acre

California aver 35-40 tons

ATT in California 60 tons

Achieved in Tamil Nadu 38 tons
12
Brinjal in TN
ATT achieved 17 tons/acre of brinjal in TN compared with
TN average of 8 tons. Potential is for 30 tons generating
more than Rs 1 lakh/acre profit
13
Red Cabbage in TN
ATT has achieved 20 tons/acre of cabbage in TN compared
with TN average of 12 tons. Potential is for 30 tons
14
generating more than Rs 1 lakh/acre profit.
Badji Pepper in TN
ATT has achieved 14 tons/acre in Tamil Nadu
compared with local average of 6 tons. Potential is
20 tons generating more than 1.5 lakhs profit/acre.
15
Okra in TN
ATT technology has produced 6 tons/acre of Okra in TN
compared with state average of 2 tons. Potential is for 10 tons
16
yielding income of Rs 50,000 to 1 lakh/acre.
Sugarbeet gives 50% more sugar than cane
in ½ the time with only 2/3rd the water
ATT farmers in CA achieve the highest yields of sugarbeet.
Sugarbeet can produce 35-40 tons/acre in TN in 6 months with
15% sugar recover compared to TN average of about 40 tons
cane in 12 months with only 10% recovery. Also sugar beet 17
consumes only 40% as much water than sugarcane.
ATT Cotton in CA
ATT
achieved
cotton yields
of 2200
lbs/acre in
California &
890 lbs in TN
compared
with state
average of
310 lbs.
18
Maize
Maize yields of 2.8
tons/acre have been
achieved in TN with ATT
technology compared to
TN average of 1.2 tons.
ATT potential is for 7.8
tons/acre.
19
Water Conservation

80% of water in India is consumed for agriculture

Real problem is wastage, not shortage

Water productivity in agriculture is extremely low

California farmer produces 35 times more cotton/liter

RWH can replenish 10 yrs consumption in one season

Furrow irrigation can reduce water consumption 50-70%

Deep chiseling can 2x crop yields & ½ water usage
20
30-36” Soil Penetration in USA
21
Soil Penetration 6-8” in Tamil
Nadu
22
Normal Indian Soil
6”
Crop
Hard Pan
Rainwater cannot penetrate deepr
or drain, so it floods roots &
evaporates rapidly. The flooding
prevents plant roots from
breathing, which is essential for
absorption of nutrients.
Roots cannot penetrate
so plant growth is
stunted. Plants are small,
weak, needs frequent
irrigation & gives low
yield.
23
Deep Soil Chiseling
Roots sink deep to reach
perennial water supply &
nutrients. Plant grows large,
strong & highly productive.
36”
Crop
Soft Pan
Rainwater stored deep down
where it will not easily
evaporate & is available to
plants for months
24
Deep Chiseling in USA
25
Deep Chiseling in TN
26
Normal Flat-bed Land Preparation in TN
27
Tomato with furrows in TN
ATT Tomato consumed 33% of the water
Achieved 217% higher yield (38 tons)
28
Flood Irrigation in TN
Flood irrigation methods practiced in TN waste
large amounts of water and drown crops resulting
in high water consumption & low yields.
29
Furrow Irrigation in California

Furrow irrigation reduces water consumption by
upto 70% while increasing crop yields.
30
Furrow Irrigation in TN
31
What ATT can do

Improve land use efficiency


Improve fertilizer use efficiency


Doubling or tripling productivity per unit area can reduce
the cost per unit of agricultural produce to enhance farm
incomes and promote international competitiveness.
Doubling or tripling farmer income by balancing plant
nutrients in the soil to optimize plant intake of applied fertilisers,
safeguarding the environment and reducing soil degradation.
Improve water use efficiency

Doubling or tripling water use efficiency and reducing
salinization of irrigated lands through land preparation
techniques that harvest rainwater on millions of acre while
reducing waste of irrigated water.
32
Limitations & Requirements
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Size of land holding
Capacity to invest
Lack of chiseling equipment
Accurate analysis of 13 nutrients
Expert knowledge of plant nutritional
requirements
Farmer knowledge of planting, fertilization
& irrigation methods
33
Solutions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Size: Technology is size neutral
Cost:
 Investment in soil fertility is moderate
 Can be incremental & return higher income each season
Chiseling:
 Local equipment can be adapted
 Loans/Incentives for upgrading private farm service centres
Soil tests:
 Establish national network of government-certified private
labs
Soil test analysis:
 Develop computerised expert systems with foreign
34
assistance if necessary
Solutions - 2
5.
Farmer knowledge: Establish national network for
demonstration & training

Central training institutes

Satellite training institutes

Farm Schools

Develop multimedia training programmes

E-farming -- deliver expert advice & training via rural
knowledge centres
6.
Reorient Ag Colleges to focus on Production Agriculture
7.
Develop certification programme for starting Agri-Clinics
35
State Level Project


Facilities

Central training centre + 11 satellite training centres

12 soil labs & farm service centres

6000 farm schools
Income

Demonstration farms

Agri services

Training fees
36
Farmers Trained
Year
Farm School
Instructors
Trained
1
2
3
4
Total
1100
1400
1500
2000
6000
33000
75000
120000
228000
34400
76500
122000
234000
Lead Farmers
Trained
Cumulative
Total
1100
37