Improved Planting
Modified System of Rice Intensification for Paddy (MSRI)
Modified System of Rice Intensification involves cultivating rice with an appropriate mix of organic manure and fertilizers, starting with young seedlings planted singly at wide spacing in a regular pattern; and with intermittent irrigation that keeps the soil moist but not inundated, and inter cultivation with a weeder that actively aerates the soil. MSRI along with lean farming form a set of ideas for comprehensively managing and conserving resources by changing the way that land, seeds, water, nutrients, and human labour are used to increase productivity from a small but well-tended number of seeds.
The main advantages of MSRI
- The nursery is transplanted much earlier (traditional is around 30 days), anywhere between 12th to 18th day decreasing the disturbance to roots as well as allowing time for tiller growth.
- Increased distance between plants in SRI allowing for better access to sunlight and more space for root growth.
- Weeding and soil loosening using weeder after sowing leading to better aeration and increased tillage.
MSRI fields also require 25% less water in the initial 10 days post transplanting. Between May 2012 and July 2019, Magasool has reached more than 700 farmers in Trichy, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, Kanchipuram, Kanyakumari, Theni, Tirunelveli and Thanjavur districts. Most farmers have reported yield increase of 10 to 20 % resulting in an increased income of anywhere between Rs 2500 to Rs 5000 per acre (translating to more than 30% increase in profits).
Transplantor Machine in action
Increasing ground-nut acreage through enhanced planting and harvest efficiency
Groundnuts require much less water than paddy or sugarcane and give 20% higher profits to farmers. They also help restore soil fertility when used as a rotation crop. We partnered with a few farmers to pilot a mechanized seed drill in early 2018 and results were very encouraging. The drill ensured regular spacing between seeds thereby improving access to soil nutrition, aeration and root growth for the plants.
