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Practice of double transplanting (Sanda method) in rice: small holder farmers’ adaptation to multiple stressors in a sub-humid climate

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Title Practice of double transplanting (Sanda method) in rice: small holder farmers’ adaptation to multiple stressors in a sub-humid climate
 
Creator Ranjay K Singh, Anshuman Singh, Arvind Upadhyay, Ankit Goswami, Parvender, Satyendra Kumar, K Thimmappa and DK Sharma
 
Description Small-holder farmers world over are increasingly experiencing the challenges caused by the extreme climate
variability, land degradation, low incomes and weak policy support making them extremely vulnerable to
climate change induced risks. Dismal adaptive capacity, virtual absence of an enabling policy environment
and the weak interface with the formal knowledge providers are the factors compelling such farmers to
develop their own location specific practices for effective adaptation to such stressors. This paper examines
how small-holder farmers of eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP) are using the local knowledge for sustaining the rice
yields in a multiple stress environment. Study was carried out with 45 key knowledge farmers selected
randomly from 9 villages, i.e ., three each from three purposively selected districts (Azamgarh, Jaunpur and
Gajipur) of eastern UP. Data were collected using intensive transect walk, participant observations, distant
learning and informal interactions, and personal interviews using a structured questionnaire in combination
with the soil testing results. Results indicated that farmers are experiencing reduced number of rainy days,
extended summers and short winters than earlier. Some new insect-pests and weeds have emerged in the
past two decades. Moderate to high soil sodicity (pH2 8.4-10.1), waterlogging in low-lying lands in canal
commands and acute labour shortages due to increased migration to cities and employment opportunities
under MGNREGA scheme have considerably increased the vulnerability of these farmers. Furthermore, weak
policy support and the poor access to the recommended technologies seem to have further decreased their
adaptive capacity as evident from very low rice yields (1.8-3.5 q ha1). As income from rice crop is a major
source of livelihood to them, studied farmers are increasingly adopting the sanda method of double rice
transplanting to enhance the resilience of the rice agro-ecosystems. In this method, farmers broadcast only
about a fifth (6-8 kg ha-1) of the recommended seed rate (30-40 kg ha-1) in puddled fields around mid-May
using tube well water. After about 25 days (i.e ., around 15th June), the seedlings are uprooted and
transplanted in another field where they are grown for about 20 days (5-10 July). About 50-55 days old
seedlings are then moved to the main fields. Rice crop grown using sanda technique withstands extended
dry spells in the uplands and prolonged water inundation in the low-lying fields. Almost negligible incidence
of pests and diseases ensures little or virtually no use of pesticides. Compared with the puddled transplanted
rice, sanda method provides about 20-25% higher grain yield. This community-knowledge, which probably
originated in the eastern parts of India, has gradually spread to the eastern UP via migrant labourers from
Bihar and West Bengal. This method of rice growing represents a characteristic example of autonomous
adaptation to alleviate the risks caused by multiple stressors. Notably, this method has now become a part
of the agricultural contingency plan of the State Government. It is possible that sanda technique may be of
immense use in rice-wheat system of north-western India where a multitude of problems including
widespread land degradation, water scarcity, pest and disease outbreaks and declining crop yields have
caused immense harm.
 
Date 2017-06-27T08:59:45Z
2017-06-27T08:59:45Z
2017-01
 
Type Other
 
Identifier Singh, R.K., Singh, Anshuman, Upadhyay,A., Goswami, A., Parvender, Kumar, S., Thimmappa, K. and Sharma, D.K. 2017. Practice of double transplanting (Sanda method) in rice: small holder farmers’ adaptation to multiple stressors in a sub-humid climate. In: Abstracts 5th National Seminar Climate Resilient Saline Agriculture: Sustaining Livelihood Security held during 21-23 January 2017 at SKRAU, Bikaner, Rajasthan. p. 113.
http://krishi.icar.gov.in/jspui/handle/123456789/4486
 
Language English
 
Publisher Indian Society of Soil Salinity and Water Quality, Karnal