A septuagenarian farmer K.P. Duraisamy of Thatharakadu village, near Sivagiri in Kodumudi block of Erode district, has emerged first in the State-level Crop Yield Competition for 2013-14 by achieving a paddy production of 15,325 kg a hectare using SRI (System of Rice Intensification) methodology.
He used the CR 1009 (Savithri) paddy variety by cultivating Daincha crop beforehand and mulching it before flowering.
The success formula was mixing 3kg seeds an acre with 200 gm of Azospyrillum, half litre of rice gruel, and 1 kg jaggery.
In nursery preparation, the farmer had applied 100 kg of farm yard manure and two kg Azospyrillum.
By the time he readied the main field for cultivation, he had applied 20 tonnes of farm yard manure.
He had taken the 15-day seedlings for transplanting after dipping its root in a solution of 1 kg Azospyrillum and 60 litre water. The planting was carried out with a spacing of 23cm x 23cm.
He used a conoweeder for weed control on the 11th, 20th and 35th days after transplanting.
Officials are, in fact, not surprised about Mr. Duraisamy’s achievement. Assistant Director of Agriculture, Kodumudi Block, Savithri, said the farmer used to follow the department's instructions scrupulously.
The award carrying a cash component of Rs. 5 lakh will serve as a motivation for other progressive farmers in the district, M. Selvaraj, Joint Director of Agriculture, said.
The award that Mr. Duraisamy will receive from Chief Minister O. Paneerselvam during the Republic Day celebrations signifies an important milestone in his journey of achievements. Since 1971 when he had participated in SRI training at Tamil Nadu Agricultural
University, Coimbatore, he has been cultivating paddy under the method.
As a young farmer, he had won the Crop Yield Competition award at the district level in 1968-69, and State-level award in 1969-70 and 1970-71.
He was also honoured with the Velamnai Semmal award in 1970-71. In recent years, Mr. Duraisamy bagged the best farmer award for 2013-14 under ATMA (Agriculture Technology Management Agency) scheme.
