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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

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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.

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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

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Factors Determining Crop Productivity

Soil preparation Quality of seed Planting methods & tools Plant nutrition – type, quality & timing Water management Pest management Time & schedule management

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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%.

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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

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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

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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.

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0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Soil Fertility – before treatmentOptimum Level Required by Plants

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0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Soil Fertility – after NKP treatmentOptimum Level Required by Plants

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Impact of Improved Soil Nutrition

Crop (tons/acre)

Tamil Nadu Average

ATT Adapters in Tamil Nadu Potential

Rice 2 4 6

Cotton Lint (lb./A) 310 890 2200

Bringjal 8 17 30

Maize 1.2 2.8 7.8

Okra 2 6 10

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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

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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

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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 generating more than Rs 1 lakh/acre profit.

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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.

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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 yielding income of Rs 50,000 to 1 lakh/acre.

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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 consumes only 40% as much water than sugarcane.

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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.

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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.

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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

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30-36” Soil Penetration in USA

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Soil Penetration 6-8” in Tamil Nadu

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Normal Indian Soil

Hard Pan

6”

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.

Crop

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Deep Soil Chiseling

36”

Rainwater stored deep down where it will not easily evaporate & is available to plants for months

Roots sink deep to reach perennial water supply & nutrients. Plant grows large, strong & highly productive.

Soft Pan

Crop

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Deep Chiseling in USA

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Deep Chiseling in TN

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Normal Flat-bed Land Preparation in TN

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Tomato with furrows in TN

ATT Tomato consumed 33% of the water

Achieved 217% higher yield (38 tons)

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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.

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Furrow Irrigation in California

Furrow irrigation reduces water consumption by upto 70% while increasing crop yields.

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Furrow Irrigation in TN

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What ATT can do Improve land 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.

Improve fertilizer use efficiency 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.

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Limitations & Requirements

1. Size of land holding

2. Capacity to invest

3. Lack of chiseling equipment

4. Accurate analysis of 13 nutrients

5. Expert knowledge of plant nutritional requirements

6. Farmer knowledge of planting, fertilization & irrigation methods

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Solutions1. Size: Technology is size neutral

2. Cost: Investment in soil fertility is moderate Can be incremental & return higher income each season

3. Chiseling: Local equipment can be adapted Loans/Incentives for upgrading private farm service centres

4. Soil tests: Establish national network of government-certified private

labs

5. Soil test analysis: Develop computerised expert systems with foreign

assistance if necessary

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Solutions - 25. 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

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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

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Farmers TrainedYear 1 2 3 4 Total

Farm School Instructors Trained

1100 1400 1500 2000 6000

Lead Farmers Trained 33000 75000 120000 228000

Cumulative Total

1100 34400 76500 122000 234000