Smart Seeding System at CII-ICAR conference on Optimal Utilization of Resource in Agriculture

Ajai Rana

6th August 2014

1

306

438

121.6 77.8

109 118.2 48.9 24.5 15.9 27.6

1440

1040

377

282

205

348

122 85 77 67 67.2

35.6 48.8 58 28.5 44.2 39.6 51 66.5

36.4

China India Indonesia Vietnam Thailand Bangladesh Philippines Brazil Japan Pakistan

Rice Area, Production and Productivity of top 10 contries

Area Harvested (Lac HA) Milled Rice Production (Lac MT) Yield (Rough) (Quintal/HA)

2

Source: USDA, FAS 2014

• Land - 110 million acres

• Water – 5000 lts / kg of milled rice

• Labour – 8 man days per acre only for transplanting

– Rs 1600 – 2500/acre

• Fuel – 16 lt diesel per acre only for puddling

– Rs 1000/acre

3

Population (Billion)

Per Capita Consumption (kg per person per year)

Rice Consumption (Mio MT)

Peak Buffer Stock Requirement (Mio MT)

Assuming export to remain the

same (Mio MT)

Total Rice Requirement (Mio MT)

Productivity (MT / Ha) (Rough)

1.25

73

80

14

10

104

3.56

1.52

73

110.96

17

10

138

4.48

Source: United Nation Population Front FCI Buffer Stock Norm USDA, FAS

4

104

3.56 44

138

6.7 30

Present Milled

Rice Production(Mio MT)

Present

Productivity(MT / Ha)

Required land

(Mio Ha)

Milled Rice

required in2030 (Mio MT)

If productivity

Incresed toChina level (MT

/ Ha)

Required land

(Mio Ha

India can free as much as 14mio ha of rice land for other uses if we reach China’s productivity level

5

3.6 3.6

0.2 0.2

0.4 0.4

0.6 0.6

Present 3.6 MT Agronomic

Intervention(5%)

Herbicide /

diseaseTolerance (10%)

Genetics (15%) Total (4.8 MT)

Assuming rice acre to remain constant till 2030 (Average Yield in MT / Hectare)

Present Agronomic practices Herbicide / Disease tolerance Genetics

Challenges

Labor Scarcity

and Cost

Water Problem

Marketing Problem – Ease and

price Government procurement System … no transparency

Disease / Pest

occurrence

Counterfeit

seeds

Lack of awareness

Source : Market Research, May 2011 (8 states) 6

-

Y 2010 Y 2013 Y 2014

4800 7800

4455

12000

17000

9350

18200

24000

Fertilizer Retail Price Trend (MRP Rs. per MT)

SSP MOP DAP

0

200

400

68 137 154

77 93

191

306 304

175 218

Average Daily Wage Rate (Rs. per Day)

Year 2009 Vs 2013 2009

2013

34 38

39 49

55 63

0

20

40

60

80

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Diesel Price (Rs. Per Liter)

238

% 256

%

185

%

7

Units required (Hectare)

Cost (Rs. / Ha) at 2014 Price

Increase in Cost over 2009 (Rs. / Ha.)

Additional Cost in RPS 2014 over 2009 (Cr)

Manpower for Transplanting

20 Mandays

4360

2500 (234%)

1095 Cr. Rs.

Diesel for Puddling

40 Lt

2520

1360 (185%)

596 Cr. Rs

Increased labour cost since last four years

2010 2011 2012 2013

Nursery Expenses 497 505 573 600

Transplanting Cost 1500 1800 2100 2500

Impact on Convenience with rice transplanting

Impact on Cost – Rs/acre

Impact on Rice production System Efficiency

Optimum 35 – 40 Plants per Mt2

Actual 15 – 20 Plants per Mt2

8

Nursery Preparation

Field Preparation

Transplanting

Transplanted Rice SSS

Not Needed

Field Preparation Flooding Puddling

Field Preparation / Levelling

Maintain Moisture

Transplanting done manually

9

Convenience, Cost & Peace

of mind

Cost Water Saving

Efficient Rice Production system by maintaining optimum

plant population

10

Weeds growing faster than rice plants

New generation herbicides has provided wider and effective control

• Azimsulfuron-50% DF

• Bispyricbac Sodium

Farmer’s perception of poor germination and growth

60 plants per meter square

Critical is to handhold farmers in the initial 30 days

11

• Planting Machinery & Weed Control

– Different Weed flora in SSS fields.

– Traditional herbicides were ineffective.

12

• Land - By improving productivity potential to reduce nearly 10 million ha rice acreage

– By optimizing plant population – Genetic gain and agronomic practices

• Labour & Fuel - 32% saving in Cost of Cultivation

– Rs. 2800/acre translates to Rs 8400 crore if 1/3 rice area is converted to Smart Seeding System

• Water & other Intangible benefits:

– Crop duration is reduced by 4-7 days – Reduced labor dependency – Saving natural resource-Water – Reduce Green House impact

13

• Stage 1 - System performance validated

– 3 years in house studies

– 3 years PAU studies

– USA & Brazil already using this system

• Stage 2 - Validate performance in farmers field

– More than 200 demonstration in farmer field

– Show case to key stake holders • State & central government officials

• Progressive farmers

• Drill manufacturers & input suppliers

• Stage 3 – Public & Private sector collaboration to scale up adoption

14

15