A cost comparison between Inorganic cultivation of paddy and Zero Budget "SRI" method of cultivation of paddy

We all agree on the point that Organic cultivation and Zero Budget Natural Farming is certainly superior when it come to protection of soil health. On this issue there is no dispute.

I had the experience of cultivating paddy under both inorganic method as well as by following Zero Budget Natural Farming Techniques at our farm at Chitlapakkam and Kayapakkam Village respectively in Kanchipuram District.

I give below the detailed costing for the benefit of farming community. I am sure hard core practicioners will be able to improve upon and fine tune the costs better than me. Please note that in both these farm, the farm owners only participate in decision making and are not directly involved in cultivation. So every human resource used is paid for and physically the farm onwers contribution is not significant.

Inorganic Cultivation Costs for a shortduration crop (ADT 37):-

Preparation of seed beds Rs. 400/-
Cost of 30 kgs of seeds @ Rs.25/kg Rs. 750/-
Field preparation (Ploughing twice) Rs. 1,800/-
Cleaning of border + Levelling of field Rs. 400/-
Removing of saplings from seedbed & distribution of bunches Rs. 790/-
Transplantation with 18 lady workers per acre Rs. 1,080/-
Basel dosage of fertiliser Rs. 750/-
First top dressing of fertiliser Rs. 300/-
Deweeding with 10 lady labourers Rs. 600/-
Second top dressing of fertiliser Rs. 150/-
Application of pesticides & insecticides Rs. 800/-
Cost of harvesting per acre Rs. 1,100/-
Collection of hay Rs. 300/-
Total cost as per inorganic cultivation Rs. 9,120/-

(Normal yeild 27 to 30 bags of 72 kgs of paddy. However, the yeild tends to decrease over continued practice of inoraganic cultivation as the humus gets destroyed over a period of time due to excessive and continued usage of inorganic fertiliser and pesticides. This substantially reduces the microbial activity in the soil)


Zero Budget "SRI" Cost of short duration paddy (ADT 37)

Preparation of seedbed Rs. 60/-
Cost of seeds for seedbed @ 4kgs @ Rs.25/kg Rs. 100/-
Field preparation ploughing with 10 pairs of cow per acre Rs. 800/-
Cleaning the field borders (varappu adnaivettal & levelling Rs. 400/-
Removing & Transplantation of saplings 12 ladies per acre Rs. 720/-
Cost of Bijamurtham & Jeevamurtham for whole period Rs. 500/-
Spraying of Jeevamurtham every 15 days @ 10 tanks per acre Rs. 400/-
Spraying of Agniastra & Brahmastra (if required only) Rs. 160/-
Deweeding 4 times with Konoweeder or rotory weeder 5x4 ladies Rs. 1,200/-
Harvesting @ 1,100 per acre Rs. 1,100/-
Collection of hay Rs. 300/-
Total expenses per acre on Zero budget natural farming Rs. 5,740/-

(On change over, the first time estimated yeild is 23 to 25 bags of 72 kgs. Guarantee of increased yeild on continued practice this method. I know of successful farmers have achieved yeild of over 40 bags of 72 kgs in this method).

I am sure those who integrate "SRI" into Naturalfarming palekarway will certainly succeed on the long terms even when they practice monocropping. Ofcourse, their returns will surely increase when they follow multicropping as recommended by Shri Subash Palekar. Please await details of multicropping techniques recommended by Shri Subash Palekar in my next publishing on multicropping of paddy with legume crops. This is sure to be of significant use to hard core practicioners naturalfarming.