Amidst the worst concerns of the farmers in Kashmir in view of prolonged dry spell, agriculture experts here have brought some hope to them.According to experts with the SK University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) some innovative methods like ‘system of rice intensification’ (SRI) can be a boon to the paddy farmers amid the prevailing “hopeless” condition.
It may recalled that the irrigation and flood control department has asked the farmers not to cultivate paddy this year in view of drying up of the irrigation canals in Kashmir. Dr Muhammad Anwar Bhat, senior scientist Agronomy at SKUAST-K said, “With the SRI, a new way of cultivating rice has gained prominence among the farmers in several areas. The new form of cultivation is not just cost-effective, it needs less water and gives more yield as compared to traditional form of rice cultivation.”
See accompanying article by Tavseef Mairaj for more context. See "Rice scarcity in Water. Yes, why not?"