This document provides information about an organization called OPDSC that works to support small farmers in Rayagada district, Odisha. It summarizes that: 1) OPDSC was founded in 1989 to provide technical support to grassroots organizations in southern Odisha and now works in Rayagada and Nabarangpur districts. 2) Their major interventions include natural resource management, governance, livelihoods, and human rights with a focus on women and children. 3) They have promoted the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method of farming with over 3,600 small farmers cultivating over 2,500 acres since 2011, though drought conditions reduced yields in the 2011-

1. OPDSC, Rayagada-
ODISHA
Well Comes “U”

2. • OPDSC as a voluntary organization emerged in the
year 1989 in undivided Koraput district
• It was founded with the effort of 8 persons
• It’s prime objective was to provide technical
support to grass root organizations of southern
Odisha especially
• By this time OPDSC has direct involvement in
Nabarangpur and Rayagada district of KBK region-
Odisha

3. Major Intervention of OPDSC
 Natural Resource Management (Land, Water and
Forest)
 Governance and Livelihood
 Human Rights (especially women and child)

4. Rayagada at a Glance
 Rayagada district (Schedule Area) of Odisha comes
under KBK region, recognized as most backward region
of Odisha in terms of Socio-economic status
 Total Population: 961959 (2011 census)
(M-469672, F-492287)
 Total Cultivated Land: 1,92,998 hacts (1991 census)
 Total Paddy Land: 62655 hacts
 Total Farming Family: 1,00,396
 Normal Rainfall: 1285 (1991 report)
 Primitive Tribe: Kandha and Soura

5. Socio-Economic status
The prime source of livelihood of
district population is Agriculture with
small and marginal land holdings. Even
though the average rainfall of Rayagada
district is at par with the state average
(1450mm) but the prime source of
livelihood is being affected by erratic
rainfall, floods, droughts and other
forms of natural calamities.

6. Climate change has been resulted in either crop loss or
low production and productivity. Largest section of
the population is deprived of the basic amenities
(food, shelter, clothing, health care and education
facilities).
Traditional agriculture practices have been
systematically ruined at the behest of high input
oriented modern technology and mega agri-business
houses. Modified seeds and seed flushing programs
has accelerated the scale of marginalization of the
farmers and ruined their economic condition.

7. In fact the whole of Rayagada District due
to its Hilly terrain, inaccessibility and
concentration of primitive tribes
(Dongaria Kandh, Lanjia Soura along
with other ethnic groups) continues to
be backward, which needs planned
intervention to bring about changes in
the socio-economic condition of the
people

8. SRI initiation in Rayagada by OPDSC
 Introduction with SRI through Leisa India Magazine
published by AME FOUNDATION in 2007
 Experiment of SRI in 0.5 acre with two farmer in Two
villages of Tembaguda G.P. of Padmapur block,
Rayagada district in Kharif 2007
 Though the experiment was a failure one but this
experiment has been replicated to 3629 farmers with
2557 acres since kharif 2011-12
 Promotion of SRI to securing livelihood of small and
marginal farmers started from 2008 with the support
of SDTT-Mumbai in five blocks of the district

9. SRI in Rayagada
 OPDSC started SRI movement in Rayagada
in a consortium approach along with 4 other
co-partners in Five blocks namely
Rayagada, Kashipur, Bisamcuttack,
Ramanaguda and Padmapur blocks
 In the year 2010-11 the SRI movement
extended to other 6 blocks of the district
i.e. Chandrapur, Muniguda, Gudari,
Gunupur, Kolnara and K.Singhpur with the
help of another 3 NGO partner
 SRI is going on in all 11 blocks of Rayagada

10. SRI coverage
YEAR Total Total area Highest per
Farmer covered acre yield
Covered in Quintal
under SRI
2008-09 118 70.50 26
2009-10 450 465.70 38.4
2010-11 1921 1699 32
2011-12 3629 2557 27
(kharif)

11. Yield obtained from Sample crop cutting
(Kharif 2011-12)
 Padmapur block: Highest yield per acre is
During this
27 qtl with in irrigated area
Kharif Yield
 Lowest per acre yield is obtained in rate per acre
Gudari block under rain fed condition is less than
with 75% drought is 13qtl the last year
 In Kashipur, Partly K.Singhpur block because of
average per acre yield is 20 qtl with drought like
continuous water flow because of Bauxite condition
from
contained and hilly terraced land
Tillering
stage to
Crop cutting

12. Constraints/Learnings of SRI
 Delayed and erratic rainfall led late
transplantation of matured seedlings of more
than 30 days (maximum transplantation done
in the middle of September)
 Shortage of water during tillering and panicle
initiation stage in the villages without
irrigation facility has affected the crop
adversely which resulted less yield than the
last year
 No rain fall from tillering stage
 Due to fluctuation in the rain fall drying and
wetting could not be maintained.

13. Constraints/Learnings of SRI
 In some of the field especially in Kashipur block
it is observed that flow of water could not be
restricted. As the water deposit is 4 inches in the
field due to hilly terrain and streams/water source
flow in the upside field
 Less pest and disease attack due to dry climate
 In spite of late transplantation with matured
seedlings good yield observed in some fields
 Assured irrigation should be provided to farmers
before they go for SRI as delayed monsoon is the
major hindrance for SRI

14. Convergence with Govt
 SRI Village Program: With the support of District
Agriculture Dept. SRI village program in 30 acres
of land was implemented in Sargiguda village of
Padmapur block under RKVY Scheme in 2009-10
(Kharif)
 Line Transplantation: Line transplantation of
Paddy implemented in Padmapur block with the
support of Agriculture dept for 500 hacts
 Seed Village Program: Seed village prog. With the
objective of quality seed procurement is being
implemented in Two villages of Padmpur block
for 12 hacts with NABARD support during Kharif
2011-12

15. Green Merging Of
Manuring/Dhanic Dhanicha
ha
Merging Of Dhanicha Seedling Bed

16. Transplantion Field Visit By OPDSC
Lauching Of Farmmers Club
Seed Bed