The National symposium on System of Rice Intensification: Present Status - Future Prospects was held on the 17-18th November 2006 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.

System of Rice Intensification, popularly known as SRI method, is gaining popularity among paddy farmers in several states in the country in recent times for its potential to save water and increase yields.

In states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnatka, Chattisgarh, Assam, etc. for the few seasons many farmers are adopting SRI method to cultivate rice. Of late, many research institutes across the country have also started conducting trials on various aspects of SRI method. There seems to be rich experiences ranging from bad to good among farmers and scientists. At this juncture, there is a need to document, share and synthesize the successful experiences, innovations, constraints, deficiencies, and policy issues related to SRI method at national level.

In this backdrop, the Directorate of Rice Research (DRR) and Acharya NGR Agricultural University (ANGRAU), Rajendranagar held a national symposium on SRI method of rice cultivation jointly on 17th - 18th November 2006 at ANGRAU, Rajendranagar, Andhra Pradesh, India. Symposium had research papers, poster presentation, sharing of farmer's experiences and panel discussions. The presentations had sessions on available status of SRI method of adoption in India in enhancing water saving, inputs and enhancing production and productivity of Rice. Panel discussion had topics of scaling up the SRI method in India for various ecosystems.

The lead papers in the workshop have been given below:

• Water saving Potential of SRI: Need for evolving proper methodology, documentation and independent validation  -   Biksham Gujja

• Thoughts on the history, principles and practices of SRI, and on its importance for the present scenario* -  Dr.Norman Uphoff

• Evaluation of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) under All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project -   B.C. Viraktamath

• System of Rice Intensification in India: innovation history and institutional challenges -  C. Shambu Prasad

• Status of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in India - M.C. Diwakar

• System of Rice Intensification : An innovative method for sustainable rice production - A. Satyanarayana

• Experimental evaluation of System of Rice Intensification in Tamil Nadu - T.M. Thiyagarajan

• Modified SRI with hybrid rice - B.N. Singh

• Status and future needs of farm mechanisation in System Of Rice Intensification (SRI) - P. Aum Sarma, Sudhakar Reddy and A. Mrunalini

• Integrated Crop Management (ICM) for sustaining irrigated rice yield and farmers’ income in Asia -  V. Balasubramanian, R. Rajendran, S. Anbumani, P. Stalin, T.M. Thiyagarajan, E. Castro, B. Chandrasekaran, and I. Las

• ANGRAU initiatives for SRI promotion in Andhra Pradesh -
  M. Sudarshan Reddy and P.Punna Rao

• System of Rice Intensification - An overview on pest diversity - G. Ravi

• Problems and Prospects of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method -
  M. Ganesh, N. Manohar Reddy ,L.V.Subba Rao and K. Radhika

• System of Rice Intensification (SRI), a productivity enhancing and resource conserving practice - B. C. Barah

• Evaluation of principles of SRI and their role in enhancing the productivity of rice 
  R.Mahender Kumar, V.R.Babu, L.V.Subba Rao, K. Surekha, P.C. Latha, Ch. Padmavathi, M.S.S.Prasad, P.Muthuraman, J.S. Prasad, P.R, Rao, S.P. Singh, S.V. Subbaiah B.C. Viraktamath, O.P. Rupela, M.V.R. Murhty , Blummel, V. Goud and A. Ravindra

• PRADAN’s Experience on SRI - Avijit Choudhury

• Impact of System of Rice Intensification in Cauvery Delta Zone -
  R. Manimekalai , V. Sekar, K. Chozhan, R. Rajendran and V. Muralidharan

Abstracts for papers presented in the symposium can be accessed from this link