Based on the experiences of farmers who are practising organic rice cultivation, Caritas India developed an Organic Rice Intensification (OSRI) produces rice using no chemical fertilizers or pesticides. The systematic process of cultivation by using good seed, seed selection, manure application, growth promoters in regular interval, water management and Pest management practices will help farmers to spend less on cultivation and more to his profit. In addition, using organic techniques places a lower strain on natural farming ecosystems. Organic paddy cultivation is found to be effective. Awareness among farmers is important to encourage them to promote organic rice cultivation. The process involved in paddy cultivation can be tested in small plots preferably in the control plots of equal size with this method and the method they follow presently. The process followed per acre are narrated below:

Land preparation: This involves ploughing/ land levelling, and application of neem cake (10 Kg), pseudomonas (5 Kg), Farmyard Manure/leaves (4000 Kg), Cow dung (1000 kg) FFJ solution (10 litres), Jeevamruth (200 litres) while preparing the land.

Seed selection: In order to select the best seeds, take a fresh egg and add it to the vessel containing plain water. Salt or salt solution to be added to the water till the egg comes up. Remove the egg and put the paddy seeds into the salt solution. Select the seed that settles down and discard the floating seeds.  The selected seeds should be rinsed well in fresh water and soak in starter solution for one hour for better germination. Starter solution to be made with Cow dung (1 Kg), Cow’s urine (1 litres), Jaggery (200 gram), Turmeric powder (200 Gram) and water (5 litres). Mix all these well in a plastic container, cover the mouth with a cotton cloth and keep it for 24 hours. Add 10 litres of water and seeds can be kept for 30 minutes before keeping it for sprouting. Seeds required per acre is maximum of 20 Kg.

Bed Preparation: Bed will be made on the side of the field. Single bed or several small beds (say, 4 beds measuring 4×40 feet each) will be prepared. To prepare the bed, spread a polythene sheet on the bottom followed by the filling of Farmyard Manure/vermicompost and soil alternately in 4 layers. The bed on all sides will be made secure with wooden reapers/ planks.   Channels will be provided on all sides to drain excess water.

Transplantation: Once the seedlings are grown in a healthy situation the transplantation to be done in 12 or 15^th day when the seedlings are still having the seeds in it. 2 seedlings to be planted per hill carefully in 5 Cm width and 25 Cm length

Irrigation: Wetting and drying will be practised in this method. Water is applied only as needed to keep the soil moist but never letting it become saturated. For a healthy paddy plant water should not be in a stagnated situation in the field. When irrigation is provided intermittently the roots are aerated and grow healthily.

Manure & Pest Management (in 1 acre) after the transplantation of seedlings:

Plant Marigold on the field bunds during land preparation on the boundary to act as a buffer zone for pest prevention and to get additional income from the flower. The nematodes in the soil will be attracted by the roots of marigold. Marigold is a well-known plant for repelling insects which repel whiteflies and kill bad nematodes. It also attracts spider mites and snails.

Install Solar Pest repellent on the 10^th day after transplantation: Solar light traps are found to be very effective in controlling pests in Rice fields. It can be used to monitor and trap the adults thereby reducing the population. The fluorescent light lamp is found to be very effective for attracting the adults of species.  The adult moths have an inherent capacity to get attracted to the light. A large plate or vessel fitted with kerosene mixed water is kept near the light trap.  Insects are attracted towards the light and can fall into the vessel and die. Other individuals who do not achieve in a circle of light will light traps or lay eggs on plants near light traps and can be retrieved the next day. The solar light trap operates automatically turning the lights on and off in the set times. It should be set up in the field after 18.00 hrs

Weeding and application of Jeevamruth on the 15^th day: On the 15^th day after transplanting the seedlings, weeding to be done through cono-weeder and Jeevamruth to be sprayed. Jeevamruth to be made of 5 Kg cow dung, 5 litres of cow urine, 1 Kg Jaggery, 1-kilogram horse gram powder, 5 Kg fertile soil and 50 litres of freshwater. All these ingredients to be mixed well and put in a plastic drum. Cover the mouth with a cloth and keep it for 7 days. Apply it by adding 10 times more water or it can be applied while irrigating paddy.

Application of Fish Amino Acids (FAA)on the 25^th day: Fish Amino Acids (FAA) made with 5 Kg fresh fish, 5 Kg jaggery and 50-gram Charcoal powder. Fish to be cut into small pieces add jaggery and Charcoal powder and put it in a jar. Cover the mouth properly and keep it in shade for 7 days.  Filter and dilute the solution at 1litre of a solution with 10 litres of water and apply.

Place Trico card on the 20^th day (after transplantation) in 3 locations in 1-acre land:  Tricho-cards have pasted onto them eggs of a surrogate host infested with Trichogramma larvae, which release pests that tackle other pests like leaf roller worms or stem borer worms, which are common threats in paddy fields. The pests that emerge from the eggs on the card either move on or die without enough food, thus creating no further threat for the crop.     Cut or tear each “Tricho card” into small pieces and distribute them all over the field. The parasitoid on emergence disperses in search of host eggs.

Weeding and application of Lactic Acid bacteria (LAB) on 30^th day: Weeding to be done on 3oth day and apply Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) which will be made with 2 litres rice washed water, 5 litres of fresh milk. Wash the rice grains (organic) and collect the first rinses of cloudy water and fill in a glass bottle.  Cover the mouth of the jar with a plain paper and keep it in shade for 3 days.  After 3 days, add 5 litres of fresh milk to it and keep it in shade for another 3 days. After 3 days, a semi-solid white layer will form on the top portion and a yellow coloured liquid. The yellow coloured liquid is LAB.  Dilute this with 10 times water and apply on the rice field.

Weeding and application of Jeevamruth on the 45^th day: On the 45^th day after transplanting the seedlings, weeding to be done through cono-weeder and Jeevamruth to be sprayed. Jeevamruth to be made of 5 Kg cow dung, 5 litres of cow urine, 1 Kg Jaggery, 1-kilogram horse gram powder, 5 Kg fertile soil and 50 litres of freshwater. All these ingredients to be mixed well and put in a plastic drum. Cover the mouth with a cloth and keep it for 7 days. Apply it by adding 10 times more water or it can be applied while irrigating paddy.

Application of Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ) on 55^th day: FFJ to be made with 5 Kg Yellow colored Fruits and 5 Kg Jaggery. These ingredients to be mixed well and keep it in a glass container for five days with its mouth covered with a cloth or plain paper. Dilute it with 10 times of water and apply it on the rice field.

Application of Fish Amino Acids (FAA)on the 65^th day: Fish Amino Acids (FAA) made with 5 Kg fresh fish, 5 Kg jaggery and 50-gram Charcoal powder. Fish to be cut into small pieces add jaggery and Charcoal powder and put it in a jar. Cover the mouth properly and keep it in shade for 7 days.  Filter and dilute the solution at 1litre of a solution with 10 litres of water and apply.

Application of Beauveria Bassiana twice: Beauveria Bassiana is a species of fungus found naturally in soil and acts like a parasite infecting different types of insects, mites etc. Beauveria Bassiana is an endophytic fungus of rice plants is able to colonise each part of the plant especially the roots and stem tissues. 5 Kg of Beauveria Bassiana to be diluted in 50 litres of water and apply 20^th day and 40^th day and spray on the plant, sprinkle it on the soil surface for better results. Soaking rice seeds in this solution is also helpful. Endophytic fungi work in protecting the plants against insects or pathogens, stimulating plant growth, colonization of plant tissues in such a way that the pathogens are difficult to penetrate.

Growing Azolla in Rice field: Azolla is the fastest-growing freshwater fern which enables nitrogen availability of rice field and it is has been used for years as a ‘green’ nitrogen fertilizer to increase rice production. It does not produce seeds but multiplies fast vegetatively. This fern grows best at 25-30⁰ Celcius. Introduce Azolla when there is standing water in the rice field and will not withstand without water and hence the inoculum must be maintained for vegetative multiplication. Azolla fixes nitrogen and absorbs vitamins while rising in the rice field. The decomposition of Azolla shapes a humus compound which will increase the Water Holding Capacity (WHC) and soil aeration while it suppresses the expansion of certain aquatic weeds and it acts as Azolla mat. Azolla is a good source of Potassium.