August 2010 - SRI Articles in the Press

The August SRI news in the online press comes from India, Mali and Myanmar. India news originated from Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu as well as the northeastern states of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland. Below are short descriptions and links to the articles. (To find SRI news on a daily basis, see our SRI website or join the SRI-India Google Group).

MYANMAR: Researchers at Taungoo University are using SRI methods to grow rice on 50 acres of their 285-acre compound. In October or November they will share their experience with local farmers.
article: University conducting research into rice yield
August 16-22, 2010, MyanmarTimes

INDIA:
Andhra Pradesh: An ambitious target of 7,380 hectares has been fixed for SRI during this kharif in the district according to government officials. Each of the 1,995 Adarsha Ryuthus (progressive farmers) were asked to promote SRI in at least 31.50 acres.
article: Promote SRI paddy: Collector
August 28, 2010, The Hindu

Assam: After the April floods, Assam Agriculture Minister Pramila Rani Brahma said that an eight-point strategy was designed to make up for the losses caused by the floods. An SRI campaign was part of the strategy.
articles:
1) To rice and shine, Assam draws 8-point strategy
August 27, 2010, Indian Express
2) Less rainfall may hit rice production
August 12, 2010. The Assam Tribune

Bihar: The Bihar regional office of the National Agriculture Bank for Rural and Agriculture Development (Nabard) has sanctioned projects worth Rs 1.37 crore to mitigate the hardship caused by drought. The project looks to propagate the SRI amongst 4,480 farmers of Bhagalpur and Banka districts.
article: Nabard scheme balm on dry spell (republished on the SRI-Orissa site)
August 23, The Telegraph

Chhattisgarh: Mr. Dhansingh became a hero of Bastar Sevak Mandal in this khariff-2010 season for promoting SRI to 70 farmers in 3 villages.
article: SRI (System of Rice Intensification): Hero of Bastar Sevak Mandal In Kharif -2010
August 16, 2010, Bastar Sevak Mandal

Manipur: The Department of Agriculture, Farm Mechanisation Division, has set a target of distributing 4000 to 5000 Kono weeders for use in System of Rice Intensification method of cultivation.
article:Agriculture Dept sets a target of 5000 to distribute weeders
August 19, 2010, E-PAO [source: Sangai Express]

Nagaland: Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tuensang held a launching programme on System of Rice Intensification technology in Tuensang district on August 13. Cono weeders were also distributed to the farmers under SRI demonstration project sponsored by NABARD, RO Dimapur and promoted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra Tuensang.
article: SRI technology launched in Tuensang
August 18, 2010, Nagaland Post

Tamil Nadu:
1) While on an inaugurating an organic farming awareness raising campaign in Ariyamangalam village in Tiruverambur panchayat, District Collector T. Soundiah said that during the current kuruvai season, paddy would be raised in 30,000 acres by adopting the SRI technique.
article: Create confidence among farmers
August 12, 2010, The Hindu
2) A farmer of Manaparavai in Kodavasal block in Tiruvarur district has developed an improvised drum seeder and an SRI marker for planting to overcome the problem faced while operating it in wet lands with clay soil of the Cauvery delta.
 article: Farmer develops improvised drum seeder
August 26, 2010, The Hindu

Other articles promoting SRI in Tamil Nadu
3) TN must subsidise farm diesel: M.S.Swaminathan
August 17, 2010, Deccan Chronicle
4) SRI picks up steam in Perambalur, Ariyalur
Aug. 9, 2010, The Hindu
5) Stress on SRI to meet demand for foodgrains
Aug. 2, 2010, The Hindu

Other India articles:
1) RGMVP’s efforts for sustainable agriculture
August 4, 2010, Albertam
2) Significant Achievements Under NFSM
August 3, 2010, Press Information Bureau, Govt. of India
3) Increasing temperatures will take a toll on rice production in Asia: Rogue “Peer Review” Study
August 13, 2010, Rajan's Take: Climate Change

MALI: Systeme de Riziculture Intensif: Des experts sur le terrain
August 18, 2010, L'Essor (Mali)

SRI in the News - July 2010

News about the System of Rice Intensification in the press and on blogs this month came from Cambodia, India (Andhra Prasdesh, Kolkata, Manipur, Nagaland and Tamil Nadu), Indonesia, the Philippines, and the USA.

Grain output up in Tamil Nadu, despite less rain
July 30, 2010, Business Standard (Tamil Nadu, India)

From seed to sale
July 21, 2010, PhnomPenh Post (Cambodia)

NEPAL: Training farmers to adapt to unpredictable weather
July 19, 2010, IRIN (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)

Precision farming in Krishnagiri
July 15, 2010, The Hindu (Tamil Nadu, India)

SRI demonstrated to farmers at Pongitong
July 14, 2010, Nagaland Post (Nagaland, India)

NABARD to promote SRI cultivation
July 13, Business Standard (Andhra Pradesh, India)

NABARD to promote rice system among AP farmers
July 12, 2010, Yahoo News India (Andhra Pradesh, India)

Plan to bring 13,800 hectares under SRI mode
July 9, 2010, The Hindu (Tamil Nadu, India)

Farmers' patronage for SRI method on the rise
July 7, 2010, The Hindu (Tamil Nadu, India)

New tech to help Bengal cut water consumption
July 3, 2010, Financial Express (Kolkata, India)

SRI method of paddy cultivation turns fruitful
July 2, 2010, The Hindu (Tamil Nadu, India)

Agricultural programme conducted at Saikul
July 1, 2010, North East India News [source: Hueiyen News Service] (Manipur, India)

BLOG POSTS

SRI harvest paddy preparation
July 28, 2010, MicroAid Projects blog (Aceh, Indonesia)

CRS and three of its partner organizations visited Pasali for SRI training and exposure
July 17, 2010, bluemarty blog (Philippines)

The Future of Agriculture: Feeding Nine Billion
July 7, 2010, The New Evolution blog (USA)

SRI Campaign in Svay Rieng Province, Cambodia
July 3, 2010, Yim Sok Sophors blog (Cambodia)

SRI in the News - June 2010

SRI news for June comes from South and Southeast Asia, though it includes a visit by an African delegation from six countries to learn about SRI in India (see fourth article). News items below come from Indonesia, Laos, Vietnam and seven Indian states: Jharkhand, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and, in the northeastern part of the country, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland.

Agriculture Department to introduce bio-fertilizer on large scale - June 29, 2010, E-PAO [source: the Sangai Express] (Manipur, India)

Sensitising farmers to developing techniques, methods under changing climatic conditions
June 29, 2010, The Hindu (Tamil Nadu, India)

Rice project helps farmers boost yields
June 28, 2010, Lao Voices (Laos)

Ceremonial harvesting of Rice cultivated by SRI at Nagaon
June 27, 2010, Assam times (Assam, India)

Kenyan team studies SRI project
June 26, 2010, The Hindu (Tamil Nadu, India)

A Philanthropy Advisor in Indonesia, Part 4: Rice Innovation in a Small Village
June 24, 2010, Asian Philanthropy Forum (Indonesia)

Plan to adopt SRI method on 36, 800 hectares
June 24, 2010, The Hindu (Tamil Nadu, India)

Orissa sets kharif target at 74.64 lakh tonne
June 23, 2010, Business Standard (Orissa, India)

Nabard aid for paddy
June 22, 2010, The Telegraph (Jharkhand, India)

Training prog on SRI in Tsg
June 22, 2010, Nagaland Post (Nagaland, India)

High risk of viral diseases once again affecting rice crops
June 19, 2010, Viet Nam News (Hanoi, Vietnam)

SRI seed farmers left in the lurch
June 19, 2010, The Hindu (Tamil Nadu, India)

Rice cultivation: Farmers encouraged to use SRI technique
June 18, 2010, Times of India (Uttar Pradesh, India)

Minister urges farmers to utilise technologies extensively
June 10, 2010, The Hindu (Tamil Nadu, India)

CAU to provide free paddy seedlings
June 5, 2010, E-PAO [source: The Sangai Express] (Manipur, India)

Attapeu: dry season rice plantation practiced on over 1,000 ha
June 2, 2010, Lao voices (Laos)

SRI Items in the Press - May 2010

Here are some of the articles about the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) around the world that appeared in the press during May 2010. The articles are from Cambodia, Kenya, India (Assam, Sikkim, Puducherry and Tamil Nadu) and the USA. The subject matter ranges from plans for the coming season and climate change to weeder development, events and even the potential impact of SRI on reducing trafficking of women in northern India!

Kuruvai to be raised on 34,000 hectares: DC - May 29, 2010 NewKerala.com (Tamil Nadu, India)

Field day on SRI method of rice cultivation at Nagaon - May 27, 2010, Assam Times (Assam, India)

Increase agricultural growth - May 26, 2010, The Hindu (Tamil Nadu, India)

IFWP-MP Organizes Thematic Workshop on System of Rice Intensification (SRI) - May 23, 2010, Yim Sok Sophors blog (Cambodia)

Plan to increase rice, pulses production - May 22, 2010, The Hindu, (Puducherry, India)

Preparations underway for kuruvai season - May 19, 2010, The Hindu (Tamil Nadu, India)

Workshop cum field practical on SRI held - May 17, 2010, Contify.com [source: Sikkim Express] (Sikkim, India)

A conversation with Norman Uphoff, advisor to Nourishing the Planet- May 14, 2010, Nourishing the Planet (a Worldwatch Institute blog)

Agriculture and the of challenge of climate change - May 14, 2010, Suman Sahai Blog (India)

Technology, a key nutrient for farm sector - May, 13, 2010, Business Line (Tamil Nadu, India)

Weeder for use in SRI developed at TNAU - May 9, 2010, The Hindu (Tamil Nadu, India)

New rice farming system takes root in Mwea scheme - May 5, 2010, Daily Nation (Kenya) [also available from allAfrica.com]

Young girls face trafficking as lack of rain drives worsening rural poverty - May 5, 2010, Reuters AlertNet (Assam, India)

Recent SRI Videos

A number of very good SRI videos have come out in various languages over the past four months. A few of these are listed below.

INDIA

2010 (March 31). Comparison of Traditional Paddy Cultivation and System of Rice Intensification (SRI). Video by Digital Green and PRADAN on the digitalgreenorg channel, YouTube. 12:07 min. In Mundari (a tribal language spoken by the Munda community in Jharkhand, India) with English subtitles (see also 16:55 min. original 2009 Mundari version without subtitles). This video features testimonials of farmers from the Khunti, Jharkhand, area of India discussing the difference in the paddy production between the traditional method of paddy cultivation and SRI.

2010 (February 19). 2010. Green Leaf Manuring with Glycidia before SRI Paddy Demonstration in Bhanavasi, Karnataka. Video by Digital Green and the Green Foundation on the digitalgreenorg channel, YouTube. 5:18 min.

Prasad, Jitendra Kumar. 2009 (December 4). SRI (Hindi version). Video on bhola1982 channel, YouTube. 2:46 min. Hindi language. This video was made during summer training by Jitendra Kumar, CABM , Pantnagar, India, with the intention that it be customized for local use.

IRAQ

Hameed, Khidir A., Flaih A. Jaber and Yousif Hadi. 2010 (March 22). The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Iraq. Video by Al-Mishkab Rice Research Station on the SRI-Cornell channel, YouTube (in three parts). Arabic language.
Part 1: 8:56 min. Part 2 9:44 min. Part 3 2:57 min.
Also available as a single video, SRI in Iraq, uploaded by the Farmer-Centered Research and Development Program at Cornell University. The video is about SRI in the Iraqi context by researchers at the Al-Mishkab Rice Research Station in Najaf, Iraq.

Jaber, Flaih A. and Khidir A. Hameed. 2010. Paddy Mechanization in Iraq. Video on the SRI-Cornell channel, YouTube, from Al-Mishkab Rice Research Station (MRRS), Najaf, Iraq. 3:09 min. English subtitles. The video describes land preparation, seed selection, nursery development and planting with the use of a mechanized transplanter at MRRS in Najaf, Iraq.

SRI LANKA

2009 (Dec. 8). SRI (System of Rice Intensification)- Silent Witness to a Golden Harvest (2). Video produced by Oxfam Australia on 04cs004 channel, YouTube. English subtitles. (Documentary about the SRI in Sri Lanka, the SRI network, and the community partnership program in Sri Lanka through Oxfam Australia)

CAMBODIA
2010 (January 9). SRI Farming in Cambodia. [details of this YouTube version of an earlier video can be found in the previous Jan. 21 blog post]

(A more complete list of videos can be found on our SRI video section at http://ciifad.cornell.edu/sri/manuals#videos. Check our blog in April for new address as the video page will be moving soon!)

New SRI Items from Around the World

India
An excellent new publication by Biksham Gujja and T.M. Thiyagarajan, New Hope for Indian Food Security? The System of Rice Intensification, was recently published by International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) through its Gatekeeper Series.

A new status report on SRI in West Bengal focuses on civil society promotion of SRI in this Indian state as well as the inaugural meeting of a new West Bengal-based learning forum, SRI Benglar.

Cambodia
Earlier this month (Jan, 2010) SRI Farming in Cambodia was uploaded on YouTube by permascience. This 10 minute video (in Khmer language with English subtitles) is a shortened version of the original created by Mind's Eye Productions for CEDAC (The Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture). The full version of the video can be seen in 5 parts on YouTube's HermitCaveFilms channel. More information on SRI in Cambodia can be found on the SRI Cambodia website, the CEDAC website or the Cambodian section of our global SRI website.

Bhutan
In Bhutan, Sangay Dorji, Jr. Extension Agent in Deorali Geog, Dagana, sent in a report on trials set up in 2009 at Balabas (450m above the sea level) near the Dungkhag Administration. SRI plots had substantially higher rates of tillering and yield compared with the random and conventional plots. The highest yield was 10 tons/ha for the 30cmx30cm spacing compared with 3.5 tons/ha for the conventional system.