Global News and Views - System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

AFGHANISTAN: Raising Yields with the System of Rice Intensification

2012-01-30T19:11:00.000-08:00

According to the Aga Khan Foundation - Afghanistan (AKF-A) SRI final report for 2011, 114 farmers, including seven resource persons (RP) and twenty new volunteers, have been applying SRI methods for rice cultivation in two districts of Baghlan and Takhar provinces, as part of the Participatory Management of Irrigation Systems (PMIS) project, managed by AKF. The project is part of the larger government-led Panj-Amu River Basin Program (PARBP), which is funded by the European Union.

In both districts (Doshi in Baghlan Province and Taloqan in Takhar Province), the average results clearly show a net improvement in SRI yield compared to the yield with the traditional practices (10.01 t/ha with SRI vs. 5.04 t/ha with traditional methods -- an average combined yield increase of + 49.65% for both districts.)

You can read more about SRI progress in Afghanistan in this week's Featured Item on the SRI-Rice website.

Sichuan, China: Agricultural Water Savings with Adapted SRI Practices

2012-01-23T14:21:00.000-08:00

SRI (System of Rice Intensification) has become Sichuan Province's preferred rice production method since 2005, with reports of the provincial yield record for rice being broken year after year. By 2010, the SRI area in Sichuan Province had reached over 301,067 ha, starting from 1,133 ha in 2004. For the period 2004-10, the total additional benefit of using SRI methods in Sichuan was almost USD 320 million at the current rate of exchange, accompanied by reduced costs and less requirement of water.

Agriculture consumes 80% of the total water resources in Sichuan Province, which has a population of 88.6 million. A recent article by Zheng Jia-guo and his colleagues the Crop Research Institute, SAAS, Chengdu, details how they are adapting SRI to conserve water in that province as well as how this may change in the future. With modified SRI practices, both WUE (Water Use Efficiency) and IWUE (Irrigation Water Use Efficiency) were shown to be higher than with the traditional practices, by 54.2% and 90.0%, respectively, significantly reducing water consumption. [See more on how SRI is being adapted to conditions in Sichuan]

For more information on SRI in China, see our SRI China page.

HAITI: Update on SRI Two Years after the Earthquake

2012-01-15T17:59:00.000-08:00

Two years after the devastating earthquake hit Haiti on January 12, 2010, a number of depressing news reports have come out questioning where all the aid money went and what progress has already been made. Following the introduction of SRI soon after the earthquake by USAID's WINNER Project and the BUF/SRI-Rice initiative, however, SRI methods have continued to show steady progress in Haiti. WINNER's continued success is highlighted in an article on the U.S. State Department website, posted two years to the day after the event, that notes "Yields for rice under the System of Rice Intensification, where less water, fewer seeds and less fertilizer are used, were 64 percent higher."

In an NPR radio interview about Haiti with Neal Conan, Rajiv Shah, USAID's Administrator, cites SRI as an example of successful agricultural innovations in recovery efforts: "In rice, they're using a system called the system of rice intensification, which allows them to use less water, less fertilizer, more safe inputs. And they're seeing a big increase, doubling or tripling of yields, and a 75 percent increase in farm incomes because of that program, which has now reached almost 10,000 farm households, and we believe will reach 125,000 over time." Another article in the Miami Herald by Shah adds: "When we piloted a program designed to intensify rice yields in the areas surrounding Port-au-Prince, the results were staggering: Haitian farmers saw their yields increase by almost 190 percent, while using fewer seeds and less water and fertilizer. The farmers cut 10 days off their normal harvest and increased their profit per acre. Today that program is being expanded to reach farmers throughout the country. Instead of importing rice from other countries, Haitians will soon be able to purchase and consume more of what they grow"

The Better U Foundation is also planning to expand their support for SRI in Haiti in 2012. Another article posted on the earthquake anniversary notes that Oxfam is now working with 135 farmers on adapting SRI methods on their farms in Haiti as well. From our experiences and the reports of others over the past two years, it seems that SRI methods are well-suited to helping Haitians increase their rice production.

For more information on SRI in Haiti (reports, articles, videos, photos), see the SRI-Rice Haiti page.

SRI Gaining Momentum in Latin America - - Cuba

2012-01-10T19:31:00.000-08:00

Cuba SRI Workshop Focuses on Water Saving and Mechanization

Following on the momentum generated by the First SRI Workshop for Latin America and the Caribbean held Oct 31 - Nov. 1, 2011, in Costa Rica, a workshop was held in Cuba to discuss the potential of integrating the System of Rice Intensification (SRI in English and SICA in Spanish) methods into Cuban rice production systems. Cuba’s newly-created Agricultural Engineering Research Institute (IAGRIC) coordinated the workshop in Havana, December 12-16, 2011, to discuss the crucial situation with respect to water usage for rice on the island as 47% of the total water dedicated to agriculture is consumed by rice production.

There were 55 participants, including officials from FAO and UNDP, scientists/technicians from two research institutions (In Granos and IAGRIC), representatives from the Popular Rice Group (MINAG) and three types of coops (CCS, CPA and U BPC) and private producers. Erika Styger, from SRI-Rice at Cornell University, also prepared material that was presented at the workshop.

The participants, who came from the five major rice growing regions in the country, spent five days talking about the problems associated with Cuba's increasing water shortage, followed by discussions about the possibility of addressing them by introducing, the System of Rice Intensification, a new way of growing rice. The workshop was intended to promote the new programs related to agricultural decentralization on the island. The program and summary of the workshop are available in English and Spanish.

For additional information on the development of SRI in Cuba over the past few years, check the Cuba page on the System of Rice Intensification website.

For those interested in SRI (SICA) in Latin America, you might want to join the Spanish language listserv, SICA America Latina found at https://groups.google.com/group/sica-america-latina?hl=es .

Recent SRI Press Articles and Blog Posts (May-June 2011)

2011-06-08T13:05:00.000-07:00

Laos

Luang Prabang farmers lead way in rice intensification
May 24, 2011, Vientiane Times (Laos) [Reposted in Lao Voices]
Sayaboury: dry season rice production increased
May 12, 2011, Lao Voices (Laos)

Global/Regional

Jim Carrey Spearheading Pioneering Rice Growing
June 7, 2011, ContactMusic.com (USA)
Towards the eradication of global hunger and undernutrition: Enhancing local understanding with the power of world class knowledge
June 3, 2011, Maxim News Network (United Nations)
Scientists wrong to criticize alternative rice growing method
May 27, 2011, Resource (Netherlands)
Innovation of the Week: Researchers Find Farmers Applying Rice Innovations to Their Wheat Crops
May 19, 2011, Nourishing the Planet (USA)

Madagascar

Filière riz: Bientôt la mise à jour de la stratégie nationale
May 30, 2011, La Gazette (Madagascar)
Filière riz: Un livret SRI pour les paysans des pays AC
May 26, 2011, La Gazette (Madagascar)

Malaysia

Padi SRI Selangor : Menjawab Soalan Mengenai SRI
May 27, 2011, Weblog Pad Selangor (Malaysia) [see also weekly posts during 2011]
SRI tingkat hasil pertani
May 26, 2011, Sinar (edisi Selangor) (Selangor, Malaysia)

Philippines

Modern rice farm system pushed
May 1, 2011. PhilStar.com (Manila, Philippines) [source: The Philippine Star].

India (Andrha Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Tripura)

Bumper paddy production in Kokila village
May 4, 2011, The Assam Tribune (Assam, India)
Grant for SRI Promotion
May 20, 2011, The Hindu (Andhra Pradesh, India) [see related Sify.com article]
Scientific push to Nitish’s agro dream - Farmers to yield more with new method of rice cultivation
May 23, The Telegraph (Bihar, India)
Awards haul for reel duo
May 20, 2011, The Telegraph (Jharkhand, India)
Winning docus adopt rural social causes
May 20, 2011, Times of India (Jharkhand, India)
A rich harvest for Nallur's farmers
May 3, 2011, Deccan Herald (Karnataka, India)
SRI method
May 14, 2011, E-PAO [source: Sangai Express] (Manipur, India)
Biswanath Sinha nominated to planning commission’s working group
June 6, 2011, Tripura Today (Tripura, India)
Plan to bring 80% of kuruvai area under SRI
June 6, 2010, The Hindu (Tamil Nadu, India)
Plan to bring additional 1,000 hectares under kuruvai
May 24, 2011, The Hindu (Tamil Nadu, India)

Paddy and Water Environment Journal Publishes Special Edition on SRI

2011-03-30T13:02:00.000-07:00

The journal Paddy and Water Environment has devoted its March 2011 issue (Volume 9, Number 1) to the System of Rice Intensification. For those who are interested in learning more about the science behind SRI as well as how SRI is progressing in various areas of Asia, Africa and Latin America, the March issue of the journal is online through SpringerLink. Included are six articles and nine technical reports from Afghanistan, China, the Gambia, Kenya, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Mali, Pakistan, Panama, and Thailand as well as several review articles.

To see journal articles from other sources published during 2011, visit the journal articles page on our SRI-Rice website.

New SRI Items for January 2011

2011-02-10T09:55:00.000-08:00

Afghanistan
Ali Mohammad Ramzi's excellent seasonal report for 2010 for Aga Khan Foundation's Participatory Management of Irrigation Systems Project (PMISP) reviews progress in introducing SRI methods in northeastern Afghanistan.

Pakistan
Asif Sharif has recently uploaded a short video on YouTube called FarmAll Organic Rice Production using SRI Technology. It details FarmAll's experiences in mechanizing the System of Rice Intensification in Pakistan. FarmAll Technology developed a system to produce organic rice using 70% less inputs including water while increasing yield from 40 to 400% (depending upon which reference is used for comparison).

Timor Leste
Martin, Noltz, Stefan Schwarze and Matin Qaim have recently published an article in the Pacific News (35:4-9) entitled Knowledge-Based Agricultural Innovations in Asia: The System of Rice Intensification(SRI) in Timor Leste.

Indonesia
The January edition of Time Out Jakarta, a magaine in Indonesia, includes an article about Emily Sutanto, an organic SRI exporter (see Inside Indo's organic rice.)

Malaysia
A new Malay language SRI blog is now recording the efforts of several SRI projects in Malaysia: See Weblog Padi Selangor.
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Articles from the from the Indian Press (January)

Dalit MLA is Bihar CM's 'rice' choice
Jan. 31, 2011, India Today (Bihar, India)
‘Rajarajan 1000' well suited for late samba crops
Jan. 20, 2011, The Hindu (Tamil Nadu, India) [SRI is called 'Rajarajaran 1000' in Tamil Nadu]
WB-funded irrigation project emphasises on effective use of water for farming
Jan. 13, 2011, The Times of India (Tamil Nadu, India)
Rs. 1,731.53 crore PLC planned for Thanjavur
Jan. 5, 2011, The Hindu (Tamil Nadu, India)

August 2010 - SRI Articles in the Press

2010-09-07T14:23:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-02T18:36:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-01T15:00:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-31T13:20:00.000-07:00

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

2010-01-21T13:19:00.000-08:00

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.

Update on SRI in Afghanistan

2009-12-11T11:45:00.000-08:00

Some initial attempts to introduce the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) into Afghanistan were made as early as 2003, but sustained efforts began only in 2007 when the NGO German Agro-Action (GAA) and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) began working with the methods in northern Afghanistan. Recently we have received a 2009 seasonal report from AKF which will interest many readers.
The first AKF trials were planted one month later than the usual rice crop, and given the short growing season at high altitudes, yield was lower than regular methods, although the SRI tillering was impressive – enough so that six farmers did proper comparison trials in 2008, and their average yield as measured by AKF technicians was a remarkable 10.1 t/ha. This was enough to spark greater interest among farmers.
In 2009, 42 farmers applied SRI methods to rice cultivation in 3 districts of Baghlan and Takhar provinces, including 7 farmers with SRI experience who functioned as resource persons (RPs), each working with 5 new volunteers. The on-farm comparison trials were carried out with supervision from the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF)-managed Participatory Management of Irrigation Systems (PMIS) project, which is part of the larger government-led Panj-Amu River Basin Program (PARBP) funded by the EU.
Although an unreported number of other farmers dropped out of the evaluation because of Taliban threats, 42 managed their crops through to harvest, with average SRI yields of 9.3 t/ha, 66% more than their yields with traditional methods, 5.6 t/ha. Experienced farmers (those in their second year of trials) increased their land size under SRI and got 27% higher SRI yield compared to their first-year SRI yields.
The AKF-Afghanistan program, in addition to its 2009 SRI report, has prepared an excellent practical manual, available on CIIFAD's SRI website in the Afghanistan section. SRI activities by German Agro Action (GAA), CIIFAD and others are also noted on the country website.

World Bank President Robert Zoellick Notes SRI's Potential

2009-12-02T07:14:00.000-08:00

A December 2 article by World Bank President Robert Zoellick published online in the Hindustan Times makes a very favorable reference to SRI. The article, India could be a new pole of global growth: World Bank president, notes in paragraph 11: “Everyone cites India’s Green Revolution. But I’m even more intrigued by what is known as SRI, or system of rice intensification, and I know this is also an area of interest or PM Manmohan Singh. Using smart water management and planting practices, farmers in Tamil Nadu have increased rice yields between 30 and 80 per cent, reduced water use by 30 per cent, and now require significantly less fertilizer. This emerging technology not only addresses food security but also the water scarcity challenge that climate change is making all the more dangerous. These are all lessons for our world.” (Comments can be posted after the article if you would like to respond.) http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/india/India-could-be-a-new-pole-of-global-growth-WB-President/Article1-482145.aspx

Nemani Chandrasekhar subsequently pointed out in a SRI-India discussion group posting that Zoellick is visiting India from December 2-5, 2009, and during his visit will meet Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and several members of the Union Cabinet. He will also meet the CEOs of leading private sector companies in addition to interacting with farmers and rural communities on water issues. [For information on joining the SRI-India discussion group, see http://groups.google.com/group/sriindia. For information on groups in other countries, see our SRI Groups and Websites page]

The World Bank Institute News also recently covered the SRI toolkit that includes, among other items, videos on SRI.

A new 10 minute video by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University's IAMWARMP project shows some of the progress in Tamil Nadu that is referred to in Zoellick's article. This Tamil language video with English subtitles covers SRI experiences of the Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation and Water Bodies Restoration and Management Project in Tamil Nadu India. [See our list of other SRI videos]

There are many resources about SRI in India online. Two excellent sites are the ICRISAT-WWF Project's SRI-India site and the WASSAN SRI site maintained by the Watershed Support Services and Activities Network.

SRI mechanization in Pakistan

2009-11-13T12:09:00.000-08:00

In Pakistan's Punjab Province, Mr. Asif Sharif has designed and tested four machines/implements that enable him to cultivate with SRI concepts and adapted methods on a large scale. The results of the first full mechanization of System of Rice Intensification cultivation methods (called MSRI for "mechanized SRI") have been recently reported on the SRI website. Yields averaged 13 tons/ha. Mr. Sharif devised/modified the implements to substantially reduce the labor requirements for capitalizing on SRI inherent production potentials – and to reduce the crop water requirements by 70% over usual levels of irrigation in Punjab state of Pakistan. (See details of the MSRI process provided by Sharif). The implements include a raised bed maker (that can also carry out banding with compost and fertilizer), a water wheel transplanter (see video), and a precision weeder/soil aerator (see video), among others. An Urdu language interview with Mr. Sharif which was broadcast on Pakistani TV is also available (part I and part II).

Many others around the world have developed or improved upon SRI-related implements and labor-saving machines. We have reported earlier on mechanical transplanters adapted for SRI in Costa Rica and Iraq; and there are others we haven't reported on (for example, here's a farmer-made SRI transplanter in Tamil Nadu) or haven't found yet. Improvements on the rotary weeder used in SRI, including many motorized versions, are ongoing in many countries- especially India. (The WASSAN website has much information on weeders).These are topics for another day.

Welcome to the SRI News and Views

2009-11-11T07:12:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) blog! We will use it to pass on information about new SRI initiatives that we learn about, new knowledge resources and project updates that are posted on our website at http://ciifad.cornell.edu/sri.

For those visiting our blog who are new to the System of Rice Intensification, you can find details about SRI methods and where it is practiced on our primary website or the other websites maintained in several languages by the global SRI community (see web links in the blog's right-hand column).

For those of you who came across our page and don't know what SRI is, briefly:-- The SRI methodology was synthesized in the early 1980s by Fr. Henri de Laulanié in Madagascar. SRI increases rice production and raises the productivity of land, labor, water and capital through several management practices. Although many have adapted SRI to fit their own circumstances, here are the basics:

- Very young (usually just 8-12 days old), single rice seedlings are carefully transplanted in a square grid pattern with a wide spacing (25x25 cm or wider - even up to 50x50 cm with good quality soil).
- Fields are not kept flooded. Soil is kept moist but well-drained and aerated, with good structure and enough organic matter to support increased biological activity. (Only a minimum of water is applied during the vegetative growth period, and then only a thin layer of water is maintained on the field during the flowering and grain filling stage.) There are several water management variations.
- Soil nutrient supplies should be augmented, preferably with compost, made from any available biomass. Better quality compost such as with manure can give additional yield advantages. Many practice organic SRI, although chemical fertilizer can be used and gives better results than with no nutrient amendments. (However, chemical fertilizers contribute less to good soil structure and active microbial communities in the rhizosphere than does organic matter.)
- Weeding, made easier with a rotary hoe, is necessary at least once or twice, starting 10-12 days after transplanting, and preferably 3 or 4 times before the canopy closes.

While SRI can be implemented by most rice farmers, it has been especially beneficial for resource-limited farmers (including those in conflict/post-conflict, post-disaster and other marginalized areas) because yields are increased without relying on external inputs, while risks are reduced. SRI practices use on average 40-50% less water, up to 90% less seed and require less labor overall (after familiarization with the practices). In addition, higher yields are not dependent on purchasing improved seed and agricultural chemicals. Among other benefits noted by various practitioners and researchers are reduced pest/disease incidence, reduced lodging (due to stronger root systems), earlier harvest, reduced methane emissions and reduced environmental degradation (when chemicals are reduced).

SRI methods are also being adapted for other crops such as sugarcane, wheat and millet. We will also be reporting on these topics as news items come up.

We look forward to passing on SRI news and views - including successes, controversies, updates from our main SRI website and other useful information we find in the field or out in cyberspace...