1030 Overview of SRI application and adoption in Cambodia

Overview of SRI application and adoption in Cambodia WORKSHOP ON CONSOLIDATION OF SRI EXPERIENCES, LESSONS AND NETWORKING Hanoi, Vietnam, 21-22 January 20 10 Mr. Ngin Chhay, Director of the Department of Rice Crop, MAFF

Background of SRI
Some elements of SRI tried in Cambodia in 1980s and 1990s: row planting, dapog (young seedlings), draining paddy fields during vegetative stage
First experiments with SRI were with 28 farmers encouraged and trained by CEDAC in 2000
GTZ conducted independent evaluation in 2004
Officially endorsed and promoted by MAFF and Provincial Departments of Agriculture in 2005
In January 2005, a Permanent Secretariat of SRI was established under Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Land Improvement (now GDA).

Background of SRI (con’t)
Key role of the SRI Secretariat is to coordinate, disseminate, document and facilitate information and knowledge management with regard to SRI, also promote networking among stakeholders
In early 2006, SRI was integrated into the National Development Plan and into policy frameworks to reduce food insecurity and poverty of rural households.
2009: 110,530 farmers use SRI in more than 4,534 villages with cultivated area of 59,785 ha, and average yield is 3.48 t/ha.

Definition of SRI
What is System of Rice Intensification?
SRI is a set of sustainable rice farming pracgtices that can help small farmers to significantly increase their rice yields.
It is a low-input technology, which should be flexibly applied based on the enabling factors and farm conditions.

SRI Vision in Cambodia
Promoting sustainable rice production and productivity
via the application of SRI in ecologically sound and economically efficient way with consideration of climate change mitigation and adoption
leading to rural livelihood improvement and national economy development in Cambodia.

SRI Mission in Cambodia
Building capacity of human resources with competence. knowledge and skills to implement SRI at all levels -- from national to farm community,
Developing all required documents and disseminating to all relevant stakeholders to be used as basis for SRI implementation,
Raising awareness on the benefits and the importance of SRI to policy makers, government institutions, development partners, and farmers.

SRI Approach in Cambodia
Using learning-by-practicing method to build human capacity in response to local needs and addressing local problems,
Applying ecological-based crop production and protection in the spirit of preserving ecosystem functions and biodiversity balance,
Working in close partnership with all relevant stakeholders at all levels to build synergy to implement SRI.

SRI Dissemination Methodology
Training of extension workers and farmers
Field demonstrations and experiments
Farmer-to-farmer extension
SRI working groups establishment
Learning materials production and distribution
Information-sharing through website
Field visits and technical backstopping
Inter-provincial and national workshops

Understanding and promotion of SRI
SRI as ideas, not a fixed technology
Helping farmers to understand about rice growth potential, and how farmers can utilize this potential by changing their thinking and practices
Best SRI practice is to optimize the environment for maximal growth of healthy roots
Ensure soil biological activity based on the concept “to grow the soil and the soil will grow the plants”
Ecosystem function and interactions.

Best practices of SRI
Improve and/change the ways to manage seeds and rice plants from seedbed until harvest,
Change the ways to prepare the seedbed to produce healthy seedlings
Change the ways to better manage water in the rice field
Take care of our top soil and the humus in our soil to maintain fertility and good structure
Environmentally-friendly pest management
SRI is the combination of the methods and ways to better manage seeds, rice plants, pests, soil/nutrients and water

Key benefits of SRI
Farmers adopting SRI methods can save seeds (less by 70-80%), reduce time and labor, and lower their costs of rice production,
Higher yield (raise from 2.7 to 4.2 T/ha)
Reduced use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, but increased skillful management,
Help sustain ecosystem balance, production and incomes
SRI brings much benefit to farmers, especially making changes in their social and economic conditions

12 Principles of SRI in Cambodia
Use pure, full-sized grains as seeds for sowing,
Prepare a raised-bed nursery and sow lower density of seeds to produce healthy seedlings,
Select only healthy seedlings for transplanting, uproot the seedlings gently and carefully to avoid damage, and transplant them quickly,
Transplant young seedlings, preferably less than 15 days old
Transplant fewer seedling per clump, preferably one seeding per clump
Transplant carefully and with shallow rooting

12 Principles of SRI in Cambodia
7. Transplant in square/row pattern
8. Transplant with wide spacing based on soil type,
9. Avoid permanent flooding of the rice field during the vegetative growth stage, preferably keeping only a minimum of water in the field
10. Punctual and frequent weeding to improve soil aeration and to remove weed competition
11. Rice field should be leveled with raised small dykes around plot to guarantee a good water management
12. Use natural fertilizer, especially organic compost, as much as possible

Farmers should select only purified and dense seeds for planting nursery

Farmers prepare seedling nursery like vegetable bed, and use low seed density.

F
Farmers select healthy seedlings with age less than 15 days and uproot them with care

Farmers transplant seedlings in the field immediately after uprooting

Farmers level the paddy field properly for transplanting

Farmers transplant only 1 to 2 seedlings per clump with care, at shallow depth and keeping roots horizontal.

Farmers transplant wide spacing, with 20 to 30 cm distance, depending on soil fertility

Farmers keep only minimal water in the field

Use organic fertilizer/compost in field

Farmers do weeding 2 to 4 times to kill weeds and improve soil aeration

Farmers regularly monitor field and keep record of the progress of rice plants

Higher yield

Results of experimentation
Traditional methods:
Grow more slowly
Have less tillers
Shallower root system
Smaller panicles
Average yield: 2.7 T/ha
SRI methods:
Grow very fast
Have more tillers
Larger and deeper root system
Larger panicle
Higher quality grain, and often higher grain weight
Average yield: 4.2 T/ha

Comparison of number of tillers of traditional rice and SRI rice

Comparison of root systems of traditional rice & SRI rice

Progress in number of SRI farmers

Constraints of SRI in Cambodia
Animal manure and organic farm resources for plant nutrition are not sufficiently available
Weeding requires labor (farmers not used to)
Apply SRI only on small portions in the farm
Difficult to achieve the alternation of flooding and drying the field
Most farmers still lack confidence in applying and adapting SRI
Different understandings and interpretation of SRI concepts among stakeholders

Future Directions
Refine SRI training manuals for the national use suitable to Cambodia rice cultivation situation
Establish National SRI Board involving relevant stakeholders and upgrade SRI Secretariat to have broader roles and responsibility
Department of Rice Crop with SRI Secretariat will actively and broadly promote SRI application
Department of Agricultural Extension promotes the publications of technical documents and draws best practices to disseminate to farmers
Promote SRI application and adaptation through IPM-FFS alumni

Future Directions (cont)
State research institutions and academic institutions to conduct more research to acquire new techniques and best practices
NGOs and private sector are heavily involved in support and extension of SRI, in close cooperation with the SRI Secretariat,
Harmonize the understanding of SRI for common purpose by determining core priorities, good complementary technologies, and barriers to adoption
Bring all parties together to map current and planned extension activities, identifying gaps and overlaps, preferred priorities, and gain agreement

Concluding Remarks
Positive field results with increased yield and incomes obtained consistently since 2000
SRI definitely contributes to eliminate food insecurity via enhanced rice productivity
Government supports and promotes the extension of SRI to farmers through PDAs
SRI movement is growing very fast, with increasing number of farmers and supporters
However, there are some remaining constraints and challenges that require more thought, effort and resources.

Thank You sUmGrKuN

1030 Overview of SRI application and adoption in Cambodia

by SRI-Rice, CIIFAD, Cornell University

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1030 Overview of SRI application and adoption in Cambodia Presentation Transcript