1.
The System of Rice Intensification (SRI): An Update on Its Spread and Emerging Explanations Presentation for the Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of Madagascar Norman Uphoff, CIIFAD Cornell University, USA

2.
SRI Is Often Regarded as “Too Good to be True” <ul><li>In fact, it is something very real , as seen from its spreading now around the world </li></ul><ul><ul><li>SRI practices can double yield -- and can raise yield even more under right conditions </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>SRI does this with fewer inputs (water, etc.) and lower costs of production -- which makes rice production more profitable </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>By raising the productivity of land, labor, capital and water all at the same time, SRI opens up a path for the diversification and modernization of agriculture </li></ul></ul>

3.
The System of Rice Intensification <ul><li>Was evolved in Madagascar over a 20-year period by Fr. Henri de Laulanié, S.J. -- working with farmers, observing, doing experiments, also with some luck </li></ul><ul><li>SRI is now about 20 years old (1983-84) </li></ul><ul><li>Association Tefy Saina was set up in 1990 </li></ul><ul><li>CIIFAD has worked with ATS since 1994 </li></ul><ul><ul><li>First verifications in 1999: China, Indonesia </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Then Bangladesh, Philippines, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Cuba, India, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Peru, etc. </li></ul></ul>

4.
SRI Experience Is Spreading <ul><li>Comparison Yields (t.ha -1 ) vs. SRI Average and Max. </li></ul><ul><li>Country Comp. Yields Ave. SRI Yields Ave. SRI Maximum </li></ul><ul><li>BANGLADESH 4.9 6.3 7.1 </li></ul><ul><li>CAMBODIA 2.1 4.4 8.5 </li></ul><ul><li>CHINA (hybrids) 10.9 12.8 14.8 </li></ul><ul><li>CUBA 6.2 9.8 12.7 </li></ul><ul><li>GAMBIA 2.3 7.1 8.8 </li></ul><ul><li>INDONESIA 4.8 8.2 9.0 </li></ul><ul><li>LAOS 3.3 3.3 7.0 </li></ul><ul><li>MADAGASCAR 2.6 7.2 13.9 </li></ul><ul><li>NEPAL 4.4 8.1 11.1 </li></ul><ul><li>PHILIPPINES 3.0 6.0 7.4 </li></ul><ul><li>SIERRA LEONE 2.6 5.3 7.4 </li></ul><ul><li>SRI LANKA 3.6 7.8 14.3 </li></ul><ul><li>Average 3.9 7.0 10.1 </li></ul>

5.
Participants at SRI Conference in Sanya, China, 2002

6.
SRI In Summary : A set of principles and methods to get more productive PHENOTYPES from any existing GENOTYPE of rice It does this by changing management of plants, soil, water, and nutrients to (a) induce greater ROOT growth and (b) nurture more abundant and diverse populations of SOIL BIOTA

7.
TWO ALTERNATIVE PARADIGMS <ul><li>The GREEN REVOLUTION paradigm: </li></ul><ul><li>(a) Changed genetic potentials of plants, and </li></ul><ul><li>(b) Increased the use of external inputs -- using more water, fertilizer, insecticides, etc. </li></ul><ul><li>SRI paradigm changes management practices for plants, soil, water and nutrients in order to: </li></ul><ul><li>(a) Promote root growth , and </li></ul><ul><li>(b) Increase the abundance and diversity of </li></ul><ul><li>soil microbial populations and soil fauna </li></ul><ul><li>These give the plant nutrients and protection from pests and pathogens </li></ul><ul><li>Principles are similar to those of CIRAD research </li></ul>

8.
Plant Physical Structure and Light Intensity Distribution at Heading Stage (CNRRI Research --Tao et al. 2002)

9.
Single Cambodian rice plant transplanted at 10 days

10.
CFA Camilo Cienfuegos, Cuba 14 t/ha -- Variety Los Palacios 9

12.
Recent SRI Expansion in Andhra Pradesh, India <ul><li>Summer season -- first 12 results: (short-season varieties; others more) </li></ul><ul><li>Comparison yields 4.3 - 6.3 t/ha </li></ul><ul><li>SRI yields 8.5-12.2 t/ha </li></ul><ul><li>Winter season - 4,000+ ha under SRI; one farmer planted 44 ha in SRI; next season, half of Cauvery Delta? </li></ul>

13.
Ave. SRI Yields Are Impressive -- Some Increases Are 3-5 Times <ul><li>Indonesia -- West Timor (ADRA) </li></ul><ul><li>Yield with current methods -- 4.4 t/ha </li></ul><ul><li>Yield with SRI methods -- 11.7 t/ha </li></ul><ul><li>Peru -- Pucallpa -- jungle area </li></ul><ul><li>Previous yields -- 2 t/ha, with more labor </li></ul><ul><li>SRI yield -- 8 t/ha, with less labor, and then a ratoon crop of 5.5 t/ha (70% of first crop) </li></ul><ul><li>Benin -- controlled trials = 1.6 vs 7.5 t/ha </li></ul><ul><li>We think such increases must be due to the effects of changes in SOIL BIOLOGY </li></ul>

14.
17 t/ha - Ambatovy

15.
Starting Points for SRI: <ul><li>Transplant young seedlings (<15 days) -- but direct seeding is becoming an alternative </li></ul><ul><li>Set out plants singly with wider spacing </li></ul><ul><ul><li>In a square pattern (25x25cm or more) and </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Plant them shallow, gently, and quickly </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>-- minimizing trauma to the roots </li></ul></ul><ul><li>With no continuous flooding during the period of vegetative growth -- (a) minimum applications, or (b) alternate flooding/draining </li></ul><ul><li>After panicle initiation, thin layer of water (1-2 cm) on field until 10 d before harvest </li></ul>

16.
Results from SRI Practices: <ul><li>Increased TILLERING -- 30-50 tillers/plant or more </li></ul><ul><li>Larger ROOT SYSTEMS -- 5-6x more resistance to uprooting (28 kg for 3 plants vs. 53 kg for 1 SRI plant) </li></ul><ul><li>Bigger PANICLES -- 200-300 grains/panicle, or more </li></ul><ul><li>GRAIN QUALITY -- fewer unfilled and broken grains </li></ul><ul><li>RESISTANCE to pests, diseases, storms, drought, cold </li></ul><ul><li>RATOONING is possible -- yielding up to 70-90% </li></ul><ul><li>YIELDS are increased -- 7-8 t/ha, even up to 15-20 t/ha </li></ul><ul><li>PRODUCTIVITY goes up -- land, labor, water, capital </li></ul><ul><li>PROFITABILITY -- is more important than yield, both for farmers and for countries -- up 100-200% or more </li></ul>

17.
Two rice fields in Sri Lanka -- same variety, same irrigation system, and same drought : conventional methods (left), SRI (right)

18.
SRI Results Are Achieved with: <ul><li>ANY AND ALL varieties -- HYVs and hybrids give the highest yields with SRI methods, but with SRI methods, local varieties can produce 6-12 t/ha </li></ul><ul><li>NO NEED for chemical fertilizers -- these raise yield with SRI, but the best results are with compost </li></ul><ul><li>NO NEED to apply agrochemicals -- pesticides, fungicides, etc. are usually not needed or economical </li></ul><ul><li>SIGNIFICANT WATER SAVINGS -- water require-ments can drop by 50%, but need good water control </li></ul><ul><li>MORE LABOR at first -- but as SRI methods are mastered, SRI can become labor-saving over time </li></ul><ul><li>MORE SKILL and management effort needed -- SRI is intended to improve farmers’ capabilities </li></ul>

19.
SRI field in Sri Lanka -- yield of 13 t/ha with panicles having 400+ grains

20.
SRI is COUNTERINTUITIVE <ul><li>MORE IS PRODUCED FROM LESS ? -- How can this be possible? By utilizing existing biological processes and potentials </li></ul><ul><li>Smaller, younger seedlings become larger, more productive mature plants </li></ul><ul><li>Fewer plants per hill and per m 2 will give higher yield if used with other SRI practices </li></ul><ul><li>Half as much water produces more rice when root systems are kept healthy, and </li></ul><ul><li>Greater output is possible when using </li></ul><ul><li>fewer or even no external inputs </li></ul>

21.
Single SRI Rice Plant Grown at Rice Research Station, Maruteru, AP, India

22.
Cuba -- Variety 2084 (Bollito) -- 52 DAP

23.
Comparison of Root Activity between SRI and Conventionally-Grown Rice Wuxianggeng 9 variety (Wang et al. 2002)

24.
Paths for Increased Grain Yield in Relation to N Uptake, using QUEFTS Analytical Model (Barison, 2002)

26.
SRI Data from Sri Lanka <ul><li> SRI Usual </li></ul><ul><li>Yields (tons/ha) 8.0 4.2 +88% </li></ul><ul><li>Market price (Rs/ton) 1,500 1,300 +15% </li></ul><ul><li>Total cash cost (Rs/ha) 18,000 22,000 -18% </li></ul><ul><li>Gross returns (Rs/ha) 120,000 58,500 +105% </li></ul><ul><li>Net profit (Rs/ha) 102,000 36,500 +180% </li></ul><ul><li>Family labor earnings Increased with SRI </li></ul><ul><li>Water savings ~ 40-50% </li></ul><ul><li>Data from Dr. Aldas Janaiah, IRRI agric. economist, 1999-2002; now at Indira Gandhi Development Research Institute in Mumbai; based on interviews conducted with 30 SRI farmers in Sri Lanka, October, 2002 </li></ul>

27.
SRI Evaluation from Sri Lanka <ul><li>IWMI Evaluation (Namara, Weligamage, Barker 2003) </li></ul><ul><li>60 SRI and 60 non-SRI farmers randomly selected: </li></ul><ul><li>YIELD -- increased by 50% on average (not doing full SRI) </li></ul><ul><li>WATER PRODUCTIVITY -- increased by 90% </li></ul><ul><li>COST OF PRODUCTION (Rs./kg) -- lower by 111-209% with family labor, 17-27%at standard wage rate </li></ul><ul><li>LABOR PRODUCTIVITY (kg/hr) -- up 50% in yala (dry) season, up 62% in maha (wet) season </li></ul><ul><li>PROFITABILITY -- increased by 83-206%, depending on the wage assumed (family labor vs. paid labor) </li></ul><ul><li>RISK REDUCTION -- conventional farmers had net losses in 28% of seasons, SRI farmers in only 4% </li></ul>

29.
SRI CONCEPTS CAN BE EXTENDED TO UPLAND PRODUCTION Results of trials (N=20) by Philippine NGO, Broader Initiatives for Negros Development, with Azucena local variety (4,000 m 2 area) -- using mulch as main innovation, not young plants

30.
System of Rice Intensification Pabinhi Farmers’ Experience in the Philippines Rene Jaranilla, Dionito Eñano, and Gerry Garingalao

31.
A beautiful rice field……

32.
Total Production Cost, in pesos per hectare, 2002 7,510 12,310 TOTAL 2,800 2,400 Threshing and hauling 840 2,520 Irrigation cost 480 1,440 (8 sacks) Fertilization 0 Pest management 630 2,200 Weeding 630 1,500 Transplanting 30 900 Seeds 2,100 1,350 Tractor/land preparation Organic Chemical Inputs

33.
Comparative Analysis of Farming System Results P 9,890 (P 3,310) Net Income P 7,510 P 12,310 Total production cost 17,400 (58 cav) P 9,000 (30 cav) Gross Income 4.1 T/ha (2002) 1.8 T/ha Yield/ha (palay) ~110 days 105 Maturity period M8-1, Ka Luis, AG5, Malido, Pilit Pula IR64, IR36 Varieties used 6,800 sq. m 6,800 sq. m Farm size 5 19 No. of years farming Organic Methods Chemical Methods General Information

34.
Even Better Results in 2003 <ul><li>Rene Janarilla got a yield of 7 t/ha with SRI methods </li></ul><ul><li>If his cost of production went from P7,510 to P10,000, and income went from P17,400 to P30,000 (70% more), Janarilla’s net income would be 135% higher -- P22,500 instead of P10,000 </li></ul>

35.
Effects of SRI vs. Conventional Practices Comparing Varietal and Soil Differences

36.
SRI is a WORK IN PROGRESS <ul><li>No final evaluation is possible yet because SRI knowledge and practice are still evolving, even rapidly -- but it does work </li></ul><ul><li>Farmer innovation is on-going and important </li></ul><ul><li>SRI is becoming less labor-intensive -- which makes it more attractive to farmers </li></ul><ul><li>Direct seeding and no-till are being tried out </li></ul><ul><li>More researchers are now working on SRI </li></ul><ul><li>Soil biology and ecology are now getting more attention -- new analytical techniques available </li></ul>

37.
<ul><li>Effect of N-fertilization, plant genotype and environmental conditions on nifH gene pools in roots of rice </li></ul><ul><li>Zhiyuan Tan, Thomas Hurek, and Barbara Reinhold-Hurek, Univ. of Bremen </li></ul><ul><li>Environmental Microbiology (2003), 5 (10), 1009-1015 </li></ul><ul><li>Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RLFP) analysis -- with and without N fertilization -- indicating nifH gene pools in Or yza longistaminata and O. sativa (IR-72) cultivars </li></ul>

38.
POLICY ISSUES for Rice Sector <ul><li>Need to make rice more PROFITABLE for farmers -- lower costs of production and raise labor productivity for higher incomes </li></ul><ul><li>Need to raise PRODUCTIVITY of land and water -- these becoming scarcer per capita </li></ul><ul><li>Need technologies that are ACCESSIBLE to the poor -- food security, reduce poverty </li></ul><ul><li>Need ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY production -- reduce soil loss,water pollution </li></ul>

39.
EXTENSION OPPORTUNITIES <ul><li>Focus on SRI demonstrations rather than promotion -- let farmers decide for selves </li></ul><ul><li>Identify and analyze successful SRI use -- both agronomically and economically </li></ul><ul><li>Continue rice production competitions </li></ul><ul><li>Support irrigation development to improve farmers’ water control -- many benefits </li></ul><ul><li>Increase farmer-to-farmer dissemination of SRI, with printed and video materials </li></ul><ul><li>Evaluate and disseminate tanety SRI </li></ul>

40.
STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS <ul><li>Food security is initial preoccupation -- increase production of the poorest, help them get out from under debt immobilization </li></ul><ul><li>Environmental protection is collateral benefit -- especially if upland SRI expands </li></ul><ul><li>Agricultural diversification is possible as productivity of land, labor, capital and water resources used in rice production increases; can redeploy these to other, higher value and more nutritional uses  modernization </li></ul>

41.
THANK YOU <ul><li>More information is available </li></ul><ul><li>on the SRI WEB PAGE : </li></ul><ul><li>http://ciifad.cornell.edu/sri/ </li></ul><ul><li>including Sanya conference proceedings, </li></ul><ul><li>also available on CD-ROM discs </li></ul><ul><li>E-MAIL ADDRESSES : </li></ul><ul><li>[email_address] </li></ul><ul><li>[email_address] </li></ul>