The document summarizes findings from a study on rice farming systems in Nepal. It found that the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method produced higher yields than conventional methods. Key factors for SRI's higher yield were using younger seedlings, fewer seedlings per hill, wider spacing, and intermittent flooding irrigation. However, SRI adoption remains limited due to factors such as labor availability, irrigation access, and distance to fields. Farmers adapt their rice farming practices based on their local resources and conditions.

1. Dynamics of Rice Intensification System in Nepal Presented by Rajendra Uprety TAD/Wageningen UR

2. Rice in Nepal (2007) Total area: 1.43 million ha Production: 3.68 million tons Productivity: 2.557 tons/ha Region Area (ha) Production (tons) Productivity (t/ha) Mountain 62,263 120,172 1.93 Hills 367,710 933,852 2.54 Terai (plains) 1,009,552 2,626,815 2.60 Morang 81,360 242,476 2.98 Dhankuta 8,145 20,750 2.54

4. Objective The objective of this study was to analyze social mechanisms of SRI and non-SRI rice management systems in Nepal.

6. Findings

11. Rice farming system Farmers Land ownership status Compost/fertilizers Machine/ tools Investment Irrigation facility Labor availability Technical support Variety/seed Land/ land type Distance of farm Cropping system Land owners

16. Labor, irrigation and spacing

20. Distance, weeding time and SRI practices adopted by farmers

23. Rice Farming Systems and their Dynamics

24. SRI Conventional Conventional seedlings Double transplanting seedlings SRI seedlings

25. Seedling age, density and water use

29. Water, compost and labor use situation

33. Yield distribution of SRI and conventional methods

34. Seedling age, fewer seedlings/hill, wider spacing, and AWD irrigation: positive effect on rice yield.

38. Most of the SRI farmers were owner-cultivators Farmers used compost only on their own land The amount of compost used was not sufficient to produce good yield Combination of manure and fertilizers produced good yield

41. Conclusions

42. Reliable irrigation Land ownership Labor availability Male/female labor Technical support System of Rice Intensification Water uncertainty Lease land Labor scarcity Delay transplanting Weeder availability Nearness of land Distance of the land Lack of technical support Hire labor Conventional system Partial SRI Double transplanting

47. Crop duration (from seed to seed) of different rice varieties using SRI methods compared with conventional methods (in days), Morang District, Nepal, 2008 Varieties Conventional duration SRI duration Difference Bansdhan/Kanchhi 145 127 (117-144) 18 (28-11) Mansuli 155 136 (126-146) 19 (29-9) Swarna 155 139 (126-150) 16 (29-5) Sugandha 120 106 (98-112) 14 (22-8) Radha 12 155 138 (125-144) 17 (30-11) Barse 3017 135 118 17 Hardinath 1 120 107 (98-112) 13 (22-8) Barse 2014 135 127 (116-125) 8 (19-10)

48. Thank You