Project Achievements – Key learning and Recommendations

1. Funded by the European Union Implemented by the AIT
SUSTAINING AND ENHANCING THE MOMENTUM FOR INNOVATION
AND LEARNING AROUND THE SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION (SRI)
IN THE LOWERMEKONGRIVER BASIN (SRI-LMB) IN VIET NAM
Bangkok 01-02 November 2018
Project Achievements – Key learning and Recommendations

2. BackgroundBackground
- Vietnam located at the
Southeast of Asian with the
total area about 331,212
square km.
- Land for agriculture are
10,126,100 ha and 4.5 million
ha (about 45% of agricultural
land) for growing rice.
- Vietnam has 63
provinces/cities with the
population about 92.000,000.
- 67% of population are living
at rural area and involve to the
agriculture production.
- Agriculture is an important
economic sector of Vietnam

3. Total area
not apply SRI
70%
Apply SRI
30%
Total area apply all
principles of SRI
6%
6%
24%
Total area apply SRI
partially
24%
Overview of SRI application in Northern provinces of Vietnam
SRI adoption has covered 30 per cent of the rice land in the north

4. 3 survey
districts
3 Survey
districts
LÔC HÀ
Figure 1: Geographical Location of FPARs in Bac Giang (Lang Giang, Yen The
and Luc Nam district) and Ha Tinh (Thach Ha, Loc Ha, Can Loc district)
provinces

5. National development planning workshop in
Vietnam (5/2014)

7. Pictures Activities of CFPAR and FPAR
Opening ceremony of CFPAR in Ha Tinh (left) in Bac Giang (right)Opening ceremony of CFPAR in Ha Tinh (left) in Bac Giang (right)

8. RESULT OF FPAR
1. Number of FPAR: 72
- Bac Giang: 36
- Ha Tinh: 36
2. Number of farmers participated in FPAR:
- Bac Giang: 968 Farmers, women 83.37%
- Ha Tinh: 1.080 Farmers, women 78%
3. Number of farmers not participated in FPAR but
still apply SRI partially in rice production
- Bac Giang: 2.234 farmers
- Ha Tinh: 750 farmers

9. Group discussion on AESA of Field studies in Bac Giang

10. Prepare soil and material for seedingbed

11. 4. Number of SRI demonstration: 72
- Bac Giang: 36
- Ha Tinh: 36
5. Number of field study:
- Bac Giang: 30
- Ha Tinh: 36
inclusions:
- Density planting experiments (Experiment on
number of hills/m2 ): 20 experiments (HT: 14 Ex., BG:
6 Ex.)
- Experiment on Number of Seedlings/hill: 13
experiments (HT: 9 Ex., BG: 4 Ex.)
- Experiment on Seeding Rate :12 experiments (HT: 5
Ex.; BG: 7 Ex.)

12. Field layout and transplanting

13. - Experiment on weed management: 8 Experiments
(BG: 3 Ex.; HT: 5 Ex.)
- Experiment on method of Nitrogen application : 5
Experiments
- Experiment on method of Potassium application: 5
Experimets (HT: 3 Ex. BG: 2 Ex.)
- Experiment on water management: 3 experiments
6. Number of sessions conducted at FPAR and at post
FPAR (see table below)
- 6 sessions (6.5 days) following rice development stages

14. Session Time Stage of
crop
Contents
First
session
Two half days (1
day)
Seedbed; field
preparation
- Opening and organization of FPAR
- Pre-test
- SRI principles and development of SRI in Vietnam
- Seedbed preparation according to SRI practices
Second
session
Three half days
(1.5 days)
Transplanting or
Sowing
- Physiology of rice plants at the seedling stage
- Pest management (e.g.,rats, golden apple snail, etc.)
- Development of root system at the seedling stage
- Layout of field experiments, basal application of fertilizer
- Transplanting (or sowing)
Third
session
Two half days (1
day)
Tillering stage - Methods of survey and data collection from field experiments
- Field survey, data collection, drawing and analysis of agroecosystem (AESA) of
field experiment
- Physiology of rice plants at the seedling stage
- Pest management (continued)
- Development of root system at the seedling stage
Fourth
session
Two half days (1
day)
Panicle initiation
stage
- Field survey, data collection, drawing and analysis of agroecosystem of field
experiments
- Field management of experiments
- Physiology of rice plant at panicle initiation stage
- Development of root system at the panicle initiation stage
- Pests management (leaf folder, BPH, etc.)
- Effect of pesticides on environment and human health
Fifth
session
Half day Booting and
Flowering
- Field survey, data collection, drawing and analysis of agroecosystem of field
experiments
- Field management of experiments
- Physiology of rice plant at booting and flowering stages
- Pests management (leaf folder, BPH, etc.)
- Role of women in agricultural production
Sixth
session
Three half days
(1.5 days)
Maturing stage - Physiology of rice plant at ripening stage
- Calculating productivity components and economic benefits
- Data collection and analysis of field experiment (field study)
- Writing report of field experiment
- Post test
- Field day
- Closing of FPAR

15. 7. Events organized
- Field Day: 72
In the Field Day, farmers shared results of SRI demonstration
fields and field experiments.
Based on learnings from the Field Day and SRI
demonstration fields and field experiments the farmers
indicated that they would apply the practices in their future
production.

16. International workshop on SRI-LMB at Ha Noi
(23-25/4/2017)

17. - Provincial Workshops: 2 (1 in Bac Giang and 1 in Ha Tinh)
Provincial Workshops were organized in each province.
Purpose:
+ Review results and constraints in the implementation of field
experiments;
+ Review all training documents used during the
CFPAR/FPARs;
+ And prepare work plans.

18. - National Review and Planning Meeting: 2 (November 2016
in Bac Giang and on August 2017 in Ha Tinh).
The purpose: to assess and share key learning and results of
the project, and discuss plans for remaining activities in the
two selected provinces.
- Local media events and engagement:
Has been widely disseminated through the Radio and
Television Broadcasting Station, Newspaper, Field Day,
workshops, Initiative meetings, in addition to propaganda on
the SRI program,...

19. Observation of rice roots system development

20. 6.23 6.71 6.344
5.6 5.514 5.6
3.237
4.859
1.348
9.049
13.834
8.517
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
SRI (Su
2015)
SRI (Su
2016)
SRI (Sp
2017)
FP (Su
2015)
FP (Su
2016)
FP (Sp
2017)
Yield (tons/ha)
Net-return (1000 VND)
Yield Gains and Net Returns in SRI Demonstration and FP Practice
Plots,
Bac Giang 2015, 2016 and Spring season 2017 (n = 36)
Note: The price of rice is the same between SRI and FP
8.1. Yield Gains and Net Returns in SRI Demonstration
and FP Practice Plots

21. Rice mature

22. 5.639 5.4825.0885.078
4.7254.754
13.502
12.307
10.376
10.985
9.294
7.982
0.000
2.000
4.000
6.000
8.000
10.000
12.000
14.000
16.000
SRI (Sp
2016)
SRI (Su
2016)
SRI (Sp
2017)
FP (Sp
2016)
FP (Su
2016)
FP (Sp
2017)
Yield (tons/ha)
Net-return (1000 VND/ha)
Figure 3. Yield Gains and Net Returns in SRI Demonstration and FP
fields in Ha Tinh 2016, 2017 (n = 36)
Note: The price of rice is the same between SRI and FP

23. 8.2.1. Experiment on number of seeding/hill
5.494 5.521 5.293
14.185 13.847
12.043
0.000
2.000
4.000
6.000
8.000
10.000
12.000
14.000
16.000
1 seeding/hill 2seedings/hill 3seedings/hill
Yield (tons/ha)
Net-return (1000 VND/ha)
Figure 10. Yield and net returns from
experiment on number of seeing/hills
in Ha Tinh (n=5)
Note: Transplanting density: 40 seeding/m2
4.693 4.780 4.687
9.476 9.460
8.246
0.000
1.000
2.000
3.000
4.000
5.000
6.000
7.000
8.000
9.000
10.000
1 seeding/hill 2seedings/hill 3seedings/hill
Yield (tons/ha)
net-return (1000 VND/ha)
Figure 11. Yield and net returns from
experiment on number of seeing/hills
in Ha Tinh (n=6)
Note: Transplanting density: 35 seeding/m2
8.2. Yield and net returns from field experiments

24. AESA OF FIEL STUDY

25. Group discussion on AESA of field study

26. Presentation of AESA of field study

27. 5.9336.5036.626
2.56
8.882
6.633
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1 seeding/hill 3 seedings/hill 6 seedings/hill
Yield (tons/ha)
Net-return (1000
VND/ha)
Figure 4. Yield and net returns from experiment on number of
seedlings/hill, Bac Giang 2015, 2016 and 2017 (n=4)

28. 5.744 5.7315.332
11.496
13.765
12.641
0.000
2.000
4.000
6.000
8.000
10.000
12.000
14.000
16.000
30 hills/m2 (n=14) 40 hills/m2 (n=14) 45 hills/m2 (n=11)
Yield (Tons/ha)
Net-return (VND 1000/ha)
8.2.2. Experiment on number of hills/m2
Figure 9. Yield and net returns from experiment
on number of hills/m2 in Ha Tinh

29. 5.641 5.877 5.743
13.125
14.269
12.927
0.000
2.000
4.000
6.000
8.000
10.000
12.000
14.000
16.000
30 kg/ha 40 kg/ha 60 kg/ha
Yield (Tons/ha)
Net-return (1000 VHD/ha)
8.2.3. Experiment on seeding rates
Figure 13. Yield and net returns from experiment on
seeding rates (n=8) in Ha Tinh

30. 6.402 6.172 5.840
5.963
8.759
10.281
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14 kg/ha 28 kg/ha 42 kg/ha
Yield (tons/ha)
Net-return (1000
VND/ha)
Figure 5. Yield and net returns from experiment on seeding rates,
Bac Giang 2015, 2016 and 2017 (n=7) in Bac Giang

31. Address fertilizers and weeding and soil aeration

32. 5.551 5.890 6.108
13.520
16.186 16.526
0.000
2.000
4.000
6.000
8.000
10.000
12.000
14.000
16.000
18.000
Herbicide Handweeding
once
Handweeding
tiwce
Yield (Tons/ha)
Net-return (VND1000/ha)
Figure 14. Yield and net returns from experiment on weed
management (n=8)
8.2.4. Experiment on on weed management

33. 9. Reduction of input costs between SRI demonstration and FP fields
9.1. Reduction of input costs between SRI demonstration and FP fields in
Bac Giang
ExpendituresofSRIfieldinSummerSeason 2015 and2016
VND 177,000
(1%)
VND 7,178,650
(25%)
VND 465,000
(2%)
VND 20,789,100
(72%)
Variety
Fertilizer
Pesticide
Labor
VND1,516,200
(5%)
VND6,901,000
(23%)
VND 566,000
(2%)
VND20,710,500
(72%)
Variety
Fertilizer
Pesticide
Labor
ExpendituresofFPfieldinSummerSeason2015and2016
Figure 15. Cost-benefit analysis across the SRI (Left) and FP (Right)
fields in Bac Giang in Summer season 2015 and 2016 (n=24)
SRI FP

34. Expenditures ofSRIfield in Spring Season 2017
VND 150.000
VND 620.000
(2%)
VND 7.434.000
(24%)
VND 22.627.000
(74%)
Variety
Fertilizer
Pesticide
Labor
Expenditures ofFP field in Spring Season 2017
VND 1.705.000
(6%)
VND 6.809.000
(22%)
VND 507.000
(2%)
VND 21.906.000
(70%)
Variety
Fertilizer
Pesticide
Labor
Figure 16. Cost-benefit analysis across the SRI (Left) and FP (Right)
fields in Bac Giang in Spring season 2017 (n=12)
SRI FP

35. 9.2. Reduction of input costs between SRI demonstration and FP fields in
Ha Tinh
Expenditures ofSRIfield in Spring season 2016,2017
VND 822.000
(4%)
VND 8.231.000
(39%)
VND 932.000
(4%)
VND 11.192.000
(53%)
Variety
Fertilizer
Pesticide
Labor
Expenditures ofFP field in Spring Season 2016,2017
VND10.800.000
(46%)
VND 2.690.000
(11%)
VND 8.022.000
(34%)
VND 2.073.000
(9%)
Variety
Fertilizer
Pesticide
Labor
Figure 17. Cost-benefit analysis across the SRI (Left) and FP (Right)
fields in Ha Tinh in Spring season 2016 and 2017 (n=24)
SRI FP

36. Expenditures of SRI field in Summer Season 2016
0
640,000 VND
(3%)
8,000,000 VND
(39%)
11,900,000 VND
(58%)
Variety
Fertilizer
Pesticide
Labor
Expenditures ofFP fieldin SummerSeason 2016
2,800,000VND
(11%)
7,560,000 VND
(31%)
2,048,000 VND
(8%)12,300,000 VND
(50%)
Variety
Fertilizer
Pesticide
Labor
Figure 18. Cost-benefit analysis across the SRI (Left) and FP (Right)
fields in Ha Tinh in Summer season 2016 (n=12)
SRI
FP

38. 10. Weather variability and its impact on FPAR implementation
- In Summer season 2015 Luc Nam district, Bac Giang province experienced heavy
and prolonged rainfall at the start of the season resulting in flooding in some
SRI fields and farmers had to broadcast seeds again.
- In Spring season 2016 (i.e., January) Ha Tinh was affected by the northeast
monsoon causing cold and low temperature (i.e., 7 - 10 oC) with drizzling rain
influencing the growth and development of the crops. The seedbeds were destroyed
and the farmers had to establish seedbeds again. The end of the season, when the
crops were in flowering stage, there was a drought in some areas that affected the
yields.
- At the start of the summer-autumn season the weather was very hot resulting in
drought in some arears that affected the growth and development of rice.
- In spring season 2017 in Ha Tinh, from mid of April effected by spell of cold air
(from 12-14 Apr.; 22-24 Apr. and 27-29 Apr.), with the fog in early morning and late
everning, average temperature 20-24oC, humidity over 90% affected flowering and
dough stages and easy for Rice blast disease on panicle expand to large area. On
this season, in Ha Tinh province have 20,782 ha rice infected by Rice blast disease
on panicle, including damage from 30-70%: 7,633 ha, damage over 70%: 13,149 ha.

39. 11. Key learning
- Select the experiments to solve the problems in the locations: e.g., transplanting
density or seeding rates for broadcasted rice. Almost all experiments and SRI
demonstration fields gave high yields and reduced expenses so the farmers and
local leaders are interested and support the project.
- Selecting fields for experiments should be according to the purpose of experiment,
e.g., if one of the objectives of the experiment is to show results of water
management regimes (i.e., draining at tillering stage and keeping water in at dough
and ripening stage), the sites should be selected where the most impact can be
demonstrated. For example, selecting sites with access to irrigation facilities or
fields that allow control of water application.
- Better preparation is needed before implementing field experiment including
selecting farmers, selecting fields, selecting and layout of experiments and defining
the survey methods.
- The groups should be ready to deal with severe weather conditions as flooding,
drought, pest and disease occurrence.
- District Trainers should be equipped with enough knowledge as to be able to
explain to farmers about problems faced during the implementation of the field
experiments.

40. 11. Key learning (Cont.)
- It is a must to keep records in the Field Diary on the basic data to calculate
productivity, benefits and other things related rice production.
- Select core farmers with good technical knowledge and experience and enhance
their capacities on SRI through FPARs using Farmer Field School (FFS)
approaches. The model using core groups of farmers to support Farmer Trainers
and District Trainers can be used to convince local leaders and other farmers in the
community about the SRI project.
- The project provides a technical entry point to work with communities. The
application of one or all of the SRI principles will depend on the local conditions.
- To help farmers apply SRI practices and principles, we need to enhance their
knowledge and change their attitudes (i.e., about old practices). On the other hand,
we also need to change the thinking of the government technical staff and
managers and lobby for support from local leaders.
- The main local rice varieties should be used for the experiments.

41. 12. Recommendation for future activities
- Local authorities should focus on directing and guiding
farmers to apply the SRI program on a large scale.
- Project continue to support programme expansion in the
coming years, particularly in rainfed areas.
- Continue to implement field experiments to evaluate the
programme's results and to encourage farmers to participate.
- The European Union and AIT should provide funding to
expand SRI on other crops (peanut, soybean, corn, etc.).

42. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION !