0503 The System of Rice Intensification (SRI): A Good Alternative for Increasiing Irrigated Rice Cultivation and its Productivity in Nepal

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI): A good alternative for increasing irrigated

rice cultivation and its productivity in Nepal

Rajendra UpretyAgriculture Extension Officer

District Agriculture Development OfficeMorang, Nepal

History of SRI method in Nepal

Started 1999 as a curiosity and trials was not successful.

From 2001, NWRP (Bhairahawa) and ATA (Kathmandu) started some trials and got good results.

2002 NEDICO started some trials in SMIP command areas in FFS.

2003, DADO Morang started trials and demonstrations. Its results attracts attention of various sectors working for rice development and media personals and speed up SRI movement in Nepal.

2005, DADO Morang has woned Nepal Development Marketplace 2005 award for SRI Promotion Project.

2006 SRI has started in more than 20 districts by GOs/NGOs and about 2500 farmers tested SRI in their fields.

Numbers of farmers, areas and VDCs under SRI in Morang

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

2003 2004 2005 2006

Years

Nu

mb

ers

SRI farmers

Areas (ha)

VDCs

Comperative yield of rice by SRI and Conventional methods 2005 (t/ha)

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0<

3

3.1-

4

4.1-

5

5.1-

6

6.1-

7

7.1-

8

8.1-

9

9.1-

10

>10

.1

Yield categories t/ha

Pe

rce

nta

ge

of

farm

ers

SRI method

Conventional method

Production cost and profitability of rice by different methods

010,00020,00030,00040,00050,00060,00070,000

Imp

rov

ed

/ irr

iga

ted

Imp

rov

ed

/un

irri

ga

ted

Lo

ca

l/ ir

rig

ate

d

Lo

ca

l/un

irri

ga

ted

SR

I me

tho

ds

w/

ma

nu

al w

ee

din

g

SR

I me

tho

ds

w/

me

ch

an

ica

l we

ed

ing

Methods of rice cultivation

Rs.

/ha

Total costs(Rs./ha)

Gross income(Rs./ha)Net profit(Rs./ha)

Yield distribution of rice by SRI method according to numbers of weeding, 2005.

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

<4 t/ha 4.1-6 t/ha 6.1-8 t/ha >8.1 t/ha

Yield category (t/ha)

Per

cent

age

of fa

rmer

s

One Weeding

Two Weeding

Three Weeding

What is SRI method in Nepal?

Single rice plant, 35 days after transplanting by SRI method (Chaite 2 variety)

Young seedlings of 3 leaf stage.

(8-12 days old)

Single seedling transplanting

(without damaging the root of the seedling)

Single seedling transplanting in wider spacing

20x20 cm25x25 cm30x30 cm

Keep soil moist during vegetative stage, no water stagnation but sometime

wetting and drying of the soil for better performance.

Regular and timely weeding for first 35 days. It increases more tillers and

more production.

Manual weeding (21 days after transplanting)

Weeding by rotary weeder, it decrease labor cost for SRI

And

use of more organic matter/FYM instead of chemical fertilizers

Why SRI for Nepal ?Rice is the main staple food and largest contributor for national GDP.

Productivity of rice is lowest in this region (SE-Asia).

Half of the districts (38) are food deficit.

Inputs price increased more than 3 times.

Profit from rice farming is decreasing.

Government is spending millions of rupees for food transportation in deficit districts.

Water is still scarce resource for rice farming.

What can we do by SRI method?We can easily increase 1 t/ha rice yield by this method.

Out of 38 district, 36 can be convert into food sufficient districts.

SRI can save 90% of rice seed for the consumption.

We can save irrigation water by 40-50% from rice cultivation.

We can reduce chemical (fertilizers and pesticides) use in rice farming and reduce air, water and soil pollution.

We can save millions of rupees, spending for food transportation for other development works.

We can reduce GHG emissions and save our world from its bad effects.

We can increase profit and help for poverty reduction program.

Difficulties with SRI

Weed management

Farmers' reactions:

It required more labor.

More money.

Sometimes weed problems lead to fail the crops.

Mechanical Weeding by rotary weeder will be a good solution to reduce weeding cost.

SRI field after first weeding by rotary weeder

Farmers, made marker and weeder to facilitate SRI method

Water management according to soil type.

Wetting and drying up to cracking stage with loose and organic soil.

Healthy and big root system

Healthy and big shoots and more production

What is necessary for SRI movement ?

Collaboration of GOs/NGOs/CBOs/WUAsto testing, packaging and dissemination of

SRI method in their working areas. In such collaboration we can generate a movement for the prosperity of this country. Which is

suffering from food deficiency and poverty.

Let's Join Together for SRI.

Participants in SRI field training

SRI Trainer facilitate about seedling preparation for transplanting

Farmers participation in SRI training

Visitors from MOAC, DOA, NARC and DOLS

Visitors from the World Bank and Poverty Alleviation Fund/Nepal

Journalist in the SRI fields

Himal Khabarpatrika

NEPALI TIMES

Channel Nepal

BBC World Service

For more Information please contact

Rajendra Uprety

District Agriculture Development Office, Morang, Biratnagar.

Phone: 021-521358/526568.

Email: dadomorang@wlink.com.np

www.ciifad.cornell.edu/sri/countries/nepal Prof. Dr. Norman Uphoff (ntu1@cornell.edu)