1310 - Social compatibility of SRI

Social Compatibility of

SRI

J.M.P.N. AnuradhaDepartment of Agricultural

ExtensionFaculty of Agriculture

University of Peradeniya

“Sustained Adoption of System of Rice

Intensification (SRI): A Sri Lankan Perspective”

Sustained Adoption of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) : A Sri Lankan Perspective

Outline

Introduction Objectives Methodology Results and Findings Conclusion Recommendations


Introduction

The IDEA: 1998 - Prof. Norman Uphoff , Cornell University - at a meeting of farmers in Gal Oya

The INCEPTION: 2000 - Joeli Barison - arranged by Prof. Uphoff and hosted by Dr. Gamini Batuwitage,

Ever SINCE - Promoted among the communities in many parts of the country, under several programs and campaigns, led by governmental and non-governmental agencies (esp. Oxfam-Australia and Gemidiriya)


Introduction Contd…

Immense efforts to promote SRI among the rural communities in Sri Lanka,

The number of farmers who have adopted and continued SRI, and

The number of farmers who have been trained on SRI and further assisted through other support services

to facilitate the adoption process,have been less than expected.


Specific Objectives of Study

Level of social compatibility of SRI within the

Sri Lankan context as perceived by the farmers Reasons behind the slow adoption and

diffusion of SRI in Sri Lanka as an innovation from a psycho-social perspective


Specific Objectives of Study Contd…

Develop a sustainable mechanism to promote the diffusion and adoption of SRI by addressing the psycho-social barriers along with other economic, political, technical and physical barriers that hinder the sustained adoption of the method by the Sri Lankan farming households.


Methodology

Research design : Survey (cross-sectional) Sample size : 302 (10% of the population) Study area : Hambanthota, Warakapola,

Thambuththegama, Nawagaththegama,, Rambukkana and Wanathawilluwa

Strata – L1 : > 4 seasons with SRIL2 : < 4 seasons with SRIDO : Drop-outsC : Control


Methodology Contd…

Sampling Method : Respondents (stratified random sampling) / Study area (purposive sampling; climatic, geographical, social and economic diversity)

Primary data : Field questionnaire survey, key informant discussions, case studies, and observations

Secondary data Data analysis – SPSS/ descriptive statistics


Results and Findings

Perceptions of SRI farmers in the different adopter categories - on contemporary issues related to farming paddy under SRI and how those perceptions are related to the behavior shown by respondents in adopting SRI - vary across the population significantly.


Results and Findings Contd…

Reasons for applying SRI practices Reasons for not applying SRI practices

Prominent - Knowledge gained on the importance of SRI through (a) training programs and (b) the field officers/ mobilizers/ AIs affiliated to agencies promoting SRI (avg. 60%).

Lack of knowledge (distinguishably L2)

Influence from family members Labour scarcity

Experience they have gained on the importance/advantages of SRI from their practice of SRI in their own fields (distinguishable L1)

Contentment with their existing practices

24 practices - 6 major principles



Perceived economic benefits/ shifting pointThe most The least

Income & cost (return on investment) Time management; SRI could save time for other economic activities and leisure with family

Farmers just narrate what they have been told by the trainers

Farmers are not so sensitive to price gains compared to other benefits preferred and sought

Shifting point - higher price gain (with increased production) & the lower cost incurred / saving of time to be involved in other economic activities



Perceived shifting points – Economic/ Health & Envir. / Other

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 80

0.51

1.52

2.53

3.54

4.55

Benefit

Valu

e

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 80

1

2

3

4

5

BenefitVa

lue

1 2 3 40

0.51

1.52

2.53

3.54

4.55

L1L2DO

Benefit

Valu

e



1 2 3 4 5 6 70

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

L1L2DO

Benefit

Valu

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Benefits key – 1 - Less pressure from the husband/wife, 2 - Less pressure from other family members, 3 - Less pressure from colleagues, 4 - Less pressure from input suppliers, buyers and other stakeholders of your business, 5 - Feeling less odd, but same like others 6 - Feeling different and successful than others, 7 - Feeling proud, because others follow you

Shifting Point – Perceived social benefits



Perceived environmental and health benefits: Less harm to the environment, Protecting environment Protecting biodiversity Protecting land for the next generation Generation of healthy food for the family Generation of healthy food for the community



shifting point – Perceived envnt. & health benefitsL1 L2 DO

Healthy food production to the community

“Production of healthy food to the family/ community”

“Production of healthy food to the family”

Less harm to the environment

Work well under prevailing environmental conditions

Work well under prevailing environmental conditions



Shifting point – Other perceived benefits

1 2 3 40

0.51

1.52

2.53

3.54

4.55

L1L2DO

Benefit

Valu

e

Benefits key – 1 - Readily available inputs, 2 - Readily available input suppliers, 3 - Support and encouragement of the AI, 4 - Support and encouragement of the mobilizer/specific individuals



Shifting point – Perceived benefits – Control group: Economic benefit - ability of the method to help them

save time to be involved in other economic activities. Social benefit – the method should not make them

appear to be "odd farmers“ Environmental and health benefit - opportunity to

produce healthy food to the family. Other - availability of input suppliers


Concluding Remarks and Suggestions

To enhance the rate of adoption of SRI by target rural households in Sri Lanka:

Conduct tailor-made awareness and training programs supported by on-going face to face advisory services

Integrate innovation (SRI) with the socio-cultural environment

Link the attributes of the innovation (SRI) with the needs of the recipients

Create an enabling environment for decision-making and growth.



Individual guidance – Face-to-face extension Until the farmers start experiencing the advantages directly linked to their preferences; increased disposable income

Hardly observable short-term tangible benefitsLabour-intensive ; harder trial periodDemographic factors, i.e., educational level of the farmers (analytical decision-making)Social factors, i.e., the pressure from peersEconomic factors, i.e., fertilizer subsidy, land ownership



Tailor-made awareness and training programs: Unit of training should not be the individuals, but the

households of a selected community Changing the attitudes of the recipients on least-

perceived economic, social, environmental and health and other benefits, while further strengthening the most-perceived benefits by drawing examples from true cases.

More emphasis on reaching a critical mass Participatory training approaches



Trainers should be given periodical training on: Technical aspects of SRITraining on soft-skills development, i.e.,

communicationTraining to develop the level of emotional

intelligenceTraining on network building and planning, etc.



Creating an enabling environment: Create links with agricultural support service providers,

getting the recognition of the critical mass. Getting the state recognition through policy decisions

(political environment is very influential) Mass concern of the public towards the necessity of

changing the conventional agriculture system of Sri Lanka More R and D



L2 prefer to feel less odd

Social support - can help farmers feel less different at the initial stage of the adoption process

Empowerment - entrepreneurial skills - change attitudes toward certain social norms that hinder their livelihood development.


Thank you!

1310 - Social compatibility of SRI

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