Rice cultivation -- in crisis all over the world

Sri Lanka -- no exception ,with its:

Shrinking cultivable area

Fluctuating annual production levels

Stagnant yield gains

Water scarcity

Escalating input costs

Rice cultivation --under crisis

Increasing input costs – keeping farmers interested in rice cultivation is itself a challenge

Aggravated agrochemical use – leads to risks for human health

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) SRI -- eco-friendly,

rice- growing technology

SRI rice – presents less risk to human health

Madagascar Rice Production System (MRP)

Developed in 1980’s

Major principles

Planting method – Wider spacing and single/double seedling

Soil fertility management – Plenty of organic matter addition

Water management – non-inundation or AWD

Weed control – non- chemical

Wider spacing Single

seedling

Non-chemical weed control Wider

spacingNon-inundation

See the difference

SRI was introduced to SRI Lanka in the late 90’s

Still adoption by farmers is very low

Reasons could be either one or a complex mix of

Technical, Social, Economic, and Policy-oriented factors

Study was conducted to investigate

Biological feasibility of SRI management practices adopted by farmers at different locations

Economic viability of SRI

Social compatibility of SRI as perceived by Sri Lankan rice farmers

Research Study

Methodology Economical viability Pre-tested questionnaire

survey among SRI and non-SRI

farmer Social acceptability categories

Biological feasibility Collected soil samples from SRI and non SRI

(conventional rice farming) fields and analyzed in laboratories

Soil penetration measurements in SRI and non-SRI fields

Questionnaire survey to collect farmer observation on soil health, crop health and resilience to climatic changes of SRI and non-SRI rice

District Village/Organization

Number of Questionnaires

Completed

Number of Soil Samples Collected

SRI Non SRI Total SRI Non

SRI Total

Hamban-thota

Lunama, Miniethiliya, Ihalagama, Rotawewa, Thissa, Lunugamwehera, Thanamalwila, Hambantota, Bandagiriya, Gonnoruwa, Angunakolapalassa, Weerawila, Sooriyawewa, Pallemalla, Ranna, Ambalanthota, Badalangala

90 37 127 12 8 20

Anuradha-pura

Thambuththegama (Makulewa, Nallachchiya, Galnewa, Thalakulama, Thalakolawewa, Meegalewa, Mudungoda, Thammannawa, Hureegaswewa, Thispanepura, Halambawewa, Samaneliya, Siyambalagaswewa, Kalankuttiya)

41 16 57 3 3 6

Putthalam Nawagaththegama (Amunuwewa, Tharanagahawewa, Nawagaththegama, Kuruluwewa)

12 8 20 3 3 6

Wanathawilluwa (Eluwankulama) 22 10 32 3 3 6Kurunegala Rambukkana (Godagandeniya, Beligodapitiya,

Weragoda, Medawala, Weralupotha) 16 9 25 3 3 6

Kegalle Warakapola ( Niwatuwa, Kukulpane, Nawgala, Warakapola, Gasnewa, Tholangamuwa, Pahala weligalla, Hingurupola)

27 14 41 3 3 6

Total208 94 302 27 23 50

Questionnaire survey

Questionnaire survey

Key informant discussion

SRI soil SRI field

SRI soil sampling

Penetration measuremen

ts

BIOLOGICAL FEASIBILITY AND ADAPTABILITY OF SRI UNDER LOCAL ENVIRONMENTS

Results There was enhanced soil fertility in SRI fields

against non- SRI rice fields Soil in SRI fields had enhanced physical

and chemical properties Farmers were adequately aware of the

difference of crop health and soil health of SRI rice vs. non- SRI rice

Interviewed SRI farmers had awareness on the biological advantages and eco-friendly nature of SRI to a satisfactory level

Around 50 % of interviewed SRI farmers had recognized the various advantages and resilience to climatic change of SRI

Hamba

ntho

ta

Ranna

Amba

lant

hota

Tham

buth

the.

..

Kuru

luwew

a

Wan

atha

willuw

a

Rambu

kkan

a0

0.5

1

1.5

2

SRI Non SRI

Location

Org

an

ic m

att

er

%

Rambu

kkan

a

War

akap

ola

Wan

atha

villu

wa

Kuru

luwew

a

Thab

utht

hega

ma

Hamba

ntho

ta

Ranna

Amba

lant

hota

0.000

0.200

0.400

0.600

0.800

1.000

1.200

1.400SRI NON SRI

Location

Pen

etr

ati

on

resis

tan

ce

(MP

a)

Healthy leaves

Thick leaves

Straight leaves

Greenery0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Leaf Characteristics

Perc

en

tag

e o

f re

sp

on

den

ts

Loos

en soi

l

Salin

ity fo

rmat

ion

Deep

soil

Hard

pan

form

atio

n

High

fertili

ty

Soil

moi

stur

e ric

h

Text

ural

impr

ovem

ents

Impr

oves

dra

inag

e

Impr

ove

WHC

Less

er w

eed

grow

th05

1015202530354045

HambanthotaRambukkanaWanathawilluWarakapola

Soil Characteristics

Perc

en

tag

e of

resp

on

den

ts

Drought Wind Flood occurrences0

10

20

30

40

50

60 Hambanthota

Rambukkana

Wanathawillu

Warakapola

Climatic Characteristics

Perc

en

tag

e o

f re

-sp

on

den

ts

Rice yield (Tons/ha) in SRI and non SRI

Production system

Ham. Nawa. Ram. Tha. Wan. Wara. All

SRI with traditional varieties

3.04 NA 3.12 3.39 3.79 2.88 3.24

SRI with improved varieties

4.73 5.92 5.26 5.11 3.12 4.6 4.98

Non – SRI 6.06 2.53 4.11 4.58 3.69 3.45 4.07

System is biologically feasible

But still many of SRI farmers are shifting from SRI to conventional rice cultivation

Some didn't have intention to continue SRI due to some other reasons

Thank you