Improving and Scaling Up SRI in West Africa Regional Project

System of Rice Intensification (SRI): Opportunities for Liberia

Erika Styger, SRI-Rice, Cornell UniversityPresentation to Agriculture Coordination Committee (ACC), Ministry of Agriculture

February 27, Monrovia, Liberia

Improving and Scaling Up SRI in West Africa

• 1st Phase 3 year regional World Bank funded commissioned project to increase rice productivity in 13 ECOWAS countries, as part of the West Africa Agriculture Productivity Program (WAAPP), steered by CORAF/WECARD.

• Regional coordination for implementation: – Institute Economie Rural (IER) National Center for

Specialization on Rice (CNS-Rice), Mali; – SRI-Rice Center from Cornell University is principal

technical partner• January 2014 – December 2016

Improving and Scaling Up SRI in West Africa

• Project developed through participatory process with representatives from research, extension, farmers from 13 countries– First workshop in Ouagadougou July 2012– Second workshop in Saly, Senegal, July 2013– Launching of project Porto Novo, Benin, February 2014

• Each country has its own implementation plan.• Drivers of project: WAAPP coordination, designated

focal points, SRI champions (farmers, technicians) and associated partners (open platform)

Country group and climate zones

Rice cropping systems integrated in SRI West Africa Project

Source AfricaRice, 2010

What is SRI?

• The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is an agro-ecological and climate-smart methodology – For increasing the productivity of rice and other

crops

– By changing the management of plants, soil, water and nutrients, while reducing external inputs

• SRI provides principles, guidelines and ideas – to be adapted to local environment

http://sririce.org

Main principles of SRI method

1. Healthy early crop establishment – Seed selection & treatment, raised bed nursery,

transplanting at young age

2. Reduced competition between plants – Increased spacing– 1 plant / hill

3. Healthy soils, rich in organic matter– Add manure, compost, green manure, crop residues

4. Aerobic soil management – Reduced water applications (Alternate wetting and

drying irrigation management)– Mechanical weeder use

System of Rice Intensification

Early healthy crop establishment

Reduced competition

Healthy soils, rich in organic matter

Aerobic soil management

Leveled uniform soil Seed selection Seed treatment

Transplanting

Raised-bed nurseryNon-dense seeding1-2x water/day

Careful uprootingFast transportCareful plantingShallow plantingYoung plantsLight irrigationKeep weed freeMechanical weeding

Single seedling

Wide Spacing (25x25 or more)*

1 plant /hillGrid pattern

Mechanical weeding

Organic matter applicationbefore soil preparation

• Manure (decomposed)

• Compost• Cover crops/ green

manure• Return crop residues

Incorporation Surface mulching

Aerobic soil conditions

Create aerobic soil conditions Mechanical weeding

Irrigated rice

Alternate wetting and drying (AWD), allow soil to dry, 7-10 d irrigation

Rainfed

Bunding of fields, good field leveling

High rainfall- Drainage

Low rainfall• Surface mulch

Direct seeding

1-2 seeds/hill

Shallow seeding

Keep weed free

Light irrigation

Mechanical weeding

PRINCIPLES

PRACTICES

METHODOLOGYCONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

* In red: most common SRI practices

System of Rice Intensification

Healthy early Crop establishment

Reduced competition

Healthy soils, rich in organic matter

Aerobic soil management

Arid Semi-aridSemi-humidHumid

Upland systems

Lowland systems

Irrigated systems

Others: Mangroves, deep water rice etc.

PRINCIPLES

PRACTICES

METHODOLOGY

Practices

Practices

Practices

Practices

Climate zones

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

SRI practices for irrigated rice

1. Single plant /hill

2. Transplant young seedlings (2 leaf stage)

3. Adopt wide spacing - planted in a grid

4. Minimum water application during vegetative growth

5. Use mechanical weeder

6. Use organic amendments as base fertilization

in IRAQ’s Al-Mishkhab Research Center, Najaf: SRI on left, Non-SRI on the right

SRI practices induce a phenotypical change in rice

SRI Conventional SRI SRI Conventional Conventional

Physiological and morphological changes of SRI plants

• Tillers are thicker (+38%)

• Plants are higher (+24%)

• More tillers/hill (+100%)

• Similar/more # tillers/m2

• Greater canopy angle (33° vs 18°)

SRI

Non SRI Thakur, A.K et al (2011) Effects for rice plant morphology and physiology of water and associated

mgt practices of SRI and their implications for crop performance, PAWE 9:13-24

SRI Non-SRI

• Roots are deeper, longer, double the volume and weight/ hill

Non SRI - flooded SRI – AWD conditions

Thakur, A.K et al (2011) Effects for rice plant morphology and physiology of water and associated mgt practices of SRI and their implications for crop performance, PAWE 9:13-24

Thiyagarajan et al. (2009) Principles and Practices of SRI in Tamil Nadu

Yield performance

• More/similar number of panicles/ m2

• Longer panicles (+20%)

• More grains/panicle • Fewer empty grains • 1000 grain weight is

heavier Non-SRI SRI

----- Increased Yields (often >50%)

Non-SRI SRI

2014

Tropical Climate, Medium Altitude: Bhutan

Tropical Savanna Climate, Cuba

High Altitude, semi-arid climate (1700m) Afghanistan

Arid Climate, MaliTropical Climate, Low AltitudeCambodia – Rainfed SRI

CON 3.6 t/ha SRI 9.5 t/ha

CON 6.5 t/ha

SRI 9.5 t/ha

CON 5.6 t/ha

SRI 9.3 t/ha

CON: 5.5 t/ha

SRI 9.1 t/ha

CON: 1.8 t/ha

SRI 4.0 t/ha

Summary of Benefits • Yield Increase: often >50%• Water savings: 30-50% • Seed reduction: > 90%• Chemical fertilizer

reduction: 20-40% (to 100% = organic SRI)

• Improved tolerance towards pests and diseases– Pesticide reduction

http://sririce.org Sheath blight disease

Mali

Summary of Benefits

• Shorter crop cycle (1-2 weeks)

• Improved drought tolerance

• Improve resistance to strong winds

• Costs/ha (reduction by 30%)

• Income increase/ha: +30-100%

http://sririce.org

After typhoon in Vietnam

SRI Non-SRI

Improved drought resistance, India

System of Rice Intensification in Liberia

CHAP farm, 0.3 ha SRI, 39 days after transplanting, Nerica L19, Feb 2014

First SRI plot in Liberia, Dec 2012 by Community of Hope Agriculture Project

(CHAP) Paynesville, Monrovia

First SRI test by Robert Bimba

Start up of SRI WAAPP Liberia Program

• First training of trainers (TOT) in December 2013, with 77 trainees

• Focal point: CHAP, Robert Bimba

• Workplan for 2014 approved

• Champions establish trial plots (at least 5 so far)

• Integration of SRI into current rice initiatives• CHAP to pilot SRI in River Gee, Grand Gedeh

• Technical capacity development: TOTs

Press coverage of TOT

SRI in Liberia 2014

Feb 24, 2014

SRI Fields (1/3 ha) at CHAP, Paynesville

39 days after transplanting (rows are closing)

- Nerica L19- 1 seedling/hill, 2

leave stage- 25cm x 25cm

spacing- No fertilization (rich

soil)- Hand weeding,

rotary weeder- Alternate wetting

and drying

Samuel Bimba, CHAPS

1st SRI Trial at CARI Research Station, Suakoko, Bong County

Trial management:Amis Cecilia Merchant,Rennie Kollieyoun (left)

- Nerica L19- Tillering per hill ~ doubled (20)- Panicles longer- Plants more

vigorous- 7kg seed/ha

SRI in Liberia 2014

Feb 25, 2014

• 1 seedling/hill, 10 days old• 30cm x 40 cm spacing• 1.25t/ha manure, 12

kg/ha urea • Alternate wetting & drying• Hand weeding

SRI Opportunities for Liberia• SRI methodology can improve rice

productivity for any variety (traditional and improved) and with locally available resources

• SRI is farmer-driven and knowledge-based approach– SRI was introduced to Liberia through farmers – SRI can be directly applied with farmers– Immediate learning with and from farmers creates

fast and relevant results!– Good technical training needed

High quality seed production by farmers• 1 plant/hill eliminates danger of

mixing varieties

• Purification of seeds /reconstruction of varieties

• Best plants selected by farmers for seeds

• Only 6kg/ha of seeds required

• Multiplication factor for seed production: SRI x 1000 (6kg seeds - 6t/ha yield)Example: 1kg seed, in Year 3: 167,000 ha Traditional x 100 (30kg/ha seeds - 3t/ha yield), Example: 1kg seed, in Year 3: 333 ha

Cambodia

Cambodia

SRI Opportunities for Liberia

Individual mother plants

Individual panicle harvest and selectionfor seed

Reduced water application to rice –Creating aerobic soil conditions

• Rice grows better in non-flooded conditions, alternate wetting and drying– Roots can breath and develop, support plant growth

and grain filling ( higher yields)– Diminishes iron-toxicity– Hypothesis: Reduction of vector breeding for

Schistosomiasis through periodic drying of fields and canals

• Irrigation infrastructure to be designed for adding water when needed and for drainage, not for flooding

SRI Opportunities for Liberia

Improved soil and water management

• For water-logged soils– Improve drainage – Create permanent raised beds

• Create year-round water availability – Plant rice in dry season– Apply new techniques like lock-lodge ratooning

• Avoid heavy soil preparation– Move towards conservation agriculture practices– Improve soil through organic matter addition– Save on expensive mechanization costs– Allow for crop rotation

SRI Opportunities for Liberia

Thank You!

SRI Trial at CARI Research Station, Suakoko, Bong County, Feb 25 2014

Contact Erika Styger: eds8@cornell.eduhttp://sririce.org

SRI Liberia Focal Point: Robert Bimba+231-886543735

robertbimba@yahoo.com

Less Labour, No Seed, No Replanting, 80-90 Days to Harvest, Less Water, High Yields, can be Mechanised

10 Days Re-growth

30 Days Re-growth

Details at PRASAC-Takeo Tel: 032 931 241

New

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Lock Lodging Line-planted

Stubble (15-20 mandays / ha)

Lock-Lodge Rice Ratooning

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Bra

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2nd Ratoon Crop... Yield for Ratoon is 60-120 % of 1st

Crop

NOTES:

• When ratooning the soil should be damp to allow moisture for re-growth, but avoid dry cracked soil, or standing water. Correct moisture content allows ethylene (produced at lodging) to maximise basal tillering & the plant to re-grow. Level Fields are important.

• Flood as normal once ratoon shoots appear after 6-10 days

• Apply 2 split Nitrogen top-dressings, less P/K

• Harvest at 80% maturity,

• Can repeat ratoon several times

(Harvest 76 Days after Ratooning)

This photo shows soil too dry & crop too mature for good

ratooning)

Example of soil too wet. Ethylene not absorbed. Very

poor re-growth

1st Ratoon Crop