““Modern” Farming and Modern” Farming and Rural PovertyRural Poverty

Pros and Cons of SRIPros and Cons of SRI

Willem A. Stoop

23 January 2009

IFAD, Rome

Personal BackgroundPersonal Background

Soils and agronomy (Wageningen and UH)Soils and agronomy (Wageningen and UH) Rubber agronomist LiberiaRubber agronomist Liberia Postdoc CIMMYT (Maize agron.) MexicoPostdoc CIMMYT (Maize agron.) Mexico Agronomist ICRISAT / Burkina FasoAgronomist ICRISAT / Burkina Faso Tropical Rainfed Cereal Systems - KIT/RTITropical Rainfed Cereal Systems - KIT/RTI ISNAR - The Hague : NARS organisationISNAR - The Hague : NARS organisation KIT/RTI : Systems researchKIT/RTI : Systems research Independent consultant / WARDAIndependent consultant / WARDA

IFADIFAD website website

1,05 billion poor women, men and children in developing 1,05 billion poor women, men and children in developing countriescountries

Poor populations mostly in rural areasPoor populations mostly in rural areas

Depend mostly on agriculture and related activities for Depend mostly on agriculture and related activities for livelihoodslivelihoods

Do the “rural poor” require specific agricultural Do the “rural poor” require specific agricultural techniques?techniques?

and if soand if so

How might these techniques differ from the How might these techniques differ from the conventional ones that are readily available? conventional ones that are readily available?

oror

What type of agronomy would be most relevant to What type of agronomy would be most relevant to the poor? the poor?

System of Rice Intensification (SRI)System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

developed in Madagascar during 1980s in response to the developed in Madagascar during 1980s in response to the conditions, needs and means of resource-poor smallholdersconditions, needs and means of resource-poor smallholders

Madagascar: (rice) field micro Madagascar: (rice) field micro diversity and smallholder adaptationdiversity and smallholder adaptation

Major contrasts between “modern” and Major contrasts between “modern” and “smallholder” rice farming“smallholder” rice farming

Modern FarmingModern Farming::

Large / intermediate scaleLarge / intermediate scale CommercialCommercial MechanisedMechanised External inputs (seeds, External inputs (seeds,

ag.chemicals)ag.chemicals) Capital intensiveCapital intensive

Smallholder farmingSmallholder farming::

Small – variable scaleSmall – variable scale Self sufficiency – surplusSelf sufficiency – surplus Mainly manualMainly manual Local inputs (seeds, manure, Local inputs (seeds, manure,

compost, etc.)compost, etc.) Labour intensiveLabour intensive

Madagascar: SRI local varietyMadagascar: SRI local variety

Major elements of SRI Major elements of SRI as compared as compared

with conventional practiceswith conventional practices SRI:SRI: very low seed rates very low seed rates very young transplants: very young transplants:

8 to 15 days old 8 to 15 days old single transplants/hillsingle transplants/hill wide spacing: wide spacing:

25x25 to 50x50 cm25x25 to 50x50 cm no flooding, moist soil no flooding, moist soil compost compost 3 to 4 rounds rotary hoe3 to 4 rounds rotary hoe

Conventional irrigated: high seed rates young transplants:

about 21days old 3-5 transplants/hill narrow spacing:

10x10 to 20x20 cm continuous flooding min. fertilizer + N topdressing 2 rounds rotary hoe / herbicide

Bouake 189 : Bouake 189 : SRI-responsive improved varietySRI-responsive improved variety

Varietal responses to conventional Varietal responses to conventional irrigated (left) and to SRI (right)irrigated (left) and to SRI (right)

Crucial plant features in obtaining Crucial plant features in obtaining high yields with SRI high yields with SRI

Profuse tilleringProfuse tillering

Profuse root systemsProfuse root systems

““What will be the optimum bio-physical growth What will be the optimum bio-physical growth conditions that cause these features to translate into conditions that cause these features to translate into high grain yields?”high grain yields?”

Pros and cons of SRIPros and cons of SRI

ProsProsSubstantial savingsSubstantial savings::*Seed (suitability of local *Seed (suitability of local

varieties)varieties)*Seed rates: 1/5 to 1/10*Seed rates: 1/5 to 1/10*Irr. Water: approx. 30-50%*Irr. Water: approx. 30-50%*No or limited agric. chem’s*No or limited agric. chem’s*Tolerance to drought and *Tolerance to drought and

lodginglodgingIncr. resource use efficiencyIncr. resource use efficiencyNo envirm. pollutionNo envirm. pollution

ConsConsLabour requirementsLabour requirements????*Delicate timing of operations*Delicate timing of operations*Increased (early) weeding*Increased (early) weeding(Precise land levelling)(Precise land levelling)(Reliable water source/supply)(Reliable water source/supply)Risks??Risks??*Delicate, small transplants*Delicate, small transplants*Early floods*Early floods*Local socio-institutional: *Local socio-institutional:

avail. irrig. water / landavail. irrig. water / land tenure issues.tenure issues.

SRI is NOT a “free lunch” or “blue-print”SRI is NOT a “free lunch” or “blue-print”

It requires farming skills: timely management of operations It requires farming skills: timely management of operations and efficient use of internal resources.and efficient use of internal resources.

With experience SRI can produce attractive grain yields With experience SRI can produce attractive grain yields withoutwithout or with minimal use of costly external inputs through or with minimal use of costly external inputs through very simple agronomic adjustments.very simple agronomic adjustments.

SRI must be viewed as part of a (integrated) farming system.SRI must be viewed as part of a (integrated) farming system.

Location/farmer-specific adaptations are crucial.Location/farmer-specific adaptations are crucial.

Most initial constraints/risks are of a farm management nature.Most initial constraints/risks are of a farm management nature.

Possible barriers to SRI disseminationPossible barriers to SRI dissemination

For past decades farmers have been bombarded with recipes For past decades farmers have been bombarded with recipes for “green revolution” technologies including new seeds and for “green revolution” technologies including new seeds and agric. chemicals (mineral fertilisers, herbicides and agric. chemicals (mineral fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides). pesticides).

By comparison SRI advises something like an “opposite” By comparison SRI advises something like an “opposite” combination of practises.combination of practises.

Certainly in Africa, foreign aid and public extension services Certainly in Africa, foreign aid and public extension services have lost much of their credibility with small farmers.have lost much of their credibility with small farmers.

Implications for dissemination of SRIImplications for dissemination of SRI

““Learning” exercise for farmers, extension and scientists:Learning” exercise for farmers, extension and scientists:

Farmer field schoolsFarmer field schools Farmer organisations / farmer-to-farmerFarmer organisations / farmer-to-farmer Encourage small-scale, individual farmer experimentationEncourage small-scale, individual farmer experimentation

Flexibility in dissemination process: “principles” are introduced, NOT Flexibility in dissemination process: “principles” are introduced, NOT standardised technologiesstandardised technologies

Monitor technological adaptations introduced by farmersMonitor technological adaptations introduced by farmers

Accept initial slow adoption rates, while all stakeholders gain experienceAccept initial slow adoption rates, while all stakeholders gain experience

Present (global) status of SRIPresent (global) status of SRI

Principles validated in some 30 countries.Principles validated in some 30 countries.

Increasingly and successfully practised by small farmers in Increasingly and successfully practised by small farmers in major rice producing countries (India, China).major rice producing countries (India, China).

Agro-ecological mechanisms involved remain unclear for lack Agro-ecological mechanisms involved remain unclear for lack of adequate research (out-of-the-box thinking).of adequate research (out-of-the-box thinking).

General significance of SRI principles and General significance of SRI principles and wider relevance to IFADwider relevance to IFAD

For other (cereal) crops.For other (cereal) crops.

For the resource-poor farmer target group.For the resource-poor farmer target group.

For environment-friendly agricultural practices: For environment-friendly agricultural practices: increased efficiency of external input use increased efficiency of external input use (seeds and agric. chemicals).(seeds and agric. chemicals).

Thank youThank you