WHAT IS SRI?

National SRI SymposiumHyderabad, November 17, 2006

Norman Uphoff, CIIFADCornell University, USA

WHAT IS SRI?• SRI is many things – not just one thing

– SRI is more pluralistic than monolithic

– SRI is better understood and referred to as an adjective than as a noun

• SRI is different things to different people

– But nobody has any monopoly on SRI

• There are no patents, no royalties, no IPR

• This may cause some occasional discomfort

• But so be it – benefits outweigh the costs

WHAT IS SRI?• SRI was developed in Madagascar

– SRI originated from Fr. de Laulanié, SJ

– Often called ‘the Madagascar system’

• SRI is spreading around the world

– ‘SRI effect’ demonstrated in 24 countries

– Soon to add Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Iran

Fr. de Laulaniémaking field visit

WHAT IS SRI?• SRI is still a work in progress

– SRI is continually evolving, especiallybeing improved by farmer innovation

– Many examples: from Madagascar, India, Cambodia, Nepal, Cuba, etc.

Rake to mark field for transplanting,developed in Madagascar, also in India

Roller-marker devised by Lakshmana Reddy, East Godavari,AP, India, to save time in transplanting operations; Reddy’syield in 2003-04 rabi season was 17.25 t/ha paddy (dry wt)

Four-row weeder developedby Gopal Swaminathan,

Kadiramangalam, Tamil Nadu,

Weeder designed by Nong Sovann, Kampong Spreu province,Cambodia; built for $3, with a $20 increase in value of rice

Simple weeder made byGovinda Dhakal, Indrapura-6,

Belbari, Morang District, costing only 15 rupees to make;10 laborers can weed 1 hectare

vs. 25-30 laborers manually

SRI direct-seeder designed/built by Luis Romero in Cuba;transplanted rice gave 14 t/ha; the 40x40 cm spacing was

too wide; his neighbor built 12-row seeder to be ox-drawn

WHAT IS SRI?• SRI is many things – not just one thing

• SRI is many different things

• SRI is not yet finished

• SRI was developed in Madagascar

• SRI is spreading around the world

• SRI is NOT A TECHNOLOGY

– SRI is a methodology; a set of ideas; insights; philosophy – not set ‘package’

WHAT IS SRI?• SRI is a set of practices – always to

be adapted to local circumstances – that accomplish two main things:

– Vigorous grown and health of roots

– Abundant, diverse and active soil biota

THESE ARE THE KEY TO SRI SUCCESS

• SRI may be called ‘the root revolution’ (N. Subba Rao, Achanta, October 2003)

Single SRI plant – MTU 1071Maruteru Agr. Res. Station

SRI plant on right and ‘normal’ plant on right on Cuban farm;

same age (52 days) and same variety (VN 2084)

WHAT IS SRI?

• SRI is about MORE THAN YIELD

– It is especially about higher productivity

• Higher productivity of LAND (kg/ha)

• Higher productivity of LABOUR (kg/hour)

• Higher productivity of WATER (kg/m3)

• Higher productivity of CAPITAL

–Greater return on investment (kg/Rs.)

–Higher net farmer income per hectare

WE SHOULD NOT OVER-EMPHASIZE YIELD!

WHAT IS SRI?• SRI is more accessible to the poor

– Little or no capital requirement

• So no need for loans or for credit

• Might want to give yield guarantees

– No need to change varieties or to purchase agrochemical inputs

– SRI requires mostly knowledge and skill

and motivation

WHAT IS SRI?• SRI is depends on creating a better

growing environment for plants

– It improves the E in the GxE equation

– SRI is not ‘against’ genetic improvement

• Always want to start with most appropriate genotype – then produce best phenotype!

• HYVs and hybrids give highest SRI yields

• But local varieties give very good yields

LET FARMERS DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES

WHAT IS SRI?

• SRI is -- or can be -- ‘organic’

• SRI is not necessarily organic

– Chemical fertilizers used with other SRI practices give higher yields

– Highest SRI yields have come with organic soil fertilization

LET FARMERS DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES -- SRI IS ABOUT GIVING THEM OPTIONS

WHAT IS SRI?

• SRI depends on farmer participation

– Farmer innovation is important

– Farmer-to-farmer spread most effective

– Human resource development is goal

• The name of Association Tefy Saina, the NGO promoting SRI in Madagascar, does not mean “grow more rice” but instead it means “improve the mind”

WHAT IS SRI?• SRI depends also on scientific work

– Much is still not fully understood and everything about SRI can be explained in sound scientific terms – no magic!

– SRI probably still not optimum because it was developed empirically/inductively

– There may be future problems that scientific research can help us avoid

– Knowing the principles will should help us extend SRI insights to other crops!

SRI RAGI (FINGER MILLET), Rabi 2004-0560 days after sowing – Varieties 762 and 708

VR 762

VR 708

10 15 21*

*Age at which seedlings weretransplanted from nursery

Results of trials beingbeing done by ANGRAU

System of Finger Millet Intensification on left; regular management of improvedvariety and of traditional variety on right,

picture courtesy of PRADAN

WHAT IS SRI?• SRI has the potential to transform

the agricultural sector– SRI is already improving the production of

sugar cane, ragi, cotton, maybe other crops

– The increases in rice productivity should enable farmers to redeploy land, labor, water and capital into producing other crops

• That give higher income and are more nutritious

• SRI should lead to diversification in agriculture, and also modernization

WHAT IS SRI?

• SRI IS NOT FINISHED – work in progress

• SRI is both a CHALLENGE and an OPPORTUNITY for:– Higher productivity – better incomes

– Water saving – coping with climate change

– Poverty reduction – reduce food insecurity

– Environmental protection – water, soil and air quality, conservation of biodiversity