SRI + Beni Raised Berms Project

System of Rice Intensification First International Workshop

Costa Rica, November 2011

Demand Based Price Crisis

1986 – 2000 : Rice prices remained stable1986 – 2000 : Rice prices remained stable

2001 – 2011: Increase in rice prices (409% for 2008 2001 – 2011: Increase in rice prices (409% for 2008 and 348% for 2011)and 348% for 2011)

*IRRI: International Rice Research Institute*IRRI: International Rice Research Institute

• Elements: LoElements: Low rice stocks, imbalance between w rice stocks, imbalance between demand and supplydemand and supply → PRICE CRISIS → PRICE CRISIS

• What is needed?: What is needed?: Increased production through Increased production through the diffusion of BMS technologiesthe diffusion of BMS technologies

What is needed to solve the problem?

Imbalance Imbalance between between

demand and demand and supplysupply

Source: IRRI, 2010Source: IRRI, 2010

SRI + Beni Raised Berms Project

• Seeks the Seeks the development of a rice production development of a rice production system based on two existing technologies: system based on two existing technologies: System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and the Beni System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and the Beni Raised Berms, that were in use in 800 A.D.Raised Berms, that were in use in 800 A.D.

SRIRAISEDBERMS

Technologies

Beni – Bolivia

+

Beni Raised Berms

Source: Intermón-OxfamSource: Intermón-Oxfam

Current Land UseCurrent Land Use Rainy SeasonRainy Season Dry SeasonDry Season

Use of Raised BermsUse of Raised Berms Rainy SeasonRainy Season Dry SeasonDry Season

Large expanses of land under water for several months, no crops left

Rainwater drains off taking out the nutrients with it, leaving a sandy soil in which it is hard to grow crops

Crops like rice, maize, cassava, banana, onions, and others

Sandy soil

Raised berm

CanalFish and acuatic plants

Up to 2m

Seeds and crops are protected from being washed away

Canals provide a source of irrigation and nutrients

Nutrients

Beni Raised Berm Technology

Berm used for residential landscaping - Source: University of Minnesota (SULIS)

In Beni, Bolivia raised berms are 30 feet tall and 3 miles long…and might use the same technology as current day berms.

Newly Uncovered Technology

RAISEDBERMS

Important!

Eventhough they look similar, raised berms are different from Eventhough they look similar, raised berms are different from raised beds!raised beds!

Raised Beds

=

System of Rice Intensification(SRI)

• Methodology to Methodology to increase productivity of rice from increase productivity of rice from a change in the management of plants, soil, a change in the management of plants, soil, water, and nutrients.*water, and nutrients.*

• SRIs practices help SRIs practices help soil to be healthier and more soil to be healthier and more productive, productive, and plants to have and plants to have a higher root a higher root growth by promoting the abundance and growth by promoting the abundance and diversity of soil organisms.*diversity of soil organisms.*

Source: *Cornell UIniversity, 2010: **Oxfam America Source: *Cornell UIniversity, 2010: **Oxfam America et al.,et al., 2010 2010

47%47%Yield Yield

increaseincrease

40%40%Water savingWater saving

23%23%Reduction inReduction in

costs percosts perhectarehectare

68%68%IncreasedIncreasedincome perincome per

hectarehectare

**SRIs impact average in eight countries**SRIs impact average in eight countries

****

Project Hypothesis

Hypothesis:Hypothesis:– With SRI + Beni Raised Berms Project, it is expected to With SRI + Beni Raised Berms Project, it is expected to

have a have a yield increase between 47 and 200%yield increase between 47 and 200%

Base:Base:7,657 Kg/Ha7,657 Kg/Ha

Maximum

Average

Mínimum

22,971 Kg/Ha (200% increase)

17,113 Kg/Ha (123,5% increase)

11,255 Kg/Ha (47% increase)

Expected Yield IncreaseExpected Yield Increase

Two Technologies Bonded

SRIRAISEDBERMS

Technologies

+

The results obtained in Beni, Bolivia could be replicated in The results obtained in Beni, Bolivia could be replicated in similar ecological regions of the world…similar ecological regions of the world…

Replication in India

• The The weather patterns in the Monsoon area in weather patterns in the Monsoon area in India and Beni, India and Beni, Bolivia, Bolivia, areare similarsimilar..

• Both have a Both have a seasonal pattern of floodingsseasonal pattern of floodings..

Indian MonsoonIndian MonsoonBeni FloodingsBeni Floodings

Replication in India

Source: Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)Source: Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)

Source: IRRISource: IRRI

Rainfed rice areasRainfed rice areas

Precipitation during Precipitation during Monsoon season (mm)Monsoon season (mm)

Replication in India

• Weather patterns:Weather patterns:Beni: Beni: The warm and wet season with heavy rains, occurs The warm and wet season with heavy rains, occurs between October and May.between October and May.

India: India: The monsoon period occurs between June and The monsoon period occurs between June and September September (IMD*)(IMD*)..

Map of Bolivia**Map of Bolivia**Source: *India Meteorological Department (IMD); ** Texas A&MSource: *India Meteorological Department (IMD); ** Texas A&M

Map of India*Map of India*

Precipitation:Precipitation:

Beni 1500 – Beni 1500 – 2000 mm2000 mmIndia 800 – India 800 – 2000 mm 2000 mm (rainfed rice (rainfed rice

areas)areas)

Beni 1500 – Beni 1500 – 2000 mm2000 mm

The precipitation range in both areas is similarThe precipitation range in both areas is similar

Bonding Two Technologies

• The productivity increase through The productivity increase through the the development and difussion of development and difussion of improved improved technologies, is a viable long term solution to technologies, is a viable long term solution to reduce rice prices,reduce rice prices, avoiding future price increases, avoiding future price increases, and ensure that it is accesible to poor consumers and ensure that it is accesible to poor consumers (IRRI, 2008). (IRRI, 2008).

• Bring to India Bring to India a rice production system based on a rice production system based on technologies technologies that have been that have been proven effective,proven effective,could be an innovative way could be an innovative way to address the rice to address the rice production crisis.production crisis.

Steps to Develop the Project

• Develop Develop experimental plots of rice production experimental plots of rice production associating SRI with Raised Berms in Beni, Bolivia.associating SRI with Raised Berms in Beni, Bolivia.– Get funding for the project (pilot)Get funding for the project (pilot)– Recruitment of personal and resources for productionRecruitment of personal and resources for production– Prepare raised berms and technology mixPrepare raised berms and technology mix– Production and dProduction and data collectionata collection

• Analize and publish resultsAnalize and publish results gathered from the gathered from the experimental plots.experimental plots.

• Replicating the experimental production system Replicating the experimental production system in India.in India.

Summary

Raised BermsSRI

Rice supply and price crisis solution

New paradigm in agriculture

- Soil regeneration

- Low carbon footprint

- Ecologic and organic products

- Fair trade

-Tropical agriculture

- Monsoon

- Flooding season

- Archeological value

- Soil management

- High productivity

- Small areas

First steps:

- Experimental plots (Rice production using SRI - Camellones)

- Results publications (Papers)…

Bonding Two Technologies

SRI + Beni Raised Berms Project

GRACIASGRACIAS

lfneri@yahoo.comlfneri@yahoo.com

(591) 2 279-9664(591) 2 279-9664