IFAD Upland NewsletterV1N3

16
d.v.d. or “develop, validate and deliver” is a newsletter of the upland project Managing Rice Landscapes in the Marginal Uplands for Household Food Security and Environmental Sustainability. With support from IFAD, IRRI is implementing this project in partnership with NARES of India, Lao PDR, Nepal and Vietnam in the agriculturally marginal uplands. d.v.d. aims to keep all project members and other stakeholders informed of project activities and research outputs. This third issue provides highlights of key technologies validated, training conducted and other general activities of the project during the third quarter. Major highlights include substan- tial activities for scaling out technologies validated by the project. Four factsheets, one for each country, containing descriptions of validated technologies for uplands were published and widely dis- tributed to extensions agencies, local government units and farmer organization. Substantial quanti- ties of seeds of improved rice varieties have been produced and distributed, and a rice variety vali- dated by the project in Nepal is likely to be officially released soon. Similarly, training was provided to promote local production of seeds and to improve farmers’ agricultural practices. These activities are expected to increase the project impact and improve the sustainability by building local capacity. Thanks to Dr Hari Gurung, technical editor, Ms Gina Zarsadias, graphic designer, and Bill Hardy, English editor for bringing out this third issue of the newsletter. TRAININGS AND FIELD DAYS NEPAL, 1- 4,6 LAOS, 5 INDIA, 4,5,6 VALIDATED TECHNOLOGIES NEPAL, 8,9 INDIA, 7 VIETNAM, 11,12 LAOS, 10 METHODOLOGIES NEPAL, 12 INDIA, 13-15 Inside this issue: October - December 2008 An official publication of the IRRI-IFAD Project Volume 1 Issue 3 IAAS Sundarbazar successfully initiates a community-based rice seed production and marketing program in the mid-hills of Nepal Five lowland rice varieties (Sunaulo Sugandha, Barkhe-3017, Barkhe-2024, Radha-4, and Ram Dhan) and three upland rice varieties (Radha-32, IR55435-5, and Ghaiya-2) are popular among farmers in Lamjung, Gorkha, and Tanahun districts. These varieties were vali- dated by IAAS Sundarbazar in its farmer participatory research between 2005 and 2007. With the increasing demand for quality rice seeds, the project started a “community- based rice seed production program” in Sundarbazar in Lamjung District and in Purkot in Tanahun District in 2007. (to page 2) Message from the Coordinator

Transcript of IFAD Upland NewsletterV1N3

Page 1: IFAD Upland NewsletterV1N3

d.v.d. or “develop, validate and deliver” is a newsletter of the upland project Managing Rice Landscapes in the Marginal Uplands for Household Food Security and Environmental Sustainability. With support from IFAD, IRRI is implementing this project in partnership with NARES of India, Lao PDR, Nepal and Vietnam in the agriculturally marginal uplands. d.v.d. aims to keep all project members and other stakeholders informed of project activities and research outputs.

This third issue provides highlights of key technologies validated, training conducted and other general activities of the project during the third quarter. Major highlights include substan-tial activities for scaling out technologies validated by the project. Four factsheets, one for each country, containing descriptions of validated technologies for uplands were published and widely dis-tributed to extensions agencies, local government units and farmer organization. Substantial quanti-ties of seeds of improved rice varieties have been produced and distributed, and a rice variety vali-dated by the project in Nepal is likely to be officially released soon. Similarly, training was provided to promote local production of seeds and to improve farmers’ agricultural practices. These activities are expected to increase the project impact and improve the sustainability by building local capacity.

Thanks to Dr Hari Gurung, technical editor, Ms Gina Zarsadias, graphic designer, and Bill Hardy, English editor for bringing out this third issue of the newsletter.

TRAININGS AND FIELD DAYS NEPAL, 1- 4,6 LAOS, 5 INDIA, 4,5,6

VALIDATED TECHNOLOGIES NEPAL, 8,9 INDIA, 7 VIETNAM, 11,12 LAOS, 10

METHODOLOGIES NEPAL, 12 INDIA, 13-15

Inside this issue:

October - December 2008

An official publication

of the IRRI-IFAD Project

Volume 1 Issue 3

IAAS Sundarbazar successfully initiates a community-based rice seed production and marketing program in the mid-hills of Nepal

Five lowland rice varieties (Sunaulo

Sugandha, Barkhe-3017, Barkhe-2024,

Radha-4, and Ram Dhan) and three

upland rice varieties (Radha-32,

IR55435-5, and Ghaiya-2) are popular

among farmers in Lamjung, Gorkha, and

Tanahun districts. These varieties were vali-

dated by IAAS Sundarbazar in its farmer

participatory research between 2005 and

2007.

With the increasing demand for quality rice

seeds, the project started a “community-

based rice seed production program” in

Sundarbazar in Lamjung District and in

Purkot in Tanahun District in 2007. (to page 2)

Message from the Coordinator

Page 2: IFAD Upland NewsletterV1N3

Page 2

d.v.d.

The project advised and supported enterprising farmers of the two villages to organize themselves into commercial seed production and marketing groups. The farmers have named the groups after their villages as Sundar Seed Producer Farmer Group and Purkot Seed Producer Farmer Group. The two farmer groups combined produced about 30.3 tons of five lowland-variety rice seeds and 9.6 tons of three upland-variety rice seeds in 2008. Of the total, the farmer groups sold about 16.4 tons of lowland rice and 3.2 tons of upland rice seeds to extension agencies and nongovernmental organizations. The remaining seeds are being sold directly to farmers. Besides rice, the Sundar Seed Producer Farmer Group has also started producing maize seeds. The project has specifically supported the farmer groups in technical supervision of seed production plots; training on concepts, methods, and practices of scientific seed production; an initial supply of foundation seeds and estab-lishing linkage with organizations producing foundation seeds; an exposure tour for farmers to interact with farmer seed producers in other districts; facilitating establishing linkage with seed traders in market centers through exposure tours; and establishing linkage with research and extension organizations. These project endeavors will enhance the capacity of the seed producer farmer groups to stay competitive and sustainable, and cater to the seed needs of farmers, locally and subregionally in the longer term.

Cont ...IAAS Sundarbazar successfully initiates a community-based rice seed production and marketing program (from page 1)

Page 3: IFAD Upland NewsletterV1N3

Page 3

d.v.d.

Paper read at the American Anthropological Association’s 107th Annual Meeting in San Francisco

Dr. Hari Gurung read the paper titled Meeting the challenge of agricultural research needs of diverse upland marginal farmers: examples of an agricultural research paradigm shift and farmer participatory research at the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association in San Francisco, USA, on 19-23 November 2008. Dr. Gurung co-authored the paper with Bishnu Adhikari, Ram Baran Yadav, Khamdok Songyikhangsuthor, Sushil Pandey, and Benjamin Samson. The paper is based on the basic tenets adopted by TAG 706 and its farmer participatory research and development experiences. In the paper, the authors highlight the importance and relevance of farmer participatory approaches for upland development based on the experiences gained in Lao PDR and Nepal through an IFAD-funded and IRRI-led project TAG706. A copy of the paper can be obtained from the senior author (email: [email protected]).

blocks. Women farmers in particular were excited about the farmer field day because they were exposed to new crop varieties and technologies. The farmer seed group also decided to produce seeds of new promising varieties based on what members saw in the trials and the interest that other farmers showed in new test varieties such as Barkhe-3017-7 and BR4962.

Besides these, the farmers, extension agents, and researchers discussed and exchanged experiences on scientific seed production and its marketing, rice seedling transplanting, fertilizer application methods and doses, identification of rice insect pests (stem borer, rice gundhi bug) and diseases (false smut, neck blast, etc.), and their control methods.

IAAS Sundarbazar, Nepal, organizes farmer field days

The Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences (IAAS) Sundarbazar, in collaboration with district agri-cultural development offices, organized six farmer field days in six villages: Sundarbazar, Purkot, Palungtar, Gaikhur, Dhamilikuwa, and Bhansar. A total of 141 farmers (73 men and 68 women) participated in the farmer field days. Representatives of district agricultural development offices, local NGOs, local lead-ers, and field-based extension agents also participated in the farmer field days.

Farmers’ field days were organized during the maturity stage of the paddy rice crop in the latter part of October. Farmers observed rice variety research trials, varietal demonstrations, rice seed production plots, kitchen gardens, and commercial vegetable production

Page 4: IFAD Upland NewsletterV1N3

A three-day exposure visit of 29 local seed producers (21 men and 8 women) from two farmer group-based commercial seed enterprises and four agricultural exten-sion workers of the district agricultural development offices was organized. The main purpose was to familiarize the local seed growers and extension workers with the seed industry, trade, and marketing system in general in Chitwan District, which is advanced in seed producing and marketing in Nepal. The two seed producer groups that participated in the visit were the Sundar Seed Producer Group and Purkot Seed Producer Group. The farmers visited the National Maize Research Program, National Grain Legumes Research Program, Institute of Agricultural Animal Science Central Campus, two farmer seed producer and marketing groups, Malla Seed Enterprises, and other seed traders and market officials in Chitwan.

IAAS Sundarbazar, Nepal, organizes an exposure visit of local farmer seed producers and extension workers

Page 4

d.v.d.

The farmers learned about scientific seed production, seed processing, certification, storage, packaging, and seed marketing, among others.

Extension workers and farmers found the visit very use-ful, in particular, the experiences of the farmer seed groups in Chitwan. They learned about the historical development of the Chitwan seed producer groups and their experiences with group formation, seed production, processing, packaging, seed certification, storage, and marketing. They also shared their problems and challenges during seed production and marketing. The farmers also learned from seed entrepreneurs and traders the importance of giving extra emphasis to quality seed production rather than quantity for success of a seed business. Besides learning the finer points of the trade, the exposure visit also helped the farmers to establish linkages with farmer seed producer groups and traders in Chitwan.

The Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) Diphu organized a combined farmer exchange visit and farmer field day in November 2008 at Mithiphang Village. Thirty-three farmers from three villages participated (6 women and 27 men). Farmers from Rongnihang and Hidisajir villages traveled to Mithiphang as a part of the farmer exchange visit and participated in the farmer field day. Local village-level extension workers also partici-pated. The field day was organized to observe and evaluate wetland rice varieties JR2, JR5, JR6, and Ranjit. At the end of the field day, farmers, extension officials, and researchers held a group meeting. They discussed and shared their views on the research activities and the performance evaluation of the varieties. The farmers highly appreciated wetland rice varieties JR2, JR5, and JR6 because of their higher grain yield under low-input conditions. Participating farmers expressed their willingness to adopt these varieties for better yield under low-input conditions, better crop growth, short duration, and other farmer-desirable traits. The area of these rice varieties is expected to progressively increase in the following years.

RARS Diphu organizes a combined farmer field day and farmer exchange visit in Karbi Anglong, India

Page 5: IFAD Upland NewsletterV1N3

Page 5

d.v.d.

The Northern Agriculture and Forestry Research Center (NAFReC) organized three combined farmer field days and exchange visits. A total of 44 farmers (34 men and 10 women) participated. The farmers visited the two field research sites, Fai and Silalek, and the NAFReC research station at Houay Khot. The farmers observed variety research on glutinous and nonglutinous rice, rice nutrient management (green manure and inorganic fertilizer), rice crop establishment methods (direct seeding and transplanting), and slash-and-burn and slash-and-mulch methods of upland rice production.

NAFReC organizes combined farmer field days and exchange visits in Lao PDR

Comments and feedback of the farmers on the research trials were obtained. Farmers ranked the rice varieties being tested as a part of the participatory variety selection approach adopted by the project. Farmers from different villages discussed and shared their experiences among themselves and with the research-ers in interactive sessions. Farmers found the combined farmer field days and exchange visits very useful as they were able to interact with their peers from other villages and with the researchers simultaneously.

ICAR NEH organized five training events for farmers in November and December 2008. A total of 169 farmers (46 men and 123 women) were trained. Farmers received training on the use of a manually powered portable paddy thresher and winnower, improved vegetable nursery-raising techniques, and rainwater capture, use, and management.

The farmers were very positive about the use of a

paddy thresher and winnower. They saw the utility of this machinery in dealing with the high labor cost and labor scarcity at the time of harvest and reduc-ing drudgery for women, who primarily perform these tasks. The farmers were also impressed by the improved nursery-raising techniques and rainwater harvesting to produce off-season vegeta-bles and the potential to enhance farm family income. The project is now monitoring how farmers are using the knowledge gained during training.

ICAR NEH organizes farmer training

Page 6: IFAD Upland NewsletterV1N3

A.K. Tripathi

The project undertook a farmer participatory seed production activity in two villages, Saiden and Mawlasnai, under a seed village program. The project produced 10 tons of seeds of Shahsarang rice – a variety suited to upland environments. The project provided the necessary training to the farmer seed producers and technical guidance and supervision needed for the scientific produc-tion of quality seeds. The village seed program will make quality seeds available to farmers and contribute to a wider spread of popular farmer varieties.

Page 6

d.v.d. ICAR NEH, Meghalaya, India, initiates farmer participatory seed production under a seed village program

Farmer participatory seed production: ICAR NEH, Meghalaya, India

The project organized two 5-day statistics training activities in Nepal (1-5 Dec. 2008) and India (8-12 Dec. 2008) for crop scientists and research socioeconomists from the collaborating institutions: Nepal Agricultural Research Council and Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences in Nepal and Indian Council of Agricultural Research Regional Complex for the Northeast Hills and Assam Agricultural University in India. The training was given by Ms. Violeta Bartolome from the Crop Research Informatics Laboratory of IRRI. A total of 27 researchers, 14 from Nepal and 13 from India, partici-pated.

The participants received training on computer-based data analysis using the IRRI-developed statistical software CropStat. Each participant was given a complete set of training handouts and a free copy of CropStat. The training employed a combination of lectures and hands-on exercises.

Training on experimental design and parametric and nonparametric statistics accomplished

Page 7: IFAD Upland NewsletterV1N3

Another farmer, Atul Medhi of Sunpura, remarked, “JR2 needs no fertilizer. Its growth is better than my variety Gaya. I will harvest JR2 in October at the time when the other rice varieties are at flowering stage. I could meet the food shortage of my family because of its early harvest. I can now wait for the maturity of other varieties. I have decided to grow JR2 next year. I will plant them earlier than this year (2008) so that I can grow a rabi (dry-season) crop like rapeseed, which needs to be sown in October.”

Farmer participatory research carried out by the

Regional Agricultural Research Station Diphu, Assam, has identified JR2 (Srimanta) as a promising low-input wetland rice variety for poor and small farmers in the hill district of Karbi Anglong. The desirable traits of the variety are high yield, nonlodging, early maturity, and good eating quality. JR2 is becoming increasingly popular among farmers because of its high yield under farmer crop production regimes in which farmers do not apply fertilizer at all or apply very little.

JR2 produced mean grain yields of 3.14 to 3.7 t/ha under zero-input conditions and 4.24 to 4.44 t/ha under low-input conditions (NPK at 20:10:10 kg/ha). In contrast, farmers’ varieties produced average grain yield of 1.96 to 2.73 t/ha under zero-input conditions and 3.4 to 3.6 t/ha under low-input conditions. On average, JR2 had a 46% and 24% yield advantage over traditional varieties in zero-input and low-input condi-tions, respectively.

Akhil Hanse, a young farmer from Hidisajir, quips, “I planted JR2 soon after harvest of a wheat crop on the same land. I applied nothing (fertilizers, pesticides, etc.) to the crop yet I could harvest 3.5 tons of grain per hectare of land.”

On the other hand, Umakanta Medhi of Sunpura Village first saw the variety in his neighbor’s field. He likes it very much after the first trial and intends to plant JR2 on his entire paddy land next year. He says, “I first saw JR2 in my neighbor’s field last year (2007). It was growing vigorously. Therefore, I decided to grow the variety in 2008. But I could not get the seeds locally. Fortunately, I got 6 kg of JR2 seeds from one of my relatives. Then, I applied only 3 kg of DAP (diammonium phosphate) to my JR2 plot (0.13 ha). The crop is performing well and is near maturity. I will harvest it soon (October). My other rice variety, Gaya, is in flowering stage. I applied fertilizer to it also. But the crop growth indicates that JR2 will yield more than Gaya. I will grow JR2 in my entire field (1.07 ha) in the next season.”

JR2 (Srimanta): a low-input rice variety for Karbi Anglong, Assam, India Umesh Chandra Kalita

Page 7

d.v.d.

Because of the variety’s growing popularity, the project distributed about 850 kg of JR2 seeds in 2008, enough to cover 19 hectares. Collaborating farmers also planted about 310 kg of JR2 seeds in 2008 that they had saved from their 2007 experiment and demonstration trial plots. This will cover about 7 hectares of land. The project started a village-based farmer participatory seed produc-tion program in 2008. Thirty-two farmers participated in the program and were given training on scientific seed production, which covered topics such as selection of land, isolation requirement, roguing, pest and disease management, harvesting, threshing, seed sorting and processing, storing, and labeling, among others. The farmers produced 12.7 tons of JR2 seeds under the guidance and technical supervision of RARS Diphu. The seed production program will boost the spread of this variety.

Page 8: IFAD Upland NewsletterV1N3

The Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences (IAAS) Lamjung, through its farmer participatory research, has identified paddy rice variety Ram Dhan as suitable for foothills, lower valleys, and terraces in the western middle hills of Nepal. The variety is suitable for the following major cropping patterns practiced in the western middle hills: rice-fallow-maize, rice-wheat-fallow, rice-potato-maize, rice-rice-fallow, and rice-mustard-maize.

Farmers like the variety for its non lodging medium plant height (90–120 cm), early maturity (120–135 days), long panicles, fine grain and good eating quality, good market price, high yield (5.6 t/ha), disease resistance, good milling percentage (60–70%), and palatable straw for large ruminants.

Mrs. Toran Kumari Dhital of Purkot Village says, “This variety is early, high yielding, and blast resistant compared with local variety Dalle, which I grow. I participated in the seed produc-tion program and produced 1,080 kg of certified seed from 1,500 m2 of land under the guidance and technical supervision of Lamjung Campus (Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences).”

Mr. Keshav Pokharel from Sundarbazar Village says, “The variety has good cooking and eating quality. The cooked rice of this variety is very soft and light, which is preferred by office workers and rich people as opposed to laborers. I can sell the rice for a good price in the market.”

The variety is becoming increasingly popular among farmers of Lamjung, Tanahun, and Gorkha districts. It has spread to several villages in these districts through the project initiatives and farmer-to-farmer dissemination. The demand for its seeds is increasing. In response to the growing demand for rice seeds in general, two farmer groups in two villages, “Sundar Seed Producers Group” in Sundarbazar, Lamjung District, and “Purkot Seed Producer Group” in Purkot, Tanahun District, have started to produce and market rice seeds locally and outside the area. The farmer groups report that farmers from other adjoining districts such as Chitwan, Kaski, and Dhading are also requesting seeds from them.

Ram Dhan: a popular paddy rice variety for the western hills of Nepal Bishnu Bilash Adhikari

Page 8

d.v.d.

Page 9: IFAD Upland NewsletterV1N3

Page 9

d.v.d.

Radha-32 (IR44595-70) rice variety found suitable for uplands in Nepal Ram Baran Yadav

Upland rice (called Ghaiya in Nepali) is grown in the upland plateaus and unbunded terraces in the hills of Nepal. The National Rice Research Program (NRRP) under its farmer participatory variety research trial funded by IFAD TAG706 identified upland rice Radha-32 (IRRI breeding line IR44595-70) as one of the suitable varieties preferred by farmers. The collaborator farmers liked the test variety for it early maturity (105–110 days), which allows it to be grown both as a main-season upland rice and spring-season paddy rice in irrigated lowlands. But it has gained popularity primarily as an upland rice variety. Many farmers who gave up growing upland rice for the past few years have started growing upland rice once again as a result. Besides early maturity, farmers preferred the test va-riety for its yield, tolerance of diseases (blast and bacterial leaf blight) and insect pests (termite and stem borer), good milling recovery (68%), drought tolerance, and suitability to rice-maize, rice-legume, and rice-oilseed cropping patterns in uplands. The following comments from the farmers confirm their preference for this variety. Mr. Santosh Baral of Patu: “I liked this variety due to its earliness and its ability to be grown in both the spring and main seasons. It is also suited for rice-vegetable, rice-wheat, and rice-legume cropping patterns.” Mrs. Sita Neupane of Bhapasi: “Not many farmers were growing rice in the uplands for the past few years. People were growing maize. But now most farmers, including me, are growing Radha-32 on those lands. Some of my fellow villagers have also started production of Radha-32 seeds with the support of the [IFAD TAG706] project.”

Mrs. Rama Adhikari of Bhapasi: “I was not growing rice in my upland fields previously. But now, I have started to grow rice once again. I grow Radha-32, which I received through the project [IFAD TAG706]. I chose to grow it because of its higher grain yield and its ability to produce some grain even under drought conditions.” Mr. Phikal Bahadur Majhi of Bhapasi: “I was growing Anpjhutte, a local rice variety, which produced very low grain yield (1 t/ha). But now I am very much enthused about Radha-32 because of its higher grain yield (2.5 t/ha), earliness, and resistance to diseases and insect pests. I have given seeds of Radha-32 to my neighbors and relatives.”

Among the tested varieties, Radha-32 gave the highest yield (2.8–3 t/ha), which translates into about 13–15% higher yield than the check varieties used in research trials. The test variety has become

popular at the two research sites operated by the project.

Farmers at the research sites produced 1,200 kg of

Radha-32 seeds in 2008 under the technical guidance and

supervision of NRRP. Based on research trial results and

farmer preference, NRRP has proposed Radha-32 to the

Variety Release Subcommittee of the Nepal Seed Board

to release it as upland rice variety Hardinath-3 for the hills

of Nepal.

Page 10: IFAD Upland NewsletterV1N3

Page 10

d.v.d.

TDK5: a paddy rice variety for both the dry and wet seasons in the Northern Mountainous Region of Laos Khamdok Songyikhangsuthor and Benjamin Samson

The Northern Agriculture and Forestry Research Center (NAFReC), through its farmer participatory research, has identified TDK5 as a suitable rice variety for growing in both the dry and wet seasons in paddy lands in the northern mountainous provinces (Luang Namtha, Oudomxai, Houa Phanh, Luang Prabang, and Sayabouri) of Lao PDR. As a dry-season rice crop, TDK5 takes 120–130 days to mature and yields about 4 t/ha as compared with check varieties that take 140–150 days to mature and yield about 3.5 t/ha. Farmers prefer to grow this variety in the dry season primarily for its early maturity, high yield, uniform panicles, good eating quality, and ability to grow well under different growing conditions. In the wet season, TDK5 takes 130–140 days to mature and on average yields about 3 t/ha as compared with local varieties that take more than 150 days to mature and yield only about 2.5 t/ha. The project distributed about 7 tons of TDK5 seeds between 2007 and the 2009 dry season, and produced about 7 tons of TDK5 seeds in 2007 and 2008 with farmer participation under the guidance and technical supervision of NAFReC. The area under TDK5 is expected to increase progressively in the future due to its popularity.

Cont...Lowland paddy rice nutrient management, from page 15….

Mr. Zorath Bay from Sedan Teron Gaon experimented by improvising the use of Dhaincha to green-manure his

lowland rice seedling nursery. He proudly says from his experience, “Dhaincha not only benefits the rice crop,

its use in nursery beds also produces healthier rice seedlings for transplanting.” The Dhaincha green manure

and INM package for lowland rice looks appropriate for the resource-poor farmers of Karbi Anglong.

Average grain yield and incremental return over farmers’ practice.

1.77

2.77

1.44

3.73

2.79

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

Farmers ’ practice Green manure INM

Yield (t/ha) Incremental return ($/ha)

1.77

2.77

1.44

3.73

2.79

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

Farmers ’ practice Green manure INM

Yield (t/ha) Incremental return (‘00$/ha)

Page 11: IFAD Upland NewsletterV1N3

Page 11

Khau Suu or BT13:

a potential local paddy

rice cultivar for northern Vietnam

Test variety BT13 is a selection of the local rice variety known as Khau Suu. The test variety was selected by Ms. Nguyen Thi Bay (previously at the Food Crop Research Institute) in 2003 from Dien Bien Province in northwest Vietnam. Since 2006, the Northern Mountainous Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (NOMAFSI), through IFAD TAG706, has continued to select and evaluate BT13 under different agroecological conditions found in the Northern Mountainous Region.

BT13 is a short-duration cultivar. It takes 115–120 days to mature in the spring season and 95–100 days in the summer season. Its short duration makes it ideal for 2 or 3 crops per year. BT13’s yield is stable and higher than that of many local and popular varieties under moderately fertilized conditions. The average yield is 6.5–7 t/ha, which is comparable with that of popular hybrid variety Nhi Uu 838 and other hybrid rice varieties. The variety also has good general resistance to common rice diseases (bacterial leaf blight, leaf blast, neck blast) and insect pests (brown planthopper and leaf folder).

BT13 became popular in spring 2008 after all the transplanted spring paddy rice plants in North Vietnam died because of cold injury in the winter. Farmers had to replant rice more than 1 month after the normal planting time. This meant that only short-duration spring varieties could be planted, which allowed a good spring rice harvest and at the same time allowed timely growing of summer-season rice. Since BT13 is a short-duration variety, which can be planted as both spring- and summer-season rice, it perfectly fulfilled farmer varietal needs.

The project distributed 2 tons of BT13 seeds in the 2008 spring season and produced about 9 tons of seeds with farmer participation under the guidance and technical supervision of NOMAFSI. BT13 has now become quite popular in Van Chan (Yen Bai Province), Doan Hung, Phu Ninh (Phu Tho Province), Cho Don, and Bach Thong (Bac Kan Province) districts in the Northern Mountainous Region of Vietnam.

d.v.d.

Ha Dinh Tuan

Page 12: IFAD Upland NewsletterV1N3

N46 is a cross between a local traditional aromatic nonglutinous rice variety and improved rice line XA7. It can be grown in both the spring and summer seasons in irrigated fields. The project distributed about 200 kg of N46 to 20 farmers for self-testing and farmer-to-farmer dissemination in 2007. In 2008, the project distributed 2,200 kg of N46 seeds to farmers to meet their demand. The farmers in Van Chan District under the technical supervision of the Northern Mountainous Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute (NOMAFSI) produced about 4.75 tons of N46 seeds in 2008 to meet the increasing demand for the variety.

Farmer participatory variety research carried out in farmers’ fields has shown that N46 possesses the early maturity trait necessary for early planting of winter legumes. Besides its timely maturity, it has a higher grain yield (5.52 t/ha) than the local check variety, which yielded 4.21 t/ha. Because of fine grain quality and aroma, N46 has a premium price—24% higher than other varieties.

Promotion of N46: a high quality rice suitable for mountainous areas of Vietnam

Page 12

d.v.d.

Integrated weed management in upland rice for the Churia Hills of Nepal Ram Baran Yadav

Weed infestation is an important constraint in upland rice production. Efficient weed management, prefera-bly in an environment-friendly manner, is crucial for grain yield. The project tested four weed control treatments in upland rice test variety Radha-32. The treatments were developed based on a combination of butachlor spray (1 kg a.i./ha) after sowing and hand weeding (HW). Based on the partial budget analysis results, butachlor spray and one hand weeding at 30 days after seeding can be recommended to farmers.

Ha Dinh Tuan

Page 13: IFAD Upland NewsletterV1N3

Page 13

d.v.d.

Swidden or shifting agriculture popularly known as jhum in Karbi Anglong, Assam, is an age-old agricultural tradition practiced on hill slopes. Rice, the primary crop, is mixed with a number of other field and horticultural crops. Short fallow cycle jhum is considered environmentally unsound primarily because of soil erosion. The Regional Agricultural Research Station in Diphu has developed improved practices of sloping agriculture as an alternative to traditional jhum agriculture. The improved practice involves growing grass hedge rows and permanent horticultural crops such as pineapple, areca nut, banana, citrus, and lemons along with traditional crops grown by farmers along contours across the slope. The base model is as follows (see diagrammatic representation above):

• Two rows of pineapple across the slope at 60 cm × 30 cm spacing.

• A row of orange (5 m apart) or areca nut (2.75 m apart) in a 1-m-wide strip. Also growing turmeric/ginger in the orange/areca nut interspaces.

• One hedgerow of guinea grass (Panicum maximum) 10 cm apart.

• A field crop strip 6–7 m wide (for 20–25% slope). Rice, sesame, and maize are grown in the summer. Rice and sesame are broadcast, whereas maize is dibbled. Greengram and/or blackgram follow harvest of rice, sesame, and maize.

• The same strip pattern is repeated along the entire slope of the field.

The IRRI-IFAD project tested the model, with modifications, in farmers’ fields (plot size of about 0.40 ha) in two villages: Bim Engti Gaon and Jia-Adong. The researchers discussed the model with a farmer group and modifications were made to component technologies per farmer suggestions and needs. (to page 14)

Enhancing productivity and sustainability of marginal uplands with improved sloping agriculture in Karbi Anglong, Assam, India

J. K, Dey, U.C. Kalita, R.K. Sarma, K.D. Singh, P.C. Bhagawati, and P.K. Kakaty

Page 14: IFAD Upland NewsletterV1N3

Improved intercropping for increased productivity in the hills of Meghalaya, India

Page 14

d.v.d.

In the jhum cultivation systems of Meghalaya, farmers grow upland rice as the primary crop with intercrops of colocassia, chili, cucumber, maize, and millet, among others. To maximize upland productivity, reduce the risk of crop failure, preserve soil fertility, and better use farm resources, the project planted a demonstration trial on intercropping a legume (soybean or groundnut) with upland rice in five locations in Ribhoi District. The upland rice–legume intercrop had a ratio of 4:1. The demonstration trial used improved varieties of upland rice (Bhalum1 and Bhalum2), soybean (JS-355), and groundnut (ICGS-76).

The demonstration trial yield and economic returns were compared with those of a sole rice crop of a traditional variety. By intercropping soy-bean and groundnut with upland rice, farmers

Cont… Enhancing productivity and stainability of marginal uplands ...from page 13

The research used the following crops and varieties in the trial: upland rice (cv. Inlongkiri), sesame (cv. AST-1), toria (cv. TS-38), greengram (cv. GS 33-5), banana (cv. dwarf Cavendish), lemon (cv. Assam lemon seedless type), pineapple (cv. Kew), and turmeric (cv. Shillong tall). The field crops in the improved jhum outyielded traditional jhum agriculture: upland rice, 2.21 vs. 1.24 t/ha; sesame, 0.2 vs. 0.08 t/ha; greengram, 0.74 vs. 0.50 t/ha; turmeric, 24.65 vs. 16.4 t/ha; and toria, 0.68 vs. 0.30 t/ha. Overall, the farmers from their improved sloping agriculture generated rice equivalent yield of 28.8 to 44.9 t/ha against 5.7 to 9.5 t/ha in traditional jhum agriculture

The inclusion of perennial horticultural crops such as pineapple, banana, and Assam lemon was attractive to farmers for they could earn cash incomes from these marketable crops. Farmers raising cattle for milk were happy with the guinea grass strip for fodder, besides the added advantage of the development of a natural terrace over time and soil erosion control.

Four farmers from four villages (Bim Engti Gaon, Jia-Adong, Lunche Timung Gaon, and Rong-plinplam) have each adopted the practice in plots of 0.2 ha. They are optimistic about the model. One farmer, Mr. Bidya Singh Timung from Jia-Adong, says, “I shall extend the area under the improved model every year at my own cost.” Since the model is flexible and can be tailored to the needs of individual farmers, more farmers are showing interest in it. The number of farmers adopting and/or adapting the practice is expected to increase as the practice becomes widely known.

could generate and additional income of $446 and $551 per ha, respectively, compared with a sole upland rice crop.

The farmers responded positively to the rice-legume intercrop demonstration trial. Farmers reported that the intercrop improved their food security by substituting cheap vegetable-based protein for expensive animal-based protein. The farmers also pointed out two advantages of growing crops in rows: (1) this made it easier to use tools for weeding operations as opposed to traditional methods in which the intercrops are asymmetric or grown randomly, and (2) it lowered the labor requirement for weeding.

Anil K. Tripathi and A.Pattanayak

Page 15: IFAD Upland NewsletterV1N3

Page 15

d.v.d.

Lowland paddy rice nutrient management for Karbi Anglong, Assam, India J.K. Dey, U.C. Kalita, R.K. Sarma, K.D. Singh, and P.C. Bhagawati

The ethnic tribal farmers of hill district Karbi

Anglong are averse to using fertilizers

because of cost and the perceived adverse

effect of fertilizer application on soil and land.

The average quantity of fertilizer used in the

district is 11.5 kg NPK/ha compared with the

state average of 80 kg NPK/ha. With this in

mind, researchers from the Regional Agricul-

tural Research Station in Diphu developed

two nutrient management treatments:

(1) green manuring with Dhaincha (Sesbania

aculeata) and (2) a low-input/cost-integrated

nutrient management package (INM) made

up of Dhaincha + 50% of recommended NPK

(30:10:10) in lowland rice.

Farmer participatory research and demon-

stration trials showed that while INM

treatment on average gave the highest yield

of 3.73 t/ha, followed by green manure at

2.77 t/ha, the farmers’ practice yielded only

1.77 t/ha (Fig. 1). The estimated incremental

benefit from the green manure and INM

treatments over the farmers’ practice was

US$144/ha and $279/ha, respectively.

Green manuring with Dhaincha and integrated

nutrient management are newly introduced concepts

and practices in the project villages. Although about

80% of the farmers who were interviewed during the

farmer field day showed their willingness to adopt

Dhaincha for green manuring, the remaining farmers

showed willingness to adopt INM. The following

farmer testimonials from their experiences give an

indication of the appropriateness of the green

manuring.

Mr. Sikari Engti from Bim Engti Gaon says that he

will continue to fertilize his lowland paddy fields with

green manure. He produced about 30 kg of

Dhaincha seed in 2008 for green manuring his field

in 2009.

Another farmer, Mr. Jit Bahadur Lama, produced

green manure in the adjacent upland and trans-

ported the green biomass to the adjacent lowland to

avoid submergence of the young Dhaincha crop in its

early stage. This has doubly benefited Mr. Lama. He

says, “The Dhaincha crop that I grew in the upland

not only benefited the lowland paddy rice but also

benefited the upland greengram crop that I grew in

the upland Dhaincha plot.” (to page 10)

Page 16: IFAD Upland NewsletterV1N3

Page 16

d.v.d. is the official newsletter of the IFAD-IRRI project TAG 706. The name d.v.d. is derived from the basic objective of the project—to develop, validate, and deliver agricultural

technologies to upland farming households for improving liveli-hood, food security, and environmental sustainability through rice landscape management. The objective of the newsletter is to share and publicize our work, nationally and internationally. The technical editor of this e-newsletter is Dr. Hari Gurung and the liaison person and graphic designer is Ms. Gina E. Zarsadias. We encourage our TAG 706 partners to submit articles and interesting stories for future issues to Ms. Zarsadias([email protected]).

Editorial and Production Team: Sushil Pandey, Hari Gurung, Bill Hardy, and Gina E. Zarsadias Contributing Authors: Bishnu Bilash Adhikari, P.C. Bhagawati, Kishor Chandra Dahal, Hari Khrishna Panta, P.C. Bhagawati, J.K. Dey,Umesh Chandra Kalita, P.K. Kakaty, A. Pattanayak, Benjamin Samson, R. K. Sarma, Hari K. Shrestha, K.D. Singh, Khamdok Songyikhangsuthor, Anil K. Tripathi, and Ram Baran Yadav For details, please contact Dr. Sushil Pandey ([email protected])

d.v.d.

Our partners at work….

Four factsheets, one for each country, containing descriptions of validated technologies for uplands were published and widely distributed to extensions agencies, local government units and farmer organization. These fact sheets provide information on basket of validated technology options for dissemination to farmers. To obtain copies of these fact sheets, please contact Gina E. Zarsadias ([email protected]).

Factsheets on validated technologies published and distributed