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Promoting the Adoption of SRI through Participatory Research and Outreach in Kenya

SRI - Growing More Rice with Less Water

by:

Prof. Bancy M. Mati

SRI Projects CoordinatorJomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology (JKUAT)

Nairobi, Kenya

18th April 2012

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Contents1. The Rice Challenge in Kenya (why SRI?)2. What is SRI?3. How SRI was Introduced in Kenya4. Partnerships and Collaboration 5. Participatory Research, Extension, Monitoring &

Evaluation (PREME) 6. Results of Research and Farmer Trials7. Major Challenges Faced8. Lessons Learnt9. Way Forward

Rice Production in Kenya• Huge demand for rice – urbanization &

changing dietary habits

• National rice demand-300,000 t/yr

• National rice production - 80,000 t/yr

• Deficit is imported - Ksh.7 billion /yr

• Annual consumption of rice is increasing at 12%, compared to 4% for wheat & 1% for maize

• Rice - the most expensive grain in Kenya (retailing at US$ 1.2 – 2.0/kg)

• Shortage of land suited to paddy rice production

• Rice has highest water consumption

Length of growing period (days)

Country boundary

Lakes

Key

1-7475-8990-119120-149150-179180-209210-239240-269270-299300-329330-364

0 100 200 KilometersN

KENYA

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2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 20300

100000000

200000000

300000000

400000000

500000000

600000000

Estimated Annual National need = Pop.x8 (kg/person/yr)Actual Production (kg)Expected Annual Production (kg) to bridge the gap (9.31% increase)Expected Deficit after increasing Annual Production (kg) by 9.31%

Year

Prod

uctio

n (in

Kg)

Projections of the Production and Consumption of rice in Kenya by 2030

Source: NRDS, MOA, Kenya

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SRI: Historical background• SRI was developed in Madagascar in the 1980s

through efforts of Fr. Henri de Laulaniè• The System was developed slowly through farmer

experimentation, changing water application techniques, crop spacings, and seedling age etc.

• Rice yields increased from 2 t/ha to 10, 12, even 14 t/ha.

• Prof. Norman Uphoff helped out-scale SRI to other countries

• SRI has been grown in Madagascar , India, Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone, Bangladesh, Gambia, Cuba, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Mali, Rwanda, ….. • Kenya was the 37th country in the world to adopt SRI in 2009

Fr. Henri De Laulanié

Prof. Norman Uphoff

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What is SRI?• SRI is a package of practices especially

developed to improve the productivity of rice grown in paddies.

• Unlike the conventional method of continuous flooding of paddy fields, SRI involves intermittent wetting and drying of paddies as well as specific soil and agronomic management practices.

What SRI is NOT• SRI is not about growing upland rice

varieties• SRI is not GMOs• SRI does not modify the genetic make-

up of rice.

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Components of SRI

SRI has seven major components (deviating from conventional flooded paddy)

1. Transplanting very young seedlings, i.e., at 8 to 12 days old (instead of the conventional 3-4 weeks)

2. Raising the seedlings in un-flooded nurseries and well-supplied with organic matter

3. Transplanting seedlings at wider spacings and in a square pattern, usually 25x25 cm, giving roots and leaves more space to grow• Transplant seedlings quickly, carefully and shallow –

taking care to have minimum trauma to roots,

Comparing conventional paddy nursery with SRI practice

Conventional flooded nursery

Transplanting SRI young seedlingTransplanting conventional rice seedlings

SRI dry nursery, and 8-day old seedling

SRI requires less seed

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Components of SRI contd…

4. Transplanting only one seedling per hill (NOT of clumps of 3-4 seedlings)

5. Alternate wetting and drying of the paddy field (do not continuously flood the soil) to ensure aerating of the root zone,

6. Weed control is preferably done with a simple mechanical rotary weeder. This aerates the soil as it eliminates weeds, giving better results than either hand weeding or herbicides,

7. Providing as much organic matter as possible to the soil.

Comparing conventional paddy with SRI Practice

Weeding SRI paddy with rotary weederWomen weeding conventional rice paddy

One-week old SRI paddy fieldOne-week old conventional flooded paddy

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Advantages of SRI - More yield for less inputs

1) SRI gives higher rice yields – compared to conventional flooded paddies,

2) SRI requires less water, and can save 25-50% water used in irrigation

3) SRI uses less seed & farmers save up to 80% of the cost of seed

4) SRI rice has a harder grain, thus less breakage during milling, giving better grain quality and higher price.

5) Nearly all rice varieties give higher yield with SRI, but some high-yielding varieties respond better than others.

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Introducing SRI in Kenya

Background to SRI efforts in Kenya• SRI was introduced in Kenya at the Mwea Irrigation Scheme in July 2009

• Initial partners: JKUAT, NIB, AICAD, WB, WBI, MoA, MWI, KARI, Cornell University (of USA), Mwea Irrigation Scheme/MIAD, farmers

• The first crop season Aug 2009-Jan 2010, only two pioneer farmers accepted to do trials voluntarily & on-station research trials at MIAD – supported by AICAD

• Within that time, training & awareness creation was done using the two farmer trials, video conferences, special ladies’ training

• Jan-May 2010: farmers were trained by invited trainers from India & Japan supported by World Bank Institute

• Since April 2010, JKUAT Innovation Fund has been supporting a 3-year SRI research & capacity building project in Mwea.

• From June 2011, National Irrigation Board is supporting a 6-month project to upscale SRI in 4 schemes, i.e., Ahero, West Kano, Bunyala & Mwea.

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SRI pioneers and adopters in Mwea

Objectives of the SRI initiative in KenyaThe main objective is to facilitate the wide-scale adoption of SRI for increased

rice productivity, water savings and occupational health.

The specific objectives include to:

• Promote adoption of SRI for improved rice production

• Save water used in irrigation of paddy rice.

• Scientifically assess the adaptability of SRI in Mwea and other rice- growing areas in Kenya

• Quantify the benefits of up-scaling SRI

• Determine the health and environmental impacts of SRI, e.g., effects on mosquito survival

• Create awareness/advocacy for SRI among key stakeholders engaged in the rice value chain (farmers, Government staff, private sector)

• Build the capacity of important actors (farmers, extension workers, researchers).

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Major partners in SRI collaboration in KenyaOriginal and current partners1. JKUAT (university)2. IMAWESA/ICRISAT (IFAD funding) – not active currently 3. AICAD4. MIAD – Mwea research5. National Irrigation Board6. Mwea Irrigation Scheme7. Ahero Irrigation Scheme 8. Ministry of Water and Irrigation9. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) 10. Ministry of Agriculture11. World Bank-Kenya12. World Bank Institute (Washington, DC) 13. Cornell University (USA)14. Private sector

Implementing PREME

Participatory Research, Extension, Monitoring & Evaluation

Setting up the consortium of partners

• Contacting Institutions & individuals & invitations• Held SRI planning meetings at MIAD in Mwea• Seeking seed funding from AICAD, JKUAT, NIB for SRI• Joint activity implementation

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Scientific Research (1 PhD, 4 MSc & MIAD trials)

1. PhD student is assessing SRI for up-scaling in Mwea irrigation scheme.

- Using AQUACROP model to predict scheme-level grain yields, amounts of water saved, and cost/benefit analysis.

2. MSC assessed adaptability of SRI in Mwea - completed

3. MSC has assessed the effects of SRI on mosquito survival rates.

4. MSC has assessed bio-physical characteristics of four schemes; Mwea, Ahero, West Kano and Bunyala for SRI adaptability

5. MSC is assessing impacts of SRI on methane gas emissions

6. MIAD research on SRI spacings

Measuring water input in a research plot

Mosquito trap in research plot

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Participatory Research (SRI farmer trials)

SRI farmer trials

Innovations by farmers

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Extension (Capacity building)

• Classroom training with field visits• Hands-on training• Training of trainers (ToT) • Special training for ladies• Several field days across which are

rotated from block to block• Field days according to crop

agronomy• Invited trainers supported by WBI

trained staff & farmers from India & Japan

• Capacity building - 3,000 individuals trained on SRI

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Field days & open days for SRI training

SRI field day in Mwea-5th August 2010

SRI Open Day- 4th November 2010 SRI field day (transplanting) -21 July 2011

SRI field day in Mwea- 7th December 2010

Knowledge Management, Monitoring & Evaluation

• Opened SRI Resource Center at MIAD

• Recruitment of two SRI-dedicated extension workers

• Database of farmers, their activities, yields set up

• Designed a format for data record by farmers

• Scientific publications• Radio broadcasts on SRI in

vernacular stations for all schemes

• Scientific papers & forums

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Awareness Creation & Outreach

• Open days with invited guests• Video conferencing• Displays in the Nairobi

International Show• Exchange visits for farmers &

staff• Media outings• Radio broadcast/adverts• Engaging private sector, e.g.,

Numerical Machining Complex, compost-making NGOs

• Over 10,000 individuals reached with SRI message

Extending SRI to Western Kenya

• SRI project launched in Ahero, West Kano and Bunyala

• SRI Training of Trainers in MIAD for all schemes

• Video conferencing for Western Kenya farmers linking with India, Philipines, Mali (WBI)

• Exchange visits between the four groups of farmers

• This project is set to expand to SW Kano (5 schemes this year)

SRI results have been good

Results show that SRI works!Key findings – based on Research & SRI farmer crop of Dec. 2011

Conventional paddy1. Basmati yields : 4 – 5 t/ha (Mwea)

2. BW rice yields : 7 - 10 t/ha

3. A bag of paddy weighs 80-90 kg

4. Water to grow 1 kg of rice: 3,000-

5,000 litres

5. Grain easily breaks during milling

6. Flooded paddies suffer lodging

from windy storms

7. Weeding flooded paddies is done

by women

8. Lower return on investment

SRI Rice

1. Basmati yields : 7 – 10 t/ha

2. BW rice yields: 11 - 20 t/ha

3. Bag of paddy weighs 100-110 kg

4. Harder, not easily broken on

milling

5. Uses 25-33% less water

6. SRI has strong stems that resist

damage from windy storms

7. Wedding can be by men or

women

8. Higher returns (30-50% increase in

net income)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 90

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Growth pattern for the tillers under SRI and CF

SRICF

Weeks after transplanting

Num

ber o

f tille

rs p

er h

ill

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Jackline Ndiiri PhD progress report

 Water productivity

(kg/m3)

Savings on irrigation water

(%)

VARIETY SRI CF  

Basmati 370 0.7 0.4 27.5

BW 196 0.5 0.2 26.2

IR 2793-80-1 1.0 0.5 31.0

Water savings comparing conventional with SRI

Results of soil characterization for Mwea, Ahero, Bunyala and West Kano

Mwea Ahero West Kano Bunyala0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Chart Title

Mean toatal organic carbon (%)

30Wycliffe Nyangau MSc research progress report

Challenges faced • Farmers’ traditional mindset,

addressing skepticism and thus, resistance

• The crop was not weeded with rotary weeders

• The planting calendar affects rice yields

• Shortage of SRI extension workers

• A higher incidence of weeds

• Some farmers applying half-SRI measures

Lessons Learnt

• The scientific basis for adoption of SRI has been proven

• Aggressive awareness creation and hands-on training has resulted in good adoption rates.

• SRI message is now accepted in all 4 schemes

• There are many spin-off innovations, e.g., 3 local people have fabricated rotary weeders

• Farmer behaviour has changed – most use less water

• Collaborative efforts & cost-sharing helped push the project success

• Need to engage the private sector - interest by Numerical Machining Complex to support developing rotary weeders

• Policy support helps – extending SRI to Ahero, West Kano & Bunyala with NIB support

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Way Forward

• Train extension workers to support SRI farmers

• Build capacity of farmers to do full SRI

• Develop rotary weeders suited to local conditions

• Raise funds to support farmers & the value chain

• Manage pests and diseases (preventive measures)

• Expand SRI to all rice-growing areas in Kenya and hopefully, Africa.

• Collaborative research & outreach with other partners

• Achieve 100% adoption of SRI to grow more rice with

less water!

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“Rice is nice….it is eaten with a spoon…” A nursery rhyme

THANK YOU

Acknowledgements• Dr. Raphael Wanjogu• Dr. Patrick Home• Dr. Benson Odongo• Mr. Laban Kiplagat• Mr. Joel Tanui• Ms. Jackline Ndiiri• Mr. Kepha Omwenga• Mr. Nyamai Matolo • Mr. Wycliffe Nyangau• Mr. Moses Kareithi• Mr. Joseph Njeru• Prof. Norman Uphoff• Dr. Mei Xie