EVALUATION OF

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• EVALUATION OF
• THE SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION
• IN BANGLADESH
•  
•  Prof. A. M. Muazzam Husain
• BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
•  
• WRRC, Tokyo-Tsukuba, Japan
• November 4-7, 2004

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What is SRI?

• A system of irrigated rice crop management to
  significantly increase production through changes
  and integration of the management of rice plants,
  soil, water and nutrients.
• Does not depend upon high-cost modern inputs
• Reduces farmers costs of production
• Helps make crop production more sustainable and
  is environment friendly
• Easily accessible to resource-poor farmers
• Enhancement of food security

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Relevance to Bangladesh

• Rice is main staple crop 75 of cropped area
• High density of population small farm size,
  majority of farmers resource-poor
• HYV adoption increased production but yield
  growth has leveled out, with reduced
  profitability
• Hybrid rice and biotechnology may increase
  productivity but dependent on high- cost inputs
• Biotech is still a debatable technology, with
  possible health and environmental risk

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Rice Sector Needs of Bangladesh

• Substantial sustainable increase in yields to
  release land for high-value crops
• Reduction in cost of production increase in
  profitability for farmers
• Reduced requirement for high-cost inputs like
  fertilizer, irrigation water, and insecticides
• Environment- friendly sustainable agriculture
• SRI has shown the potential to meet all of these
  needs of the BD agricultural sector

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SRI Trials in Bangladesh

• Started in 1999 after Bellagio Conference paper
  on SRI reached BD
• Dept. of Agric. Extension (DAE) and NGOs
  conducted initial trials in farmers fields
• BRRI conducted on-station trials
• Trials in farmers fields gave encouraging
  results but BRRI onstation trials did not
• Need for systematic evaluation -- PETRRA funded 3
  sub-projects carried out over two consecutive
  Boro season trials (2002 2004)

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Findings from PETRRA evaluations

• Sub-Project 36 02
• Implemented by 3 NGOs (BRAC, SAFE, POSD) and a
  private company (Syngenta BD Ltd.)
• Participatory trials conducted in farmers fields
  in 4 districts, 8 subdistricts (upazila) in
  2002-03, N 487 farmers in 2003-04, N 791
  farmers (plus 237)
• Results for both seasons were found encouraging
• Number of participating farmers increased by 62
  (111) during second year
• Area under SRI increased by 91

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AGRONOMIC FINDINGS

• Tillers per hill were 95 higher during 1st
  season and 60 higher during 2nd season than
  under FP
• Effective tillers were 94 and 122 higher during
  the 2 seasons respectively
• Length of panicle 11 higher in both seasons
• Weight of 1000 grains 14 18 higher

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• Fig. 1 SRI yield gains, 2002 - 03

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• Fig. 2 SRI yield gains, 2003 - 04

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• Table 1. Yield gains of SRI over FP

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Fig. 3 Comparative net returns, 2002 - 03
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ECONOMIC EVALUATION

• Because of reductions in the cost of production
  while yield increased, farmers net returns were
  increased more than 50 on average

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• Fig. 4 Comparative net returns, 2003 - 04

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Table 2 Profitability increase with SRI
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Perceptions of farmers on SRI

• No. of farmers and area under SRI increased
• Farmers confirmed increased yield from SRI
• Did not face any major pest/insect problems
• Thought that healthier SRI plants were more
  resistant to pests/insects
• Larger no. of farmers used organic manure but
  needed training on preparing compost
• Faced irrigation management problems these need
  community approach to solve

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More perceptions of farmers on SRI

• Partial SRI adoption was favored by many farmers
  in some areas accepting easier practices such
  as early transplantation with reduced no. of
  seedlings and wider spacing
• Difficult practices included
• - applying compost or organic manure
• - alternate drying and wetting of fields
• However, even partial adoption had definite
  positive effect on yield and profitability

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Findings from Sub-Project 34 02

• Implemented by BD Rice Research Institute (BRRI)
  with local NGO partner
• Trials were conducted in farmers fields in one
  district (N 20 farmers, then 35)
• Results for both seasons were positive no
  detailed data on 2nd season
• SRI results were found to be better than both FP
  and BRRI practices

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Table 3 Agronomic performance
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Table 4 Comparative yields, returns, and BCR of
SRI, BRRI and FP
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SOCIO-ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE

• SRI yields and net returns were 49 higher than
  FP and 4 higher than BRRI
• Farmers perceptions in the area toward SRI were
  positive also many farmers started their own
  partial adoption of SRI
• SRI was considered as specially suitable for
  resource-poor farmers

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Findings from Sub-Project 35 02

• Implemented by BRRI with NGO partner in three
  districts
• Trials were conducted both on research station
  and in farmers fields (N 32 farmers, and then
  39 farmers)
• SRI yields in one district were 17.5 higher
  than under FP during 1st season
• In 2nd season, SRI yields were 13 to 20 greater

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Further Findings from Sub-Project 35 02

• In the two other districts, 1st season SRI
  yields were less than FP, but then they were
  higher during the 2nd season
• SRI costs were higher than FP in these trials
• - Labour costs 19 higher
• - Irrigation cost 33 higher

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Summary of SP 35 02 Findings

• Average net returns from SRI were similar to FP
• Many of the SRI practices were followed
  incorrectly, which affected the results
• Farmers perception of SRI was reported to be
  mixed
• However, farmer opinion was said to be universal
  in favour of improved practices (modified SRI)
• DAE and other extension organizations working
  with project are showing interest to disseminate
  SRI
• Many local farmers have already started partial
  adoption of SRI
• Report recommends further field verification of
  SRI

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SRI NATIONAL WORKSHOP, 2003

• Seven papers presented - 3 by BRRI staff, and
  4 by NGO/ DAE extension specialists
• Two BRRI papers did not have much positive to
  report, but the 3rd was highly encouraging
• NGO/ DAE papers found encouraging results
• Gap between views of scientists and extension
  specialists was apparent
• The farmers present expressed firmly positive
  views on SRI

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WORKSHOP RECOMMENDATIONS

• Initiate integrated and coordinated approach to
  evaluation and extension involving farmers,
  scientists and extension workers ( GO/NGO)
• Conduct further trials and experiments on SRI to
  determine its potential in BD
• Seek donor assistance for the above

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Some Limitations of SRI and Evaluation

• Trials were conducted for a short period
• Lack of proper understanding of SRI
• In some cases, faulty application was made of SRI
  practices
• Lack of organic manure
• Problems faced in irrigation management
• Proper weeding not done to save costs
• Cost-effectiveness required in weeding

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OVERALL FINDINGS ON SRI IN BD

• Overall experience shows encouraging picture
• Agronomic findings are favourable with more
  tillers, effective tillers, larger panicles, more
  filled grain, etc.
• Grain quality was also found to be better
• Yield increases were significant in most cases,
  up to 49 higher than yields with FP
• Profitability was much higher, up to 82 more
• Farmers perception was highly positive many
  also have adopted partial SRI on their own
• Extension personnel (GO/NGO) have positive
  attitude
• Some scientists have taken a positive attitude,
  some others are still skeptical no consensus

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CONCLUSION

• SRI has shown its potential for improving yield
  and profits of farmers in Bangladesh
• Gap still persists between results of researchers
  on-station and farmers fields
• Further trials and experimentation on various
  aspects of SRI are needed
• Government and donor support for more SRI
  trials can be well justified
• GO/NGO collaboration is also needed

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THANK YOU