SRI-UPDATE #20 - February 2009
To: SRI-RICE-L@cornell.edu
From: Norman Uphoff
Subject: SRI-UPDATE #20 (February 17, 2009)Dear SRI-RICE-L subscriber,
The following material is part of the SRI UPDATE series being sent out occasionally throughout the year. In this issue, you will find updates about the numerous SRI efforts throughout the world.The numbered listing of sections provides an overview of this Update, so you can see quickly what items are included. More information is then given below, and full reports or pictures can be accessed from the SRI home page. To subscribe to the announcement list (INSTEAD of this interactive SRI discussion list to which you are currently subscribed), see http://ciifad.cornell.edu/sri/listservs/index.html#update.
-Norman Uphoff
for CIIFAD SRI Group
1. INDONESIA: Broad Support for S.R.I. at National Workshop
2. INDONESIA: Asian Development Bank Makes First Loan for SRI
3. INDIA: 3rd National SRI Symposium Held at Tamil Nadu Agric. Univ.
4. INDIA: SRI Network Launched in State of Bihar
5. CHINA: Over 200,000 Hectares of SRI in Sichuan Province in 2008
6. IRAQ: SRI Program Continues to Expand
7. FRANCE: Television Report on SRI in Madagascar on TF1 Channel
8. JAPAN: WB Development Learning Center - SRI Teleconference
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1. INDONESIA: BROAD SUPPORT FOR S.R.I. AT NATIONAL WORKSHOP
The Ministry of Agriculture's Directorate of Land Management hosted a national workshop in Jakarta, October 20-21, in collaboration with several other organizations including the Indonesian Association for SRI (Ina-SRI). The event was opened by the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Anton Apriyantono, who pledged his Ministry's support for SRI dissemination in Indonesia.
The first day, attended by over 300 farmers from Aceh province in the west to Papua in the east, was devoted to farmer reports on field experience with SRI methods from across Indonesia. The second day, there were talks by many eminent personalities from government, NGOs and the private sector. Workshop participants agreed that SRI should be accepted and implemented in Indonesia, with strong support from farmers, scientists, NGOs, private sector, and government agencies and from provincial, district and local governments. A somewhat longer report is posted at: http://ciifad.cornell.edu/sri/countries/indonesia/index.html
2. INDONESIA: ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK MAKES FIRST LOAN FOR SRI
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to provide US$ 3 million in loans to support rice development in three districts of West Java through the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), starting in 2009. The investment will be handled through the Ministry's Directorate of Land Management, which has been supporting farmer training for organic SRI production with its own funds since 2007. Announcement can be found at: http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2008/10/22/adb-ready-to-provide-30-m-loan-for-ris-rice-development/
3. INDIA: 3RD NATIONAL SRI SYMPOSIUM HELD AT TAMIL NADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
December 1-3, over 350 persons coming from almost every state and territory of India participated in this third in a series of symposia that brings together farmers, NGO practitioners, researchers, policy makers, journalists and others to exchange experience and information on SRI practice from practically every state of India. The event was hosted by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) at Coimbatore, with support from the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), the central government’s National Food Security Mission, and the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and co-sponsorship by a number of institutions.
The India-SRI network put out a special issue of its newsletter (#3) before the Symposium [http://sri-india.110mb.com/documents/SRI_NL_Issue_III_08.pdf] providing background articles and information, and the most recent newsletter (#4) contains reports on the discussions and from farmers and other participants. [http://sri-india.110mb.com/documents/SRI_NL_Issue_4.pdf]
4. INDIA: SRI NETWORK LAUNCHED IN STATE OF BIHAR
A meeting was convened in Patna, December 29, with over 135 participants from all over this state, from NGOs, government agencies, research institutions and private sector, and particularly from the self-help group (SHG) federations that are playing an active role in SRI dissemination. The meeting was organized by a private consulting firm which has many pro bono activities, BASIX, together with the Women Development Corporation of the state government's Dept. of Welfare. Minutes are at: http://ciifad.cornell.edu/sri/countries/india/inBiharSymposium122908.pdf
BASIX has developed an innovative strategy, signing up farmers, even small and poor ones, for SRI training and supervision throughout the season for a set fee, 300 rupees plus tax (about $7). Farmers can recover this amount several times over from their net increase in farm income from SRI. This mechanism self-finances the technical backstopping that gives farmers both the knowledge and the confidence needed to undertake SRI. The Bihar SRI partners expect to establish a ‘learning alliance’ similar to that in the state of Orissa, as documented in: http://sri-india.110mb.com/documents/SRI_in_Orissa.pdf.
5. CHINA: OVER 200,000 HECTARES OF SRI IN SICHUAN PROVINCE IN 2008
Dr. Zheng Jiaguo from the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences has provided data from Sichuan province, which has become the leading province in China for SRI utilization. There was almost a doubling of SRI area in 2008 compared with 2007, with also a higher average yield increment from SRI methods (1.7 tons/ha) and an increase in net financial returns from SRI use. [http://ciifad.cornell.edu/sri/countries/china/index.html].
6. IRAQ: SRI PROGRAM CONTINUES TO EXPAND
Dr. Khidhir Hameed at the Al-Mishkhab Rice Research Station near Najaf has sent in a report on SRI training and results for 2008: [http://ciifad.cornell.edu/sri/countries/iraq/IraqHameedRpt08.pdf]. A report on an SRI field day conducted in October has been posted previously: http://ciifad.cornell.edu/sri/countries/iraq/IraqFieldDay1008.pdf
The expansion of SRI work in Iraq was made possible by a Japanese donor who learned about the initiatives of Dr. Khidhir and colleagues through the SRI website. In April-May, training on SRI methods was provided to 1,600 men and 400 women farmers in Al-Muthanna province, supplemented by 12 field demonstrations that were visited by over 1,200 farmers during the season. Training was also given to farmers on producing organic manure from farm materials.
Data from farmers in four districts of Al-Muthanna province who did controlled comparison trials showed yield increases with SRI methods ranging from 17 to 130% (ave. increase 72%). There were also experiments with mechanical transplanting at 5 sites, with 13-27% yield increases. A third area for experimentation was use of a clover cover crop as green manure which produced positive results.
7. FRANCE: TELEVISION REPORT ON SRI IN MADAGASCAR ON TF1 CHANNEL
Journalist Corinne Lalo has produced a video report on SRI in Madagascar that was broadcast on the national television channel (TF1) on October 24. It can be accessed at the following URL: http://videos.tf1.fr/video/news/0,,4136163,00-le-riz-pourra-t-il-sauver-le-monde-de-la-faim-.html#
8. JAPAN: WB DEVELOPMENT LEARNING CENTER - SRI TELECONFERENCE
On October 28 (October 27 in Ithaca, NY), the Japan/World Bank Development Learning Center in Tokyo conducted a three-hour teleconference for exchange of experience and ideas on SRI. This pilot effort to utilize video and telecommunications technologies for the dissemination of innovation involved participants in Japan, Cambodia, Indonesia and the U.S. [http://www.jointokyo.org/en/programs/catalogue/sri/]=====================================
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