zambia mid-term sri field report to us embassy 2012

THE U.S. AMBASSADOR’S SPECIAL SELF-HELP (SSH) PROGRAMIN WEST BANK OF ZAMBEZI DISTRICT

SRI Mid-term Field Progress ReportThe information in this report was written by CSRII for the Special Self-Help (SSH) of the U.S. Ambassador in Zambia which has supported CSRII work.

This report provides information on field activities for SRI development at the local level in the West Bank of Zambezi district.

Zambezi West Bank: SRI demo field of rice plants at three months

Projects are to

be of a high-

impact nature,

benefiting the

greatest number of

people possible

with any single

activity.

Meeting the principal objectives of the Special Self-Help Program (SSH),:

The impact is here observed from the 2011-12 farming season where 16 SRI demo fields have been developed in West Bank of Zambezi district. This has involved 12 women’s clubs, a youth club and an old-aged club. 300 local people have adapted SRI as a starting point.


Meeting the principal objectives of Special Self-Help Program (SSH):

The largest and most pervasive requirement for SRI adoption is change in farmers’ thinking and willingness to change. Farmers need a certain amount of skill and motivation to use SRI techniques successfully.

A project must be

within the community’s

ability to maintain and

operate.


A successful project should

also demonstrate the likelihood that it will be

sustained over a long period.



There are 14 community-based clubs that have become growers undertaking to establish the best rice crop stand possible and to maintain the same in the best possible condition observing best SRI cropping practice for seed multiplication.

A project should help

improve basic economic or

social conditions at

the local community or village level,

and have long-lived value.

Meeting the principal objectives of Special Self-Help Program (SSH),:


The project has provided low-input technology for SRI growers, which should be flexibly applied based on the enabling factors and farm conditions.

A project should help

improve basic economic or

social conditions at

the local community or village level,

and have long-lived value.



The project has designed low-input technology for SRI growers, which should be flexibly applied based on the enabling factors and farm conditions.

Contributions may include

labor, materials (bricks, sand, gravel, seeds,

etc.), land, buildings, or

money to ensure the success of the

project. ”



There is overwhelming commitment from local SRI farmers in ensuring soil biological activity based on the concept “grow the soil, and the soil will grow the plants”.

Meeting the principal objectives of Special Self-Help Program (SSH):Contributions

may include labor, materials (bricks, sand, gravel, seeds,


money to ensure the success of the project.


As part of self-help initiative, using learning-by-practicing method to build human capacity in response to local application of SRI, local farmers prepare seedling nursery in different approaches. Local farmers are managing on their own to produce healthy seedlings for transplanting -- a practice that is expected to help the small farmers to significantly increase their rice yields.

Meeting the principal objectives of Special Self-Help Program (SSH):Contributions may include

labor, materials (bricks, sand, gravel, seeds,




Local farmers are contributing their own efforts in using learning-by-practicing method, transplanting young seedlings, transplanting single seedling per clump, carefully and with shallow rooting.

Meeting the principal objectives of Special Self-Help Program (SSH):Contributions

may include labor, materials (bricks, sand, gravel, seeds,




The project promotes ownership of the activities they carry out at the farm-level. As part of social-economic responsibility at their levels, farmers participate in their own food preparation, eaten to give them strength while working in their farms.

Meeting the principal objectives of Special Self-Help Program (SSH): As part of an ongoing

commitment by the U.S. government to support Zambian-

driven development activities on a

local level.


At mid-term the focus is on farming activities in the vegetative growth stage of the SRI rice demo-fields for the women‘s clubs. There is still a final report to come in August this year, to present end-of-season results focusing, among other things, on plant height, tiller number per hill, panicles per hill, spikelets per panicle, % of filled spikelets, flag leaf area, grain length, grain width, root systems, threshing, and quantities harvested. For that reason, assessment of the fields still continues.


SRI VISION IN ZAMBIA

SRI MISSION IN ZAMBIABuild capacity of human resources with competence. knowledge and skills to implement SRI at all levels -- from national to farm community, Regulate the standards and certify rice grown with SRI methods in ZambiaSupport global marketing initiatives for rice grown with SRI methods in ZambiaPromote and support the development of necessary infrastructure required to advance rice-growing with SRI methods in ZambiaRaise awareness on the benefits and the importance of SRI to policy makers, government institutions, development partners, and farmers. Develop all required documents and disseminating to all relevant stakeholders to be used as basis for SRI implementation,

Spread one of the most modern rice farming methodologies in Zambia and to other African countries


SIX BEST PRACTICES OF SRI

Transplant young seedlings (<15 days, with just 2 leaves) Set out plants singly with wider spacing In a square pattern (25x25cm or more) and Planted shallow, gently, and quickly -- No continuous flooding during the period of vegetative growth, with either (a) minimum daily applications, or (b) alternate wetting and drying –keeping soil mostly moist but not inundated After panicle initiation, maintain a thin layer of water (1-2 cm) on field until 10 days before harvest


KEY BENEFITS OF SRI NO NEED to change varieties -- HYVs and hybrids can give the highest

yields with SRI methods, but local varieties can produce 3-12 t/ha with SRI methods

LESS SEED is used, because plant populations (plant density) will be greatly reduced(less by 70-80%); fewer plants well- managed will give more yield than several times more plants casually managed

NO NEED for use of chemical fertilizers -- while these can raise rice yield with SRI, the best results are achieved with compost or other organic fertilization of the soil

NO NEED to apply agrochemicals -- pesticides, fungicides, etc., are usually not necessary -- farmers find that these are not economical as SRI plants are usually resistant to pests/diseases

SIGNIFICANT WATER SAVINGS – usual irrigation water can be reduced by 50% -- but need good water control to apply smaller amounts of water reliably, regularly

MORE LABOR – is needed at first, but as the SRI methods are mastered, SRI management can even become labor- saving over time

MORE SKILL AND MANAGEMENT EFFORT are needed -- SRI is intended to improve farmers’ capabilities – SRI is knowledge-intensive and management-intensive


Increased TILLERING -- 30-50 tillers/plant, or more, if the soil and water are

well-managed Larger ROOT SYSTEMS – it can require 5-6x more force to uproot SRI plants;

one evaluation found 28 kg of force was needed to pull up 3 regular plants in a hill

vs. 53 kg to uproot single SRI plants Bigger PANICLES -- 200-300 grains/panicle, or more Positive correlation between the number of panicles and panicle size --contrary to the negative relationship commonly reported – SRI can give more and bigger panicles GRAIN QUALITY -- fewer unfilled grains and fewer broken grains when milling the paddy, so one can get a higher milled outturn of polished rice from one’s paddy (unhusked) production RESISTANCE to pests, diseases, storms and drought as plants remain healthier with their deeper root systems and stronger tillers; LODGING is rare; also RATOON crop is possible HIGHER YIELDS – average of 3-6 t/ha, even up to 15 t/ha or more PRODUCTIVITY gains – from all inputs (land, labor, water, capital) -- more important

than yield

REMARKABLE RESULTS OF SRI: UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL

THANK YOU!!!

For SRI information, contact details:Centre for System of Rice Intensification Initiative (CSRII)

Corner Savenda/Nyangongo RoadHNN Village, Mize Royal Capital

P.O. Box 150109Zambezi, ZAMBIA

Phone: +260- 977- 172359 E-mail: [email protected], or

[email protected]

or

check out the SRI home page:

http://ciifad.cornell.edu/sri/

including a Zambia SRI country page:http://sri.ciifad.cornell.edu/countries/zambia/index.html


(Prepared and presented by: Henry Ngimbu, SRI specialist and advocate-Zambia)

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://ciifad.cornell.edu/sri/

http://sri.ciifad.cornell.edu/countries/zambia/index.html

zambia mid-term sri field report to us embassy 2012

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