The document discusses the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), an alternative rice growing methodology developed in Madagascar that can potentially increase rice production while benefiting poor farmers and the environment. SRI involves transplanting young seedlings with wide spacing in unsaturated, aerated soil and can double or triple yields compared to conventional methods using fewer inputs like water, seeds, and fertilizer. Field trials in multiple countries found SRI increased average yields from 2-7 tons/hectare compared to conventional methods. SRI principles aim to help rice plants achieve their genetic yield potential through improved soil and plant management practices tailored to local conditions.

1. Potential Contributions of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) for Increasing Production with Pro-Poor Orientation and Environmental Benefits Norman Uphoff Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development (CIIFAD) in association with Sathguru Management Consultants For presentations in Chennai, Coimbatoir, Hyderabad and New Delhi, India, May 9-14, 2002

10. The methodology raises many interesting questions that invite scientific study. But we have been seeing remarkable results from SRI methods in farmers' hands . Farmers often are getting better results from SRI methods than researchers do in their on-station trials.

11. In Madagascar , where yields average 2-2.5 t/ha, 100s of farmers in 2 programs (USAID and French) have averaged 8-9 t/ha over a 5-year period.

12. In China , the first SRI trials gave 9.2 to 10.5 t/ha . Although these levels can be achieved in China with the best varieties and best techniques, these take twice as much water as applied with SRI. SRI method used with hybrid rice varieties has given yields in the 12-15 t/ha range.

14. In Cambodia and Myanmar , where conventional yields are even lower than in Madagascar (2 t/ha), farmers using SRI have averaged 5 t/ha or more with NGO guidance.

16. In Sri Lanka , where the average yield is about 3.5 t/ha, farmers have averaged 8 t/ha with SRI, with a few farmers achieving much higher yields.

17. In Bangladesh , also with 3.5 t/ha average yields, stagnant for some years, farmers working with CARE and and the Dept. of Agricultural Extension attained 6.5 to 7.5 t/ha with SRI techniques.

18. In The Gambia , 10 farmers split their fields to compare the results using SRI and conventional methods. SRI gave them yields of 7.4 t/ha compared to 2.5 t/ha with their usual practices.

21. In Sri Lanka and Madagascar , some farmers have achieved yields in the range of 15 to 20 t/ha once they have built up the quality of their soils. The maximum potentials of SRI methodology remain to be realized.

31. Rice root cross-sections for upland and irrigated varieties (Puard et al. 1989)