System of Rice Intensification: Advancing System of Rice Intensification: Advancing Small Farmers in Mekong regionSmall Farmers in Mekong region

February, 2009

ContentsContents

1.1. Information about Thai Nguyen Information about Thai Nguyen & Phu Tho province& Phu Tho province

2.2. Achievements in the first year Achievements in the first year (2008)(2008)

3.3. Key ChallengesKey Challenges4.4. Strategies to address the Strategies to address the

challengeschallenges5.5. Lesson learntLesson learnt

Location: Location: Thai Nguyen & Phu Tho ProvinceThai Nguyen & Phu Tho Province

Partners: Partners: PPSD Thai Nguyen & PPSD Phu ThoPPSD Thai Nguyen & PPSD Phu Tho

Thai Nguyen provinceThai Nguyen province

Total rice land Total rice land : 70,144 ha: 70,144 ha Rice household: 183,543 (69.5%)Rice household: 183,543 (69.5%) Average area: Average area: 0.4 ha/household0.4 ha/household Productivity: 4.49 ton/haProductivity: 4.49 ton/ha

Phu Tho provincePhu Tho province

Total rice land Total rice land : 71,408 ha: 71,408 ha Rice household:Rice household: 223,297 (69,5%) 223,297 (69,5%) Average areaAverage area : : 0.3 ha/0.3 ha/householdhousehold ProductivityProductivity : 4.78 ton/ha : 4.78 ton/ha

Achievements in the first yearAchievements in the first year SRI is SRI is increasingly increasingly

appliedapplied over a larger area over a larger area and by a larger number and by a larger number of farmers of farmers

Local government Local government leadersleaders and farmers and farmers recognizedrecognized and and appreciatedappreciated the benefits of the benefits of SRI SRI (social, economic, (social, economic, environment, solidarityenvironment, solidarity.) .)

SRI fields and a number of SRI fields and a number of farmers applying SRI farmers applying SRI increased. There were increased. There were 534 534 farmer households applied farmer households applied SRI on SRI on 40.7 ha40.7 ha (in 15 (in 15 communes)communes)

Achievement in the first year Achievement in the first year (cont)(cont)

The The capacitycapacity of technician of technician staff and farmers has been staff and farmers has been improvedimproved

8 technical staff members8 technical staff members were trained to become were trained to become provincial trainers. provincial trainers. 120 120 farmersfarmers were trained to were trained to become farmer trainersbecome farmer trainers

Farmer-trainersFarmer-trainers applied SRI applied SRI in their plots, took part in in their plots, took part in implementing SRI implementing SRI demonstration models, and demonstration models, and provided guidance and provided guidance and technical support to other technical support to other farmersfarmers

Achievement in the first year Achievement in the first year (cont)(cont)

Increasing Increasing profitsprofits for for farmersfarmers

In comparison to In comparison to conventional practices, conventional practices, seedseed reduced by 63- 67%, reduced by 63- 67%, chemical chemical fertilizersfertilizers by by 22-33%, 22-33%, pesticidepesticide sprays sprays reduced by 1 – 2 times. reduced by 1 – 2 times. Rice Rice yields yields increased by increased by 9%, net 9%, net profitsprofits by 11,1% - by 11,1% - 13,8%. 13,8%.

Achievement in the first year Achievement in the first year (cont)(cont)

Active support Active support from from locallocal

governmentgovernment SRI program has SRI program has received active received active support from local support from local government, both in government, both in terms of terms of policy policy andand budgetingbudgeting. .

Achievement in the first year Achievement in the first year (cont)(cont)

CooperationCooperation among among farmers was improvedfarmers was improved

Through: Through: Field experiments, Field experiments,

demonstration models, demonstration models, field-day workshops, field-day workshops, exposure visits etc.exposure visits etc.

22 SRI farmers’ groups 22 SRI farmers’ groups were established and were established and managed by farmers.managed by farmers.

Key ChallengesKey Challenges

FearFear of farmers of SRI innovations: of farmers of SRI innovations: too young seedlings, transplanting too young seedlings, transplanting technique, drying out fields; technique, drying out fields; weeding… weeding…

High-yield varietiesHigh-yield varieties and and high inputshigh inputs for higher for higher productivityproductivity without without concerns of environmental protection concerns of environmental protection & net incomes& net incomes

Key Challenges (con.)Key Challenges (con.)

Difficulties in Difficulties in water managementwater management and and collaborationcollaboration

Farmers have a Farmers have a habit habit of using chemical of using chemical pesticides/herbicide and fertilizerspesticides/herbicide and fertilizers

Lack of the Lack of the local human resourcelocal human resource (quality & quantity) for implementing (quality & quantity) for implementing SRI on a large scaleSRI on a large scale

Strategies to address the challengesStrategies to address the challenges

Develop Develop strategic communication activitiesstrategic communication activities to promote application and dissemination to promote application and dissemination of SRI of SRI

Organize Organize FFS/technical trainingFFS/technical training for local for local technician staff and farmerstechnician staff and farmers

Expanding of SRI on Expanding of SRI on a larger scalea larger scale (over (over 10 ha/demonstration field)10 ha/demonstration field)

Strategies to address the challenges Strategies to address the challenges (cont)(cont)

AdvocateAdvocate the district and provincial the district and provincial authorities to support for SRI authorities to support for SRI application on a large scaleapplication on a large scale

Conduct Conduct TOTTOT for technical staff at the for technical staff at the district leveldistrict level

Encourage farmers to design and use Encourage farmers to design and use tools for weedingtools for weeding

Encourage farmers to use Encourage farmers to use bio-fertilizerbio-fertilizer Gender mainstreamingGender mainstreaming in program in program

activitiesactivities

Expectation towards 2010Expectation towards 2010

6,5006,500 household farmers apply SRI household farmers apply SRI on 3,700 ha (on 3,700 ha (10%10% of paddy land of of paddy land of Phu Tho and Thai Nguyen provinces)Phu Tho and Thai Nguyen provinces)

Lesson learntLesson learnt

Raising awarenessRaising awareness and and changing habitschanging habits of of farmers through FFS, demonstration models, farmers through FFS, demonstration models, farmers’ field experiments, exposure visits, farmers’ field experiments, exposure visits, and communication.and communication.

Maximize use of Maximize use of local potential resourceslocal potential resources through participation of local government through participation of local government agencies, cooperatives, mass organizations agencies, cooperatives, mass organizations and farmers’ groupsand farmers’ groups

Lesson learnt Lesson learnt (cont)(cont)

Applying Applying farmer to farmer to farmerfarmer extension extension through training through training core farmers to core farmers to become SRI become SRI farmer-farmer-trainers/facilitatorstrainers/facilitators

Thank youThank you for for

your attentionyour attention