SRI Global News: Nov. 2024 - Jan. 2025 *SRI-Rice -- System of Rice Intensification

At the COP26 in Glasgow, an event by Panama's Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) and Institute of Agricultural Research (IDIAP) highlighted efforts to enhance resilience and reduce emissions from the agriculture sector. The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) was included in the presentation. IDIAP began adapting SRI in 2016 in response to climate change. Yields increased from 2.9 to 5.7 t/ha while water and seed use were reduced, which  generated farmer interest.

 MIDA is also working on developing a Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) with support from Euroclima+. Executed by IICA, the project uses farmer field schools (FFS) to encourage innovation and practices that set a strong foundation for an eventual transition to SRI.

IDIAP is part of a new SRI project, More Productive and Sustainable Rice for Latin America, led by INIA of Chile and supported by FONTAGRO. The project, which includes Chile, Argentina, Venezuela and Panama, emphasizes farmer innovation to support the socio-cultural changes required to adjust conventional practices. In Panama, the goal is to engage 900 farmers and 210 mechanized farmers across 7 provinces and 3 indigenous regions to employ SRI.

El proyecto busca aumentar la productividad del cultivo del arroz a través del uso del SICA, mejorando las condiciones productivas, sustentabilidad, rentabilidad y seguridad alimentaria de la AF de Chile, Venezuela, Panamá y Argentina. Atendiendo la demanda social por alimentos producidos en sistemas de manejo sustentables, que consideren la preservación de los recursos naturales con un menor impacto ambiental. Implementando y escalando un conjunto de prácticas de manejo específicas para cada región que permitan una mayor adaptación del cultivo al cambio climático.