Two years in, the SRI Tanzania project has made a significant impact on the lives of 2,880 farmers, with a 30-40% increase in yield and an approximately 90% reduction in seed usage.
The emphasis of the Norad-funded project SRI Tanzania is on the promotion of the climate-smart agriculture System of Rice Intensification (SRI) methods. The project is currently being implemented in five districts in Tanzania by the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) and the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI).
NIBIO’s CEO Ivar Horneland Kristensen reflected on the project’s wider potential: “On a larger scale, if all two million rice farmers in Tanzania adopted this approach, the impact would be transformative. Tanzania could not only secure its own food supply but also help feed six neighbouring countries, improving lives and bolstering regional and global food security,” he says.
Rice farmers have expressed their satisfaction with the project of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Tanzania that helps them withstand the effects of climate change and reduce production costs; at the same time, productivity is double that of conventional agriculture. This was stated during the SRI Stakeholders Annual workshop held in Mbeya Region on January 24 through 27, 2024, at the centre of Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute - TARI Uyole. While sharing his testimony, Mr. Filbert Kadebe a farmer from Mkula scheme found in Kilombero District, Morogoro Region, said that with SRI he managed to reduce cost by using 2 to 3 kilograms of seeds per hectare from the 30 kilograms he used to plant. Kadebe continued say that in SRI, with mat nursery technology it’s much easier for farmers to simplify the transplanting exercise as well as managing to transplant a single seedling.
The SRI project is implemented by the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Bio economy research (NIBIO) and the Swamination Research Institute (MSSRF) based in India.
SRI-Rice's insight:
The above link goes to the TARI home page. Once there you can find the article described above.
In Tanzania, social capital was a key contributor to the success of the implementation of System of Rice Intensification (SRI), as part of the activities the Agricultural Council of Tanzania (ACT) implemented in the framework of the Farmers’ Organizations for Africa, Caribbean, and the Pacific Programme. Recently the adoption of this method has achieved exponential gains. As this experience illustrates, forging positive relations between farmers was a critical component.
The Agricultural Council of Tanzania (ACT) took great care in creating the conditions that would ensure as many people as possible could benefit from adopting SRI. One important aspect was the farmer-to-farmer approach. ACT implemented a participatory and inclusive approach. Participation was open to anyone interested and the farmer-to-farmer approach was adopted.
Water scarcity and nutrient availability for rice farming have become great matters of concern in the contexts of climate change and land use change globally. The objective of this study was to understand the on-farm potential response of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorous (TP) to water management practices in rice farming within the Kilombero Valley, Tanzania. Soil samples were collected from three villages at four depths. Four water management regimes: A = traditional flooding (rainfed) without intensification of rice farming; B = traditional flooding (rainfed) involving a system of rice intensification (SRI); C = alternative wetting and drying (AWD) involving SRI for one cropping season; D = abandoned fields (fallow); and E = AWD involving SRI for two cropping seasons, were investigated as regards their impact on SOC, TN, and TP. There were significant (p < 0.05) effects of water management regimes on SOC, TN, and TP. AWD involving SRI for one cropping season indicated a positive effect on SOC and TN across all depths as compared to other practices. We conclude that water management practice that involves AWD with SRI for one cropping season is a plausible approach to maintaining high SOC and TN, with the potential for increasing crop production while minimizing water consumption.
Silicon (Si), the second most abundant element available in the earth's crust, is a beneficial element for rice crop growth. A study was conducted in Mkindo irrigation scheme, Mvomero District, Morogoro, Tanzania, to assess the Silicon status in rice grown under the System of Rice Intensification and continuous flooding at various growth stages. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD): T1 was alternate wetting and drying using SRI and T2 was continuous flooding; treatments were replicated three times with variety SARO 5 (TXD 306). ... Si content in rice seeds observed prior to the experiment was 6.76%. Si content in rice grains gradually increased during reproductive stage and later dropped during harvest. Si content in rice plant leaves increased significantly from vegetative to ripening stage whereby the highest Si content was recorded in T1 (12.37%) while T2 recorded the lowest value (10.15%). The authors concluded that the alternate wetting and drying field conditions enhances adequate uptake of Si compared to continuous flooding practices.
...technologies that raise farmers’ crop productivity while mitigating risk exposure are particularly valuable. This study assesses the impact of a variant of the system of rice intensification (SRI) on expected yields, yield variance (variability) and yield skewness (exposure to downside risk) in Tanzania. The appeal of the technology lies in its yield-enhancing potential, its low demand for complementary external inputs as well as its drought resistance features. Our empirical strategy relies on the estimation of marginal treatment effect (MTE) models. We find that, while the average effects on adopters suggest that SRI enhances yield and reduces the downside risk of crop failure, the marginal treatment effects indicate that only farmers with low resistance to adoption, benefit. Our analysis also highlights the importance of farmers’ climate perception for the adoption of SRI and the need for policies that increase climate awareness to ensure food security.
This study applied a Monte Carlo simulation approach to assess the economic feasibility of alternative rice farming systems in Tanzania while considering risk analysis for decision-makers with different risk preferences to make better management decisions. The rice farming systems in this study comprise rice farms using traditional practices and those using some or all of the recommended system of rice intensification (SRI) practices. Despite climate variability, in Tanzania, it is still possible for rice farmers to increase food production by using improved technologies, particularly SRI management practices. The findings of this study have vital policy implications for Tanzania′s government as it aims to end hunger and reduce poverty by 50% in 2025 through doubling agricultural production. Considering that rice is one of the crops targeted to drive Tanzania out of hunger and poverty, the results of this study suggest the benefits of investing in improved rice farming technologies, particularly SRI principles. The application of SRI practices has demonstrated the potential to increase rice yields and income of farmers. Rivers and nine basins suitable for rice production in Tanzania could produce more rice.
Improvement of irrigation infrastructure in Mbeya Region has increased the area of irrigated land from 49,117 hectares in 2018 to 71,890 hectares this year, thanks to the initiative made by the government through the National Irrigation Commission (NIRC) . …A senior agricultural officer from NIRC, Mnadi Taribo said that the commission has been providing training on new methods of rice farming called 'system of rice intensification (SRI)’. According to him, the new system of rice farming doubles rice production per acre, citing Madibira scheme as one example whereby through SRI production has increased to 9.3 tonnes per hectare, from 7.2 tonnes per hectare (traditional farming). In Uturo scheme, the SRI method increased production to 13 tonnes per hectare from 5.7 tonnes (traditional farming). Taribo further explained that SRI methods help increase yields by over 30 percent while using 40 percent less water than conventional methods.
GODFREY Pascal is one of young rice growers in Kilosa District who are benefiting from the Partnership for Sustainable Rice Systems Development in Sub-Saharan Africa project. ...He describes that project and the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) as a game-changer due to the fact that it triples rice production per acre which in turn addresses food securtiy and poverty.
How learning new ways of farming from the youth in his community doubled the rice production of a 63-year old farmer... Students in Junior Farmer Field and Life Schools received training from FAO in System of Rice Intensification (SRI). The young students then taught these methods to other farmers like Zablon. “The young people taught me how to select the best seeds, how to establish a good nursery and about the best time for sowing. They also taught me how to space the seedlings for good results,” Zablon discloses, adding: “This is all new to me! You know, such young minds are still active and productive. So I listen to them.”
In Tanzania, rice farmers who have long experienced extreme weather events are harnessing climate-smart agricultural techniques to boost their yields, whilst curbing environmental degradation. The 5-year project on Strengthening the Capacity for Climate Change Adaptation through Sustainable Land and Water Management is run by Sokoine University of Agriculture with support from FAO.
Mwajuma Kassim is a rice farmer in Kidugalo village, eastern Morogoro, where more than 3,000 farmers have adopted the System of Rice Intensification. Mwanaidi Msungu, another farmer in the same village who is applying the SRI technique on her 4 ha farm, explains that she was a laughing stock when she started applying the method 2 years ago. “Those who were laughing at me are now the ones who beg me to teach them. I have reaped 57 bags of rice in 2019. I hardly got 15 bags when using the traditional method,” she says.
With support from the Government of Venezuela, FAO implemented the Partnership for Sustainable Rice System Development in Africa project, which facilitated the introduction of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI). The project is being implemented in three districts (Kilombero, Kilosa and Mvomero) in the Morogoro region which covers five irrigation schemes.
Zanzibar’s Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Natural Resources, Rashid Ali Juna, revealed that Zanzibar archipelago is set to achieve 60-percent rice self-sufficiency by increasing productivity in the next two years...” We are encouraging farmers to venture into a System of Rice Intensification to boost production so that we reduce rice importation as we’re doing now” he said. Mariam Juma, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Natural Resources described SRI as one of the best farming techniques aimed at increasing rice yields, adding that it is low water, labour-intensive method that uses younger seedlings singly spaced and typically hand weeded with special tools.
The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is an environmentally sustainable farming method which has enabled growers from the Kapunga Village in Tanzania’s Mbarali district to boost their income and nutrition. Under the Capacity Building Related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements project in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Countries-Phase III (ACP MEAs 3) funded by the EU, the FAO project aims to support local farmers by training them in adopting SRI.
The initiative encourages smallholders to participate in Farmer Field Schools (FFSs), offering them group plots of land and SARO 5 seeds to practice SRI. ACP MEAs 3 helps farmers transition to more resilient and productive agrifood systems by offering training and capacity building in ecosystem-based practices that promote the sustainable resource management, protect the environment, and improve food security.
FAO video from Tanzania: System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is a rice farming technique that uses less, water, fewer seeds and produces higher yields. SRI benefits environmental conservation and increases farmers income. [The FAO-assisted activities described in the video are connected to the EU-funded Multilateral Environmental Agreements in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP MEAs 3)].
The study assesses agricultural water productivity (AWP) values for paddy farming in terms of both physical (Kg/m3) and economic (US$/m3) in the conventional transplant and flooding system (CTFS), the system of rice intensification (SRI), and the Kilombero Plantation Limited (KPL) mechanized system. Findings showed that rainfed systems have good (AWP), leading the authors to recommend a rollout of rainfed SRI to secure local food security and downstream ecosystem services, although the authors believe that adoption of SRI will require intensive demonstration that needs public financing.
The results showed that SRI systems have better AWP due to high yields and low water uses. In addition, it was found that irrigation does not have a substantial leap in harvests in the wetland areas being studied. Hence, rainfed systems score better values, especially SRI, providing a plural benefit that includes downstream ecosystem integrity. Furthermore, due to early planting in rainfed SRI, farmers secure competitive market prices in early harvests hence better economic water productivity (EWP). The authors suggest that farmers should be trained and encouraged to practice SRI (especially rainfed), which secures better AWP and serves more for downstream uses, reducing water use conflicts and sustaining the ecosystem.
African Wildlife Foundation (AWF)-supported farmers in Kilombero are adopting conservation-friendly practices that boost agricultural yield and prevent deforestation. One of the biggest drivers of forest degradation in Africa is agriculture. As the population sand the demand for food increases, we are clearing more trees to make way for farmland. ...But the trade-off between forests and food is false. A community in Southern Tanzania is leading the way in embracing a new way of farming that not only protects the precious remaining forest resources, it also improves their incomes.
Dorotea Simo Magina, a 30-year-old mother of three lives in Kilombero District where she farms two acres of rice. For two years, she has been practicing a different kind of farming-- System of Rice Intensification. Using fewer seeds and less water, Dorotea has more than triple her harvest.
EfD researchers have studied the effects of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Kilombero, a major rice-growing region in Tanzania. SRI can increase yields while reducing inputs (seeds, water, and inorganic fertilizers) [and can] produce crops that are more resilient to extreme weather events, pests, and disease. Why then are so many Tanzanian farmers reluctant to adopt this method? Mare Sarr says “For one thing, this is a method that requires a lot of man-hours for activities such as field preparation, setting up and taking care of the nursery, sorting seeds, planting, and weeding. However, there is also evidence that, as farmers learn the new techniques, it becomes labor-saving after some 4-5 years”. So, what could policymakers do to encourage farmers to adopt SRI? “Success relies a lot on training and extension services. Government agencies should provide help and training and also encourage networking and cooperation between farmers. To be truly motivated to switch to this method, you also need to be fully aware of the impacts of climate change. So, investing in easily available technologies for weather reporting would be very valuable”
RESEARCHERS from the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) have challenged the ministry of agriculture to introduce the system of rice intensification (SRI) across the country to improve yields as well as farmers’ welfare.
In a bid to boost agriculture production, the government has managed to increase irrigation areas by 233,715 hectares in the past five years.
The National Irrigation Commission (NIRC), Acting Director General, Mr Daudi Kaali, noted "NIRC has been able to rehabilitate 179 irrigation schemes' infrastructures in a period of five years, most of these were supported through System of Rice Intensification (SRI)."
...Efforts to improve rice productivity in Njage village in Tanzania's Iringa region have been ongoing for several years. The system of rice intensification (SRI) was introduced in 2009 through the collective efforts of the district extension services, Kilombero Plantation Limited (KPL), USAID, and others. The combined effect of using SRI the variety SARO 5 has improved rice productivity from 10 bags/acre on average, to up to 35–40 bags (8600–9800 Kg/ha).
Improved rice productivity attracted the interest of USDA, World bank and local NGOs to support Njage rice farmers under CWAUNJA, a rice farmer irrigation scheme association, in their efforts to improve irrigation, storage and processing infrastructure.
Adoption of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) has transformed farmers’ livelihoods in Rukwa and Katavi regions by doubling rice production per acre, thanks to the second-phase of Tanzania Agricultural Partnership (TAP II) initiative.
Tanzania’s Government launched the Expanding Rice Production Project (ERPP) in 2015 to boost rice production, increase food security and strengthen the country’s agricultural sector. The ERPP, which commenced in Morogoro and Zanzibar, is focused on improving agricultural practices for small-scale farmers and farms run by women. Farmers learned a new farming technique called System of Rice Intensification (SRI), which increased rice productivity. More than 13,000 people had benefited from the program as of December 2017, with rice farmers tripling production. By strengthening agriculture, and increasing food security, smallholder farmers will have less of a risk of falling back into poverty because fluctuation in food prices will decrease. The ERPP is expected to help 165,345 people by the end of the program in late April 2020.
Tanzanians who participated in the System of Rice Intensification training shared their stories of how a new rice growing system improved their lives. A bottom-up and more inclusive approach led to a successful outcome. Tanzania is one of the participating countries in the “Partnership for Sustainable Rice Systems Development in Sub-Saharan Africa” project within the framework of South-South Cooperation. Tanzania has achieved a tremendous impact on farmers in five irrigation schemes’ regional districts. Besides Tanzania, the project supported Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea Conakry, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Uganda.
Rice production is important for global food security but given its large water footprint, efficient irrigation management strategies need to be developed. Expansion of rice growing area is larger than any other crop in Africa due to increasing demand for rice. Three rice irrigation management alternatives with the system of rice intensification (SRI) were field-evaluated against the conventional continuously flooded system (CF) in Tanzania. Production systems included: (1) CF (50 mm ponding depth for the entire season); (2) SRI (40 mm ponding for 3 days and no irrigation for next 5 days); (3) 80% SRI (80% of the SRI ponding); and (4) 50% SRI (50% of the SRI ponding). Statistically, the 80% SRI treatment outperformed all other treatments over the two seasons with an additional yield of 1.57 tons/ha and 33% (345 mm) water savings compared to the CF. Economic productivity of water (US$/ha-cm) over two seasons was highest for the 80% SRI ($20.27/ha-cm), while it was lowest for the CF ($12.89/ha-cm). Water saved by converting from the CF to the 80% SRI (1.98 million ha-cm) can support a 50% expansion in the current rice irrigated area in Tanzania. Even without irrigation expansion, the 80% SRI can increase rice production by 1.5 million tons annually while enhancing water availability for industrial and environmental uses (e.g., ecological preserves) and help achieve food security in Tanzania and the greater sub-Saharan Africa
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