Learn how the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) can help small-scale rice farmers increase yields, reduce water use, and build healthier soils in a changing climate. In this training, ECHO Asia staff walk through the core SRI principles and show how farmers in Thailand and across Asia are adapting SRI to their local contexts. Learn more about ECHO Asia and our Small Farm Resource Center & Seed Bank at ECHOcommunity.org.
The Mukti Sadaya Organic Rice Farming Group in Tasikmalaya, West Java, is a major adopter of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI). Since 2021, a pilot project has introduced microbial bioinoculants, including Trichoderma strains, to improve plant health and control pests. Field trials with farmers showed promising results, with yield increases of 40–60% and reduced disease incidence. Building on these successes and supported by the Henri de Laulanié Prize, the project is now scaling up to reach more farmers, strengthen training programs, and promote early disease detection. This initiative aims to enhance rice productivity and support more resilient, sustainable SRI farming systems in Indonesia.
Côte d’Ivoire has secured a US$50 million climate finance package from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to help thousands of smallholder farmers adapt to climate change and improve food crop resilience. The funding will support the Enhancing Sustainable Land Management and Climate-Resilient Agri-food Systems in Côte d’Ivoire (LARACI) project to promote climate-smart practices, including cassava-legume intercropping, wider adoption of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) to increase water-use efficiency and lower methane emissions, and climate-smart yam staking techniques.
The five-year project brings together the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, CGIAR and the country’s Interprofessional Fund for Agricultural Research and Advice (FIRCA) to scale proven climate solutions across the regions of N’Zi, Moronou, Iffou, La Mé and Gbêkê.
We evaluate water-saving and low-emission rice management practices, alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and system of rice intensification (SRI), compared with continuous flooding across three districts in Bangladesh using an integrated climate–crop–economic modeling framework. Under warmer futures, farm net returns vary across strata, with modest gains of up to 5% in some regions but declines of up to 10% in most areas, while methane emissions increase by 12%–55%. The modeled adoption of SRI-AWD, relative to continuous conventional flooding under both current and future climate conditions, reduces methane emissions by 35% on average while improving farm income and water-use efficiency, although outcomes vary across farm populations. These results show that SRI-AWD can reduce economic losses and emissions relative to conventional management under both current and future changing climate conditions.
منصة معرفية وتطبيقية تدعم المزارعين والباحثين والمرشدين والمؤسسات في العراق لفهم وتطبيق نظام تكثيف الرز SRI عبر الأدلة والخريطة والخبراء والتدريب والبيانات الميدانية.
A new knowledge platform has been launched by the Together to Protect Human & the Environment Association, with the aim of supporting the application of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Iraq and promoting the exchange of knowledge and expertise among farmers, researchers, and organisations working in the agricultural sector. The site has an Arabic and an English version.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - In the village of Guherze, in the Amedi district of Duhok province, a generous winter of snow and rain has replenished local water sources, setting the stage for what many anticipate will be a record-breaking harvest.
Yet, this agricultural resurgence is not solely the result of favorable weather. It is the product of a multi-year strategy by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to modernize irrigation, support local farmers, and transform the region into an agricultural powerhouse.
...Recent field trials and agricultural forums in Erbil and Sulaimani have highlighted the potential of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), an approach that is attracting growing interest among farmers and policymakers alike. By employing alternate wetting and drying techniques, younger seedlings, and wider spacing, SRI has demonstrated the ability to significantly reduce water consumption while increasing crop yields.
Such innovations complement the KRG's broader investments in irrigation networks and agricultural development programs aimed at strengthening food security and supporting rural communities. As regions around the world seek to produce more food with fewer resources, the combination of modern farming practices and upgraded irrigation infrastructure is positioning the Kurdistan Region to remain competitive and resilient in the years ahead.
Africa Institute of Corporate Citizenship has expressed satisfaction with the Resilient and Sustainable Livelihood Transformation (Result) project which has helped farmers to boost their production in rice value chain in Malawi. The project seeks to develop effective, just food systems and sustainable livelihoods through strengthening the rice multi-stakeholder partnerships with specific focus on women and youths.
Speaking on Friday in Salima District, the organisation’s project officer Joana Khoriyo said, "With funding from We Effect, the Rice Value Chain project helps farmers graduate out of poverty. We are impressed with the project's progress as farmers are able to produce more rice because they use System of Rice Intensification [SRI].”
Farmers at the SISU Irrigation Scheme in Ifakara, Tanzania are achieving major improvements in rice production after hands‑on training on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), locally known as kitalu mkeka, delivered through FtMA.
Previously, farmers used 20 to 30 kg of paddy seeds to plant an acre, driving up production costs and resulting in weak seedling establishment. With SRI, they now require only 3 to 6 kg of paddy seeds per acre. This has significantly reduced seed costs by 70 to 85% while producing healthier, uniform seedlings that boost field performance. SRI has also improved crop spacing, survival rates, and overall yield potential, allowing farmers to reinvest savings into fertilizers and labor. Video from: Farm to Market Alliance - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/farmtomarketalliance/
: In Udaypur, Nepal, Mana Maya Samal used to farm the way her parents and grandparents always had: laboring in knee-deep water, pouring expensive fertilizers into the mud, and hoping the season would be kind. But today, fields tell a different story—one of a quiet revolution that is putting more food on the table and more money in the pockets of local families.
Mana is at the forefront of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), a method that seems almost counterintuitive to traditional wisdom. Instead of flooding her fields and crowding her plants, she plants fewer seedlings and feeds the soil with organic compost rather than chemicals. The shift required a leap of faith, but the reward was undeniable.
Mana’s yield doubled. "It wasn't just about growing more rice," she explains, "it was about growing it better." With SRI, her crop matures two weeks faster than usual—So she can get her rice to market before the rush, securing a better price for her family.
The beauty of this "less is more" approach is its simplicity. Mana and other female farmers in the district are saving massive water, restoring their land, and are no longer dependent pesticides, thanks to support and training from World Neighbors. For Mana and her neighbors, rice isn't just a crop—it’s the path to a more resilient, self-sufficient future.
A growing number of NGOs and government agencies have been experimenting with and promoting SRI methods throughout Zambia. Henry Ngimbu, SRI-2030 consultant, and Francesco Zampaolo, SRI-2030 Program Director, are assisting the Zambia Agriculture Research Institute to carry out SRI trials at their stations in Mongu, Mansa and Mount Makulu, which are followed by training of government extension agents. World Vision Zambia has begun Farmer Field Schools in Luapula, Northern and Muchinga Provinces.
The Kasisi Agroecology Training Center (KATC), a Jesuit entity, has established SRI training plots for staff, farmers and students to become more familiar with SRI practices. Trials with transplanted and direct-seeded SRI as well as subsequent ratoon crops have shown the value of SRI practices at KATC over the past year. Peace Corps Zambia, which carries out volunteer training at KATC is preparing materials with assistance from Henry Ngimbu and the NGO SRI Global to incorporate SRI trainings for their incoming volunteers.
In Leach commune, Pursat Province rice production is at the center of agriculture… Despite his long experience with rice production, Phon Sampat was immediately interested in working with the new local Commune Agricultural Officer (CAO), Hab Say, a young and dedicated female extension worker who helped him shift to Phka Rumduel rice and apply the seven principles of good rice farming (“Srae La’ar,” based on the System of Rice Intensification.)
Instead of the traditional dense sowing methods, Hab Say encouraged lower plant density by using less quantity but higher quality seeds. This simple change immediately halved seed costs and improved plant health. Another significant change was soil management. Phon Sampat replaced most chemical fertilizers with 350 kg of organic Morhanokor fertilizer. The soil structure and nutrient balance improved dramatically. Combined with better timing of fertilizer application, the rice plants developed stronger roots and more productive tillers. For Mr. Phon Sampat, the change has been transformative—not only financially, but in confidence. […]
A study in the journal Sustainable Futures analyzes the variables that affect farmers' decisions to adopt the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and assesses SRI's socio-economic advantages. The research investigates the adoption of SRI by examining the internal aspects (attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) and external factors (stimulus and mediation) that are affected. A survey was conducted involving 300 farmers in the districts of Sidrap, Luwu, and Maros.
Farmers that have a favorable outlook on SRI, motivated by the perceived advantages of higher crop yields, water conservation, and lower production expenses, have a greater willingness to adopt this approach. Furthermore, the involvement of external resources, such as government aid and educational initiatives, is essential in promoting the acceptance and implementation of new practices. The study also emphasizes the socio-economic benefits of adopting SRI, such as increased crop productivity, reduced production expenses, and enhanced access to healthcare and education. Based on these findings, it is recommended that policymakers shift focus from general extension services to establishing community-based demonstration plots to counter social skepticism (negative norms) and ensuring the timely provision of SRI-compatible infrastructure. These actionable measures are critical for overcoming the 'risk-averse' culture and scaling up sustainable practices.
The system of rice intensification (SRI) was implemented in Mali to boost rice productivity. The objectives of this paper are to identify the constraints faced by SRI adopters, estimate the food security index, and assess the impact of in-depth adoption of SRI on smallholder farm households’ food security. Using primary data collected on rice farm households, the study combines the multivalued treatment effect inverse probability weighted regression adjustment and the propensity score matching models for consistent and efficient impact estimates. The results show that the major constraint faced by SRI adopters is labor shortages. The results also show that SRI adoption improves rice farm households’ food security in Mali
Henri de Laulanié, S.J. (1920–95) was a French agronomist whose mission to Madagascar shows how the Jesuit way of proceeding may be applied in the ecological crisis we face today. For thirty-four years, Laulanié worked with Malagasy peasant farmers to help them become self-sufficient while restoring degraded land and protecting more land from slash-and-burn farming.
Laulanié can be placed in a four hundred-year arc of Jesuits who have confronted ecological crisis and called for regeneration. His greatest achievement was the empirical development of a new, agroecological approach to rice cultivation known as the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), which has spread to most rice-producing countries, become a Project Drawdown solution, and been included in the Nationally Determined Contributions of a dozen countries.
The European Space Agency GDA Climate Adaptation and Finance (CA&F) consortium is working with the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) to co-design an Earth Observatory (EO) demonstrator for RICOWAS, an Adaptation Fund-financed project working with around 125,000 farmers across 13 countries to scale climate-resilient rice production in West Africa by promoting the System of Rice Intensification (SRI). The planned approach centres on progressing towards a blended method, bringing geolocated ground data and open-source satellite imagery together to strengthen monitoring and evaluation. Time series of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data will be used to map rice areas to enable future assessment of productivity differences between SRI and conventional plots, with additional datasets covering climate vulnerability, land cover, and conservation status to identify any unintended consequences, such as encroachment into protected natural areas.
Learn how the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) can help small-scale rice farmers increase yields, reduce water use, and build healthier soils in a changing climate. In this training, ECHO Asia staff walk through the core SRI principles and show how farmers in Thailand and across Asia are adapting SRI to their local contexts. Learn more about ECHO Asia and our Small Farm Resource Center & Seed Bank at ECHOcommunity.org.
The Scaling-up Climate Resilient Rice Production in West Africa (RICOWAS) project has held its Annual Review and Steering Committee meeting in Nyankpala, Ghana, in early July. During 2025, 3,700 farmers were trained in System of Rice Intensification (SRI) methods and 84 SRI demo plots carried out in RICOWAS project.The project is being carried out by CSRI-SARI in 22 districts in seven regions of Ghana with the aim to reach 13,173 farmers in 2026.
Liberia is slowly adopting what experts say is a proven rice farming method that could reduce its dependence on imports. The program known as “System of Rice Intensification” (SRI) has been used successfully in other countries to increase rice yields. Now a coalition of farmers, policymakers, and international partners plans to scale it up here. “Every time you eat imported rice, you are importing poverty, and you are exporting your wealth,” said Robert Bimba who is widely regarded as the pioneer of System of Rice Intensification in Liberia. A consensus is emerging: the techniques exist, and the early results are real. Experts say Liberia’s rice revolution now depends on investment and political will.
Experts say that SRI is already delivering sharply higher yields in Liberia’s fields and has been proven at scale in places like northern Nigeria. In April at the in-country launch of the Global Hunger Index in Liberia, Umar Namadi, the governor of Jigawa State in Nigeria, where the technology helped lift rice yields from a national embarrassment to a continental benchmark, was present to share a blueprint. He said his state had embraced the SRI not as a donor project but as economic policy that, importantly, engaged private business.
Ha Tinh will continue expanding SRI, bringing the cultivation area to more than 200 hectares across 14 communes and wards, an increase of nearly 50 hectares compared with the previous season. In the 2026 summer-autumn season, Ha Tinh Province is continuing to expand the adoption of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), integrating mechanization, organic fertilizer use, and market-linked production models to improve farming efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen climate resilience. Building on the positive results achieved during the spring crop, many localities have proactively expanded rice cultivation under organic and ecological production systems. These efforts are gradually creating concentrated commercial rice-growing areas connected to businesses through product off-take partnerships.
If you have missed any of the SRI Global Research Network's webinars on System of Rice Intensification research during the several years, you can find them here: SRI Global Research Network - YouTube. Find out more about the Network itself here:
This study aimed to identify an optimized irrigation regime within the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) by reducing greenhouse gas emission and maintaining grain yield as well as increasing water-use efficiency (WUE) across three crop seasons in Bogor, Indonesia. Three irrigation regimes were applied with different water levels, i.e., Flooded with water depth in between 2-5 cm (FL), WET with 0 - 1 cm water depth, and DRY with -5 cm below the soil surface. A clear trade-off between CH4 and N2O emissions in total was observed across regimes due to differences in water status. The DRY regime significantly reduced CH4 emissions and has the lowest overall GWP, which was approximately 28% lower than the WET regime and 39% lower than the FL regime.
Although the DRY regime released N2O emissions slightly higher than the FL regime, it has significantly lower impact on climate due to the reduction in CH4 emissions. Among the regimes, grain yield did not differ significantly, with mean yields ranging from 6.05 to 6.39 t ha⁻¹ across the seasons. Moreover, the DRY regime was saving more irrigation water and gained the highest water-use efficiency, by 31 - 53% in the first season and 11 - 29% in the third season. These demonstrate that controlled water levels under the DRY scenario within SRI systems can simultaneously maintain rice productivity, enhance water-use efficiency, and reduce GHG emissions.
Something new is often initially rejected, later accepted and down the line aspired! Hear first hand from our farmer in Vikramgad, Palghar whom we introduced the SRI method of rice cultivation, to help farmers get a better yield.
KUCHING, MALAYSIA, April 16. Adnan rice cultivated in the highlands of Ba’kelalan in northern Sarawak stands as a symbol of heritage and identity for the Lun Bawang community. Passed down through generations, Adnan rice is not merely a staple food but the lifeblood of the Lun Bawang people, reflecting their close relationship with nature. In an effort to preserve this heritage, farmers in Ba’kelalan have taken proactive steps by practicing sustainable agriculture in collaboration with WWF-Malaysia through the System of Rice Intensification (SRI). Introduced in 2017, SRI not only helps conserve the environment but improves crop yields, and raises farmers’ incomes while reducing pressure to clear new forest areas for paddy cultivation and minimizing river pollution. By 2025, over 100 farmers had been trained in SRI methods.
Productores de Ñuble y Maule conocieron Jaspe FL INIA, variedad que por primera vez está disponible para las siembras de la próxima temporada. Generada por el Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias —entidad vinculada al Ministerio de Agricultura— la nueva variedad se caracteriza por ser de ciclo corto, con altos rendimientos, y por disminuir a la mitad las emisiones de metano durante su cultivo de arroz en Chile. Con la participación de cerca de 300 productores, asesores y representantes del sector, investigadores de INIA y profesionales de IICA realizaron dos días de campo en las comunas de San Carlos y Parral
Explicó que la incorporación del sistema SRI (Sistema de Intensificación del cultivo de Arroz), promueve un manejo más eficiente, lo que deriva en la medición de las emisiones de metano con dos métodos y nuevas tecnologías que permitirán conocer los datos precisos.
Karla Cordero, head of the rice breeding program at INIA, highlighted the first short-cycle rice variety in Chile that allows for better water use, reduces methane emissions, and maintains high yield and quality. The variety is grown with System of RIce Intensification (SRI) methods.
SRI Global Research Network Webinar Series presentation #7: Title: Transcriptomic Profiling of Rice Plants under SRI and Conventional Management: Insights into Abiotic and Biotic Stress Pathways Speaker: Nurtasbiyah Yufof, Meiji University, Japan Date: April 20, 2026 (!!See video of event) EVENT VIDEO NOW AVAILABLE!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ddkpIMVT_g
Governments and their partners across four countries on the African continent are hosting SRI-2030's SRI Certification, launched in April 2026. With four levels from Foundation to Master Trainer - each requiring verified evidence of SRI knowledge and practice - the scheme is designed to build lasting knowledge, awareness, and practice within national systems, creating a cadre of trainers and practitioners to carry SRI forward at scale. Hosts include: the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and RICOWAS in Nigeria; Concern and the Government of Liberia in Liberia; the Government of Zambia's Agriculture Research Institute (ZARI), and the Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre in Zambia; and in Madagascar, ENSOA, the national military officer training academy, based in Antsirabe - the birthplace of SRI!
SRI-Rice's insight:
To learn more about the SRI-2030 Certifications, contact Joshua Gibbs <joshua@sri-2030.org> at SRI-2030.
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