October 28, 2008 10:00 - 13:30 (JST)
The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is a set of innovative agricultural practices for providing better growing environments for plants. In Climate Change and Global Food Security, SRI has been attracting international attention because its methods increase the productivity of land and water, resulting in higher yields than conventional methods.
The TDLC, in collaboration with the NGO Zutto Sustainable and i-i-network, held the “Workshop for International System for Rice Intensification (SRI) Network”, on October 28, 2008. Participants included farmers and thematic specialists from governments, academic institutes, and non-governmental organizations supporting SRI programs and/or conducting research on SRI in the region. Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan and the United States were connected via the World Bank’s Global Development Learning Network, and this workshop provided a platform for information sharing and discussions for farmers, NGO officials and researchers in the region to share local experiences, knowledge and practices on SRI.
The workshop was initiated by an SRI global overview by Dr. Norman Uphoff, an emeritus professor at Cornell University. SRI is not a technology, but rather a set of ideas, insights and principles for providing better growing environment for plants. SRI changes the management of plants, soil, water and nutrients and promotes the growth of root systems and increases the abundance and diversity of soil organisms to better take advantage of their benefits. SRI is a work in progress with improvements continually being made to be applied appropriately to each environment, said Dr. Norman. Farmers should be encouraged to make their own improvements in SRI methods. Sharing experience and ideas globally within the farming community is beneficial and needed.
Presentations were made by Mr. Heang Rotana from the SRI-Secretariat, Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Land Improvement (DAALI), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Mr. Pet Chivita from CEDAC in Cambodia, by Prof. Iswandi Anas from Bogor Agricultural University and Mr. Alik Sutaryat in Indonesia and by Dr. Eiji Yamaji and Dr. Masaru Mizoguchi from The University of Tokyo in Japan, followed by a series of question and answer periods to share the SRI extension situation and SRI extension experiences in each country. One question that was addressed was whether cessation of flooding means increased weeding labor is required. The Indonesian presenter reported that observing the SRI after 6-7 growing season in their field, the weeding labor tended to be about the same with SRI than with conventional rice-growing methods.
The TDLC is working to develop agricultural knowledge dissemination and capacity building programs with key partners throughout the region, and looks forward to reporting on their progress as and when we can.
| VC venues: | |
|---|---|
| Japan: | Tokyo Development Learning Center |
| Cambodia: | Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Center (CJCC) |
| Indonesia: | The World Bank Indonesia Office |
| US: | Cornel University |
NGO Zutto Sustainable (Japanese Only)
i-i-network (Japanese Only)
TDLC
Tokyo Development Learning Center
A Japan/World Bank Distance Learning Partnership Project
The World Bank • Fukoku Semei Bldg. 10F • 2-2-2 Uchisaiwai-cho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0011
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