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| SRI emphasizes transplanting rice seedlings, as opposed to directly seeding fields |
In September
of this year, I was fortunate enough to bring a farmer I work closely with to a
training session where a new system of rice
cultivation was introduced. This system,
called the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), emphasizes providing
individual rice plants with more space and attention than is conventionally
given to them in rice farming throughout Benin.
It also focuses on controlling the amount and frequency of inundation occurring
in the rice fields, along with using a new method for weeding and aerating the
soil simultaneously. Through these
practices, each rice plant is able to grow faster, sturdier, and provide
considerably higher yields than with conventional practices used by the
majority of farmers today.
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| Leandre, the farmer who accompanied me to the training, tests out a spacing stick we put together using local materials |
In order to
test this new method and see the results for ourselves, Leandre (the farmer) and I have
been working together to grow two plots of rice side-by-side; one grown using
conventional techniques, and the other using the new SRI techniques. Given the case that a positive
difference is seen between the SRI and conventional plots, Leandre plans to incorporate the SRI techniques into all of his fields
next year.
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| The SRI (left) and conventional (right) plots side-by-side |
These two rice
plots also serve as a demonstration for other farmers to view and learn about
the SRI techniques. The rice plots are
not far from our village; just off one of the main paths leading to many of the
other villagers’ fields. Although it is
currently the dry season, we are able to irrigate the fields using a motorized
pump that my counterpart owns. This way,
other farmers will be able to see the difference between the new cultivation
techniques and the techniques they are currently employing, and they will be
able to decide for themselves whether they wish to adopt these new techniques before the next
rainy season – when most of them will begin rice farming.
