Farmer Innovations Improving the System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

Abstract

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI), assembled in Madagascar over a 20-year period and gaining application
internationally since 2000, enables farmers to raise their irrigated rice production substantially just by making changes in the
way they manage their plants, soil, water and nutrients, rather than by increasing inputs such as fertilizer, water or
agrochemicals. Getting more output with less cost enhances profitability. This result is quite unprecedented, as discussed in
paper accompanying this one. SRI is not considered by its proponents as a technology; and by not presenting it to farmers as
a set technology, this opens SRI up to many adaptations and innovations by farmer-users, who often but not always are
collaborating with NGO or government staff in a collaborative manner. This paper reports on a number of the innovations that
have been made in SRI practices, demonstrating bothfarmer capabilities and the advantages of engagingfarmers as partners
in an ongoing process of participatory development. The companion paper which considers SRI as a system for innovation
offers a more 'macro' view of SRI spread that complements this more 'micro' perspective.