DPRK Agriculture ProgramDPRK Agriculture ProgramSRI Project in four local SRI Project in four local

farmsfarmsWu Na, American Friends Service Committtee Wu Na, American Friends Service Committtee

(AFSC) China and DPRK country representative, (AFSC) China and DPRK country representative, Dalian officeDalian office

Brief history of AFSC agriculture Brief history of AFSC agriculture development work in DPRKdevelopment work in DPRK

The new program cycle of Agriculture The new program cycle of Agriculture development approach in DPRK development approach in DPRK

Farm SRI experience and initial reportsFarm SRI experience and initial reports Next stage of focus on SRI and some Next stage of focus on SRI and some

of the issues that we are facingof the issues that we are facing

Brief history of AFSC Brief history of AFSC agriculture development work agriculture development work in DPRKin DPRK 1990-2000 1990-2000 Humanitarian assistance Humanitarian assistance 2000-2007 2000-2007 Agriculture development, focus on soil fertility, Agriculture development, focus on soil fertility,

experiments with winter cover crop and forageexperiments with winter cover crop and forage 2007-present 2007-present Production methods improvement, rice and corn Production methods improvement, rice and corn

(for immediate improvements on-farm) (for immediate improvements on-farm) Seed breeding and generation advancement (long-Seed breeding and generation advancement (long-

term institutional improvement) term institutional improvement) Soil fertility (long-term institutional and Soil fertility (long-term institutional and

environmental benefits) environmental benefits)

The new program cycle of The new program cycle of Agriculture development in Agriculture development in DPRKDPRK

Production methods for rice and corn: immediate-Production methods for rice and corn: immediate-farm farm

Based on each farmBased on each farm’’s condition and specific s condition and specific location: main crop, labor force constraints, location: main crop, labor force constraints, natural and economic conditions. Example: natural and economic conditions. Example: Different approach depending on whether maize Different approach depending on whether maize or rice is main crop or rice is main crop

Seed breeding and generation advancement: long Seed breeding and generation advancement: long term-institutional work. Vietnam research term-institutional work. Vietnam research exchange.exchange.

Soil fertility: long term-institutional goals. Long-Soil fertility: long term-institutional goals. Long-term farm experiments and international term farm experiments and international workshop in Pyongyang.workshop in Pyongyang.

Farm SRI experience and initial Farm SRI experience and initial reportsreports

General overview of the original introduction of General overview of the original introduction of SRI to farms. SRI to farms.

- Aim to ease the shortages of labor and - Aim to ease the shortages of labor and resources in planting period, and at the some resources in planting period, and at the some time increase yield and possible soil fertility. time increase yield and possible soil fertility. Cf. Hunan experiences. Cf. Hunan experiences.

- Establish experimental stages for gradual - Establish experimental stages for gradual introduction of new production methodsintroduction of new production methods

1) Changes in seedling development 1) Changes in seedling development 2) Changes in transplanting methods 2) Changes in transplanting methods 3) Changes in water management (derived 3) Changes in water management (derived

from 2)from 2) 4) Other related issues. 4) Other related issues.

Introduction of using trays to Introduction of using trays to grow seedlingsgrow seedlings

Tiller growth most visible Tiller growth most visible effect of new methodseffect of new methods

Total experiment area in the Total experiment area in the four farms in 2009 is up to 250 four farms in 2009 is up to 250 hectares.hectares.

Spacing effect is being Spacing effect is being evaluated by the farmersevaluated by the farmers

Seed: Pyong Do 11Seed: Pyong Do 11

Seeding date: April 30 April 21Seeding date: April 30 April 21Transplanted: June 5th June 6th Transplanted: June 5th June 6th 380 tillers / pyong 310 Tillers / pyong380 tillers / pyong 310 Tillers / pyong As of June 24: 640 tillers/pyong 440 tillers/ pyong As of June 24: 640 tillers/pyong 440 tillers/ pyong

Seed: Pyong Do 15Seed: Pyong Do 15Seeding date: April 30th April 21Seeding date: April 30th April 21Transplanted: June 5th June 6thTransplanted: June 5th June 6th360 tillers /pyong 300 tillers/ pyong360 tillers /pyong 300 tillers/ pyongAs of June 24As of June 24:: 560 tillers / pyong 520 tillers / pyong 560 tillers / pyong 520 tillers / pyong

Visiting the experimental Visiting the experimental fieldsfields

Compare growth of Compare growth of plantsplants

Conjunction fieldConjunction field

Plants in grain-maturing Plants in grain-maturing stagestage

Upright tiller growthUpright tiller growth

Next stage of focus on SRI and Next stage of focus on SRI and some of the issues that we are some of the issues that we are facingfacing

-More scientific experiment design needed -More scientific experiment design needed for on-farm trials to find the best for on-farm trials to find the best combination of methods in each location. combination of methods in each location.

-More experiments on different -More experiments on different transplanting densities to be donetransplanting densities to be done

-Looking into the possibilities of better water -Looking into the possibilities of better water management and ways of weed control.management and ways of weed control.

-Looking into ways to increase the biomass -Looking into ways to increase the biomass that can be provided to the soil. that can be provided to the soil.

Thank youThank you

American Friends Service American Friends Service Committee, Dalian officeCommittee, Dalian office