1612 - some observations on introduction and rapid growth of the system of rice intensification...
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Some Observations on the Introduction and Rapid Growth of the System for Rice Intensification (SRI) among Smallholder Farmers in Kenya
Cornell University, October 7 2016
Jean NjiruSupply Chain Network Manager
Purdue Improved Crop Storage ProjectEast and Southern Africa
Population in Kenya- estimated at 45 million
Rice consumption- 300,000 tonsRice production in Kenya < 100,000 tons
Deficit- 200,000 tons is importedRice is grown in Irrigation schemes
Background: Rice Production in Kenya
Rice is grown in irrigation schemes that are managed by National Irrigation Board (NIB)
NIB is a Government organization- parastatal Schemes include Mwea, Ahero, Bunyala and
West Kano Mwea is the largest and produces covering
30,000 ha of which only 6000 ha are utilized Average production is estimated at 3t/ha
Rice Production contd
My initial involvement Left Cornell in May 2009 after Hubert Humphrey program and MPS IARD
First SRI meeting in August 2009 at Mwea
Launched evaluation and demonstration of SRI
Prof Bancy Mati- JKUAT
How SRI was introduced in Kenya
Two farmers who attended the first SRI meeting decided to try it to find out whether it works
Moses Kareithi and Mathew Kamanu 2009 – 2 farmers 2010 – 30 farmers 2011- By end of 20112000 farmers had adopted SRI
Early SRI Adopters
Moses Kareithi in his SRI rice field in MweaSRI Early Adopter
SRI Rice Grown by Early Adopter Mathew’s rice field at
Mwea Irrigation Scheme. Mathew was one of the first two farmers who adopted SRI in 2009
Institutions that support SRI JKUAT NIB MIAD World Bank World Bank Institute AICAD Focus of support; Research and extension services
Why the Rapid Growth
AICAD supported the initial on-station research for evaluation and demonstration of SRI in Mwea
JKUAT Innovation fund in 2010 provided seed funding for three years to support research and outreach activities in Mwea
Research included yield, water savings, cost/benefits analysis etc.
PhD and MSc students have undertaken research on SRI
SRI Support
Manages irrigation schemes in Kenya In 2011 NIB provided funding for SRI awareness in other schemes (previously focus was mainly in Mwea)
Ahero, Bunyala, West Kano and Mwea
Training and awareness creation campaigns
National Irrigation Board
Training at farmers’ fields Training of trainers and field visits including
staff of NIB and farmers By 2012 115 farmers were attended TOt Exchange visits by farmers from different
schemes Training manuals Radio broadcasts, films etc World Bank Institute supported SRI trainers
from Japan and India
Training and awareness creation
Yield increases have been reported of 9 tons per ha under SRI compared to 5 tons per ha of the low yielding basmati variety under conventional practices
17 tons per ha under SRI have been reported compared to 9 tons per ha under conventional practices of the high yielding IR variety
Research results- Yield Increase
Water savings of 25% in dry weather and 33% in wet weather have been reported
A bag of SRI paddy weighs10-20kg more Grain breakage- when milled SRI grain has
less breakage Malaria control- research showed SRI has
prospects for malaria control. SRI water management breaks the
mosquito breeding cycle. The larvae die within 2 days after paddy fields dry
Results contd
SRI contribution to food security
Rice consumption increasing rapidly due to changing life styles
SRI can reduce the rice importation bill
Opportunity for Food Security
Thank you