Status of SRI in NigeriaStatus of SRI in NigeriaRegional Workshop on the System of Rice Intensification Regional Workshop on the System of Rice Intensification

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 26 & 27 July, 2012Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 26 & 27 July, 2012

Shaibu, Abraham Attah, Shaibu, Abdulrazak and Shaibu, Abraham Attah, Shaibu, Abdulrazak and Muhammad Ahmad Adamu Muhammad Ahmad Adamu

West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP)West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP)

Green Sahel & Rural Development Initiative (GSARDI)Green Sahel & Rural Development Initiative (GSARDI)

Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN)Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN)

Outline of PresentationOutline of Presentation IntroductionIntroduction Background Background ObjectiveObjective ConstraintsConstraints Perspective of SRI in NigeriaPerspective of SRI in Nigeria ExpectationsExpectations

IntroductionIntroduction

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) was The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) was developed as a set of insights and practices developed as a set of insights and practices that changed the management of plants, soil, that changed the management of plants, soil, water and nutrients used in growing irrigated water and nutrients used in growing irrigated rice. rice.

The concepts and practices of SRI methods is The concepts and practices of SRI methods is promoting growth of more productive and promoting growth of more productive and robust plants:robust plants:

Background Background There have been a number of contacts made There have been a number of contacts made

and trials started over the years, but so far, and trials started over the years, but so far, there has been no well-documented start-up of there has been no well-documented start-up of SRI in Nigeria, SRI in Nigeria,

So it has not been counted as one of the So it has not been counted as one of the countries where the validity of SRI methods countries where the validity of SRI methods has been satisfactorily demonstrated. has been satisfactorily demonstrated.

Background cont’dBackground cont’d

There were trials reported from the Sabon Gari There were trials reported from the Sabon Gari station of Ahmadu Bello University in 2006-station of Ahmadu Bello University in 2006-07, but these were not satisfactorily 07, but these were not satisfactorily documented. documented.

In 2007, there was SRI training reported from In 2007, there was SRI training reported from Ondo State but the results of farmer trials were Ondo State but the results of farmer trials were not reported.not reported.

Background cont’dBackground cont’d

In 2009, contacts were made with Department In 2009, contacts were made with Department of Agronomy, Ahmadu Bello University and of Agronomy, Ahmadu Bello University and University of Ibadan who were interested in University of Ibadan who were interested in SRI, but programs have not started at these SRI, but programs have not started at these universities yet.universities yet.

Background cont’dBackground cont’d In July 2011, a promising start for SRI evaluation In July 2011, a promising start for SRI evaluation

and demonstration was made in Jigawa State. and demonstration was made in Jigawa State.

An NGO, Green Sahel Agricultural and Rural An NGO, Green Sahel Agricultural and Rural Development Initiative (GSARDI), conducted a Development Initiative (GSARDI), conducted a training program on SRI and organic methods training program on SRI and organic methods with support from the Expanded Agribusiness and with support from the Expanded Agribusiness and Trade Promotion (E-TAP) project of USAID. Trade Promotion (E-TAP) project of USAID.

Facilitators of 1Facilitators of 1stst SRI workshop in SRI workshop in Nigeria with Chairman RIFANNigeria with Chairman RIFAN

Step Down Training after the Step Down Training after the workshopworkshop

Rotary weeder fabricated locally by GSARDI Rotary weeder fabricated locally by GSARDI

Seedlings at 10 days for Seedlings at 10 days for transplanting after the workshoptransplanting after the workshop

Conventional Vs SRI transplantingConventional Vs SRI transplanting

ConventionalConventional SRISRI

SRI Demo Plot showing low SRI Demo Plot showing low water management (18 DAP)water management (18 DAP)

Background cont’dBackground cont’d

Trial/demonstration plots, transplanted as part Trial/demonstration plots, transplanted as part of the training program as shown below and of the training program as shown below and reported to be doing well. reported to be doing well.

Background cont’dBackground cont’d The photo below shows rice plants at 23 days The photo below shows rice plants at 23 days

after transplanting that were originally after transplanting that were originally transplanted when 10 days old (single transplanted when 10 days old (single seedling).seedling).

BackgroundBackground

A farmer in Lagos State, Nigeria, attended a A farmer in Lagos State, Nigeria, attended a training program on SRI methodology in Jigawa training program on SRI methodology in Jigawa State under GSARDIState under GSARDI

His average yield recorded under standard His average yield recorded under standard practices was 0.8 – 1.0 t/hapractices was 0.8 – 1.0 t/ha

Yield recorded using SRI methodology was 3.8 Yield recorded using SRI methodology was 3.8 t/ha t/ha

ObjectiveObjective Main:Main:

SRI methods are particularly accessible to and SRI methods are particularly accessible to and beneficial for the poor, who need to get the beneficial for the poor, who need to get the maximum benefit from their limited land, maximum benefit from their limited land, labour, water and capital. labour, water and capital.

Specific:Specific:

Give higher yield -- more tons of rice per unit Give higher yield -- more tons of rice per unit area (hectare or acre),area (hectare or acre),

ConstraintConstraint

Lack of appropriate awareness, information and Lack of appropriate awareness, information and data documentation on SRI methodologydata documentation on SRI methodology

Poor resource base and ignored agricultural Poor resource base and ignored agricultural development strategiesdevelopment strategies

Lack of adequate training for Technical Lack of adequate training for Technical Personnel at initial stage of SRI in collaborative Personnel at initial stage of SRI in collaborative institutionsinstitutions

Perspective of SRI in NigeriaPerspective of SRI in Nigeria SRI can be widely adopted in Nigeria if practices are SRI can be widely adopted in Nigeria if practices are

properly disseminated and adopted by the target properly disseminated and adopted by the target audience (poor farmers)audience (poor farmers)

SRI practices are feasible but validation of comparative SRI practices are feasible but validation of comparative advantage of the system over the existing standard advantage of the system over the existing standard practices could enhance its adoptionpractices could enhance its adoption

Research data on SRI and standard practices are often Research data on SRI and standard practices are often useful for generating hypothesis or understanding of useful for generating hypothesis or understanding of the best optionthe best option

ExpectationsExpectations Enhanced understanding of the SRI conceptEnhanced understanding of the SRI concept

Understanding the status of SRI in member-countries of ECOWASUnderstanding the status of SRI in member-countries of ECOWAS

Cross-fertilization of ideas on SRI in ECOWASCross-fertilization of ideas on SRI in ECOWAS Determining concepts for SRI in various countriesDetermining concepts for SRI in various countries

Development of the resource base for country Development of the resource base for country take off of SRI activitiestake off of SRI activities

Development of ACTION PLAN for NigeriaDevelopment of ACTION PLAN for Nigeria

A. Research A. Research B. ExtensionB. Extension

One of the organizers in a happy mood after One of the organizers in a happy mood after transplanting the 1transplanting the 1stst SRI Demo in Jigawa State, SRI Demo in Jigawa State, NigeriaNigeria

Thanks for your Thanks for your attentionattention““Merci”Merci”