d h a m m a r a k s a sri p r o g r e s s r e p o r t...f e b r u a r y 2016 d h a m m a r a k s a...

F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 6

D H A M M A R A K S A – S R I

P R O G R E S S R E P O R T

S R I P R O G R E S S R E P O R T

P R O J E C T B A C K G R O U N D S U M M A R Y T R A I N I N G P E R F O R M A N C E P I C T U R E S

- Louis Dreyfus Foundation has supported the “System of Rice Intensification or SRI” project in Thailand since 2013.

- The objective is to introduce and promote a low-impact rice farming to Thai farmers enabling to increase yields while relying less on purchased/external inputs and being environmentally-friendly.

- In 2013, there were 10 participating farmers from 4 locations with one SRI experienced farmer for each location.

- In 2014, the ambition was to broader the knowledge of SRI by having participating farmers from 2013 as trainers and 30–40 new farmers were expected to participate in the project. Due to an unexpected non-cooperation from the local NGO to level up the progressive farmers, the participation dropped down to 14 farmers from 2 locations.

- In 2015, as a continuation from 2014, the project has been introduced to new areas, Yasothorn and Srisaket, where farmers also participated in Agroforestry, Rice Ducking and Self-Sufficiency activities supporting by the Foundation. 45 farmers participated to SRI in 2015.

D h a m m a R a k s a – S R I

P R O J E C T B A C K G R O U N D

3

North Region

Chiang Mai and Payao

- Partially in irrigated areas but mostly rainfed cultivation

- Transplanting method is common

- Average rice yield is 600kg/rai (0.16ha)

Kampangpetch

- Mostly in irrigated areas

- Machineries are widely used

- Chemical practice is common

- Average rice yield is 700kg/rai (0.16ha)

North East Region

Surin, Yasothorn and Srisaket

- Region producing most of the Thai rice

- Rainfed cultivation only

- Broadcasting method is common

- Only certified organic farmers participated

- Average rice yield is 500kg/rai (0.16ha) for organic farmers and below 400kg/rai in general

N o r t h a n d N o r t h - E a s t R e g i o n , T h a i l a n d

L O C A T I O N S

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TECHNICAL FINDINGS

- More practical in irrigated areas or where water resources can be well controlled.

- Age of seedlings depends on soil quality of each area (8-15 days).

- Rice tray is an appropriate tool to prepare SRI seedlings.

- Machinery or additional tools would be essential when doing SRI in larger areas for a commercial purpose in order to reduce labor cost.

- Weeding is essential at least twice per harvest.

FEEDBACKS FROM FARMERS

- 60-90% less seeds used compared with conventional methods.

- Tillering is better and more numerous (overall, 70 tillers are found from 1 rice plant maximum).

- Satisfying weight of paddy rice sack compared to conventional rice.

- SRI root system reduces damages from strong wind.

- Relevant method to produce strong and pure breeder rice.

- Easy to manage if water can be controlled.

- Environmentally-friendly.

S U M M A R Y

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After the registration of all participating farmers, a training on SRI was conducted in July before the start of rice cultivation, both in Srisaket and Yasothorn provinces.

Each training session lasted for one full day. Training sessions were conducted by Mr. Sawien Intawee, a progressive SRI farmer from Chiang Rai, self-sufficient leader and speaker/trainer/representative for sustainable agriculture appointed by different governmental and private organizations.

Mr. Sawien Intawee also won many awards for modifying tools and equipment in order to help farmers improve their agriculture practices.

Training sessions consisted in:

- Introduction of SRI

- SRI organic practice

- Land and seedlings preparation

- SRI rice planting techniques

- SRI maintenance

- SRI tools & equipment

T R A I N I N G

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T R A I N I N G

9

P r o j e c t i n t r o d u c t i o n t o f a r m e r s , M a y - J u n e 2 0 1 5

T R A I N I N G

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W a t e r l e v e l m e a s u r e m e n t i n S R I p a r c e l s

T R A I N I N G

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S e e d l i n g s p r e p a r a t i o n

T R A I N I N G

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A d d i t i o n a l t o o l s t o m a r k S R I p l a n t e d p a r c e l s f a s t e r t h a n w i t h a r o p e

T R A I N I N G

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L a n d p r e p a r a t i o n a n d t r a n s p l a n t i n g m e t h o d i n a p i l o t p a r c e l

P R O J E C T B A C K G R O U N D T R A I N I N G P E R F O R M A N C E S U M M A R Y P I C T U R E S


G L O B A L P E R F O R M A N C E

RICE VARIETY PADDY SOLD TO THE PROJECT

(MAX 300KG/FARMER AT 25THB/KG)

JASMIN RICE (Hom Mali) 5,803

RED RICE 436

RICE BERRY 4,650

KOR KHOR 6 (Sticky Rice) 600

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Remarks:

- Total from 42 farmers (3 farmers discontinued due to personal reasons)

- 5 farmers sold less than 300kg to the project

- 1 farmer in Kampangpetch didn’t sell SRI rice to the project as he preferred to keep it as

breeder rice

G L O B A L P E R F O R M A N C E

PROVINCE

PERCENTAGE OF FARMERS WITH A

HIGHER SRI PERFORMANCE COMPARED

TO CONVENTIONAL METHOD

YASOTHORN-NAM OM 62.5% (from 16 farmers)

SRISAKRT-UMSANG 36.84% (from 19 farmers)

KAMPANGPETCH 0% (from 7 farmers)

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P E R F O R M A N C E : Y A S O T H O R N - N A M O M

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FARMER AVERAGE

YIELD (KG/RAI) SRI (KG/RAI)

AVERAGE

SEED USE

(KG/RAI)*

SRI SEED USE

(KG/RAI)

500 720 25-35 1.5

500 448 25-35 0.5

500 600 25-35 2

500 800 25-35 2

* Broadcasting method


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FARMER AVERAGE


AVERAGE

SEED USE

(KG/RAI)*

SRI SEED USE

(KG/RAI)

500 840 25-35 1

500 630 25-35 1

500 624 25-35 1

550 634 25-35 2



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FARMER AVERAGE


AVERAGE

SEED USE

(KG/RAI)*

SRI SEED USE

(KG/RAI)

500 720 25-35 2

550 420 25-35 2

500 520 25-35 2

550 800 25-35 1



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FARMER AVERAGE


AVERAGE

SEED USE

(KG/RAI)*

SRI SEED USE

(KG/RAI)

500 400 25-35 0.5

500 232 25-35 1

600 272 25-35 1

600 432 25-35 2


P E R F O R M A N C E : S R I S A K E T - U M S A N G

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FARMER AVERAGE


AVERAGE

SEED USE

(KG/RAI)*

SRI SEED USE

(KG/RAI)

500 620 25-35 1

550 720 25-35 1

550 490 25-35 0.4

500 800 25-35 1



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FARMER AVERAGE


AVERAGE

SEED USE

(KG/RAI)*

SRI SEED USE

(KG/RAI)

500 450 25-35 1.2

550 450 25-35 2

500 740 25-35 1

500 800 25-35 1



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FARMER AVERAGE


AVERAGE

SEED USE

(KG/RAI)*

SRI SEED USE

(KG/RAI)

500 450 25-35 2

550 680 25-35 1

500 420 25-35 2

500 450 25-35 1



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FARMER AVERAGE


AVERAGE

SEED USE

(KG/RAI)*

SRI SEED USE

(KG/RAI)

550 420 25-35 2

550 450 25-35 0.3

500 468 25-35 0.5

500 480 25-35 0.4



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FARMER AVERAGE


AVERAGE

SEED USE

(KG/RAI)*

SRI SEED USE

(KG/RAI)

500 400 25-35 0.5

500 642 25-35 2

500 390 25-35 1


P E R F O R M A N C E : K A M P A N G P E T C H

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FARMERS AVERAGE


AVERAGE

SEED USE

(KG/RAI) *

SRI SEED

USE (KG/RAI)

605 586 12 0.25

605 320 12 1

Remark: 6 farmers worked together in one big SRI parcel of 7.5 rai (1.2ha); they agreed they didn’t do enough weeding and believe that

SRI would perform much better if they better maintain the parcel.

* Average seed use for machine transplanting method

P I C T U R E S

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Mr. Boonmee Surakot, Umsang cooperative’s leader, combined his SRI parcel with frogs

P I C T U R E S

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Mr. Boonmee Surakot, Umsang cooperative’s leader, combined his SRI parcel with frogs

P I C T U R E S

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Due to a sandy soil in North-East region, SRI seedlings were used at the age of 15 days

P I C T U R E S

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SRI transplanting

P I C T U R E S

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SRI weeder

P I C T U R E S

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Field visit by PUR Projet’s local coordinator in Kampangpetch

P I C T U R E S

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Farmer taking GPS tracks for his SRI parcel

P I C T U R E S

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SRI rice (right) proves to be more resistant than conventional rice (left) to strong wind thanks to a

stronger root system

P I C T U R E S

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Nam Om farmers satisfied with SRI performance

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