SRI International Network and Resources Center

AFGHANISTAN

Summary

History of SRI in Afghanistan:

Interactive Map of SRI Activities in Afghanistan

View Afghanistan in a larger map. Use Interactive map tools
to find blue SRI site markers. Click on blue markers for info.

Although several efforts were made by CIIFAD as early as 2003 to get SRI methods evaluated in Mazar-e-Sharif and Ajrestan (see report), there was no evident SRI uptake in Afghanistan before the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) began working with the methods in a systematic way in 2007; AKF trials in 2009 were successful, as were trials and outreach efforts every year since then. In May 2008, Humayun Kabir, agricultural advisor to the Metta Development Foundation in Myanmar, traveled to Taloqan District in Takhar Province to review German Agro Action (GAA)'s SRI activities which began in 2007. While the trials were not completely successful, one farmer recorded a yield of 490 kg from 500 sq.m. area (9.8 tons per hectare), and at least 50 farmers agreed to participate in 2008 SRI trials (see report). However, GAA reportedly withdrew due to security problems in later years. [Click on the interactive map below and drag curser to find blue SRI sites referred to above. Then click on the blue site marker for SRI information].

Aga Khan Foundation - Afghanistan Experience: In 2007, the Participatory Management of Irrigation Systems program (PMISP) of the Aga Khan Foundation began introducing SRI in the northern provinces of Baghlan and Takhar. AKF brought in Parcha Kishan Rao, an SRI farmer-trainer in Andhra Pradesh, India, to instruct farmers in three locations on the new methods. These first trials were not successful because the crop was planted one month late and the area has a short growing season. Still, farmers were impressed by the SRI tillering that they saw, and some were willing to continue with evaluations.

In 2008, on-farm comparison trials of six farmers and a research station along the Jangharoq and Kelagai Canals gave very good SRI results, with average yields of 10.13 t/ha, compared with 5.41 t/ha on the adjacent control plots (see 2008 report). There were also significant water savings. Expanded trials were undertaken in 2009, with 42 farmers doing control trials in 3 districts of Baghlan and Takhar provinces (an unreported number of other farmers dropped out of the evaluation because of threats from the Taliban). Average SRI yields were 9.3 t/ha, 66% more than the yield with traditional methods, 5.6 t/ha. Experienced farmers (those in their second year of trials) increased their land size under SRI and improved their SRI yield by + 27 % over their first-year SRI yield (see 2009 report and manual prepared by AKF).

During 2010, the total number of participating farmers in three districts of Baghlan and Takhar provinces was 150% higher than in the 2009 program, despite having to withdraw (due to security issues) from activities in Baghlan district of Baghlan province, which was the main project area during 2009. In Doshi and Taloqan districts of Baghlan and Takhar provinces, 104 farmers averaged SRI yields of 8.8 t/ha, compared to 5.6 t/ha using their standard methods. Farmers in their second year with SRI had 11.5% higher yields than they had in their first year. During 2011, the number of farmer participants increased to 114 with average yields increasing to 10.01 t/ha. Technical support increased in both districts, though no new farmers were added in Doshi due to budgetary constraints.

JDA/GIZ SRI Projects:The Colorado-based non-profit Joint Development Associates International (JDA) began work with SRI in Sholgara district of Balkh province in 2011 in a project funded by Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). A demonstration plot was established in each of three different villages and 157 farmers from surrounding villages joined in four in-depth training sessions. On hundred twenty-five farmers from 32 villages were trained in a related field day during 2012. (See article).

FAO/Norway/DAIL PIPM Project: During 2012, the Promoting Integrated Pest Management (PIPM) project and the provincial staff of the Directorates of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (DAILs) conducted 38 Farmer Field Schools on SRI with 950 farmers in Nangarhar, Baghlan, Takhar, Kunduz, Balkh, Kunar, Laghman and Herat provinces.

Yearly Progress and Activities

2014 update

• 7,450 farmers Trained in System of Wheat Intensification (SWI) Techniques in Farmer Field Schools (FFS)
  

  SWI was introduced in Afghanistan after the Aga Khan Foundation program there got SRI started with rice in the northeastern part of the country. In 2011, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) included wheat, the main staple of Afghanistan, within its plant production and protection strategy to improve agricultural sector performance. SWI practices were adapted to local conditions, planting wheat in rows using locally-made rakes that make parallel furrows, followed by drum seeders that drop wheat seeds into the furrows with wide spacing. Subsequently, a rotary weeder, also locally-made, is used to remove weeds and keep the soil well aerated. Water was provided as necessary, usually just 2-3 times during the growing season.

  Between 2011 to 2015, 7,450 farmers were trained from across the major wheat-growing provinces of the country using the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach to training. Compared with the conventional cultivation method, which usually mostly involves simple broadcasting method of sowing and without any weeding activity so that weeds become a major constraint on production, SWI provided on average a 42% increase in yield, with an 83% increase in the net return, reflecting substantial reductions in the cost of production. The training methodologies and tools developed by FAO for adapting SWI in Afghanistan are currently being promoted by a number of other projects including the World Bank-funded On-Farm Water Management Project (OFWMP) and the Afghanistan Agriculture Inputs Project (AAIP) which are increasing SWI use under the overall guidance and supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock. Case studies in Kasapaj, Balkh Province, and Teemtak, Takhar Province, give a good idea of the impact of SWI on the ground.

2013

• Update on SRI Progress in Takhar Province

  The SRI program of the Aga Khan Foundation in Takhar province in the north of Afghanistan has undergone some retrenchment because of personnel changes and the political situation, but a former staff member reports that there were at least 100 farmers using SRI methods in 2012. Their average SRI yield was 9.58 t/ha, while their average yield with traditional rice-growing methods was 5.7 t/ha. This shows that the previous high yields with SRI management are being sustained. SRI promotion is now being continued and expanded under FAO’s IPM program working out of Kabul. Its leadership includes Dr. Humayun Kabir, who planned and oversaw the introduction of SRI in Myanmar, and Ali Muhammad Ramzi, who previously provided technical support for the AKF SRI program in Baghlan and Takhar provinces.

2012

• FAO Expands SRI Trainings in Eight Provinces

  With the financial support of the government of Norway and the technical assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the Promoting Integrated Pest Management (PIPM) project is building the capacity of Plant Protection and Quarantine, and General Extension directorates of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) to develop longer-term sustainable strategies for crop production and protection in Afghanistan. A November 26, 2012, PIPM bulletin reported on introduction of the SRI to 950 farmers through Farmer Field Schools. During 2012, the provincial staff of the Directorates of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (DAILs) conducted 38 FFSs on rice in Nangarhar, Baghlan, Takhar, Kunduz, Balkh, Kunar, Laghman and Herat provinces. Although it was the first season for the SRI FFS and most farmers were not able to apply all the principles of SRI, with this limited use of the method farmers have been able to increase their rice yields to as high as from 24 to 105%, averaging 7 tons per hectare yield (compared to the 5 tons/ha in the non-FFS fields). Fertilizer use in most of the SRI plots was just half of what is generally used in the area. Water was given only when it was necessary, reducing to at least by 50%. Production cost has decreased at least by 30% compared with the previous year.

  Farmers who participated in FFS have expressed their intentions to use SRI in most of their rice fields next year and expect yield increases in the coming season when they will be able to apply all the practices of SRI. Non-FFS farmers were also reportedly interested in SRI after seeing the 2012 successes. To share their results, field days was organized in many FFSs. The head of the Directorate of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (DAIL) in most of the provinces, along with other government officials, neighboring farmers and village heads attended the field day. In some field days, local media was present. The field day organized at Abdal FFS, in Baharak district of Takhar province was broadcast in a number of national television channels, including RTA and Ariana TV (at right; click on photo to enlarge). To disseminate the results of FFS, the project produced and distributed a large number posters (at left) and leaflets on SRI and other agricultural topics, which are available in the14 provincial DAIL offices. For the next season from November 2012, the project has planned to conduct 70 new FFSs on rice.

• Joint Development Associates International (JDA) Extends SRI Methods in Balkh Province

  According to a June 2012 press release, the Colorado-based non-profit Joint Development Associates International (JDA) began work with SRI in Sholgara district of Balkh province in 2011 in a project funded by the German government agency Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). A demonstration plot was established in each of three different villages and 157 farmers from surrounding villages joined in four in-depth training sessions. An additional field day was added in which visitors could come for a basic introduction. One hundred twenty-five farmers representing 32 villages attended to discuss and share their past experience with rice cultivation using the SRI approach.

  Farmers learned about nursery management, land preparation, planting, weed control and harvesting. The project involved farmers used a range of techniques and tools, some of which were developed with participation of farmers specifically for these conditions. Farmers also participated in the evaluation and assessment to see firsthand if the methods were effective. A representative from each village received a field marker (right) and a weeding and mulching machine (left). The tools were built in Mazar-i-Sharif to suit specific conditions in Northern Afghanistan.

2011

• Aga Khan Foundation Reports on 2011 Success in Baghlan and Takhar Provinces

  According to the Aga Khan Foundation - Afghanistan (AKF-A) SRI final report for 2011, 114 farmers, including seven resource persons (RP) and twenty new volunteers, have been applying SRI methods for rice cultivation in two districts of Baghlan and Takhar provinces, as part of the Participatory Management of Irrigation Systems (PMIS) project, managed by AKF. The project is part of the larger government-led Panj-Amu River Basin Program (PARBP), which is funded by the European Union. A field day and exposure visits between the two areas provided opportunities for the farmers to discuss their successes and problems with one another.

  In both districts (Doshi in Baghlan Province and Taloqan in Takhar Province), the average results clearly show a net improvement in SRI yield compared to the yield with the traditional (10.01 t/ha with SRI vs. 5.04 t/ha with traditional methods -- an average combined yield increase of + 49.65% for both districts.) The SRI yield of the first crop (single) was found to be higher than transplanting with SRI methods as second crop. Analysis of the data revealed that the key factors contributing to higher yield were (in order of importance), 1) the 47% increase in the number of grains per panicles, 2) the 22% increase in tillers per m2 and 3) a 2% average increase in weight per grain. A Directorate of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock staff member and farmer RP are shown at right taking measurements for the yield analyses. Detailed data and methodology are provided in the 2011 report as are the recommendations for the 2012 SRI campaign.

2010

• Dari Version of SRI Manual Now Available

  A Dari language version (سيستم افزايش شالی(ايس آر آی) - بديل نوپيدا) of the 2009 SRI manual for Afghanistan is now available in the SRI practical information section (see photo at right). An English version of the manual (System of Rice Intensification - An Emerging Alternative), which was written by Ramzi, G. Harzat, F. Hussain and V. Thomas and produced by the Aga Khan Foundation's Participatory Management of Irrigation System (PMIS) Project, has been available for several years.

• Aga Khan Foundation Program Expands the Northeast in 2010

  A seasonal report for 2010 has been completed by the Participatory Management of Irrigation Systems Project (PMISP) of the Aga Khan Foundation, reviewing progress in introducing SRI methods in northeastern Afghanistan. The 2009 report had data from the 27 farmers in Baghlan district who used the new methods, adapted to the high altitude and colder climate of the region, with 10 t/ha average yields. During 2010, the PMISP was not able to operate in that district formally, because of political conditions, but telephone contacts informed the project manager that farmers there continued to expand the area under SRI management and the yields have been good.

  In Doshi and Taloqan districts of Baghlan and Takhar provinces, where last year 15 farmers tried out SRI methods, this year there were 104 farmers, with average SRI yields of 8.8 t/ha, compared to 5.6 t/ha using their standard methods (same farmers, same fields, same varieties). During 2009, their SRI yields averaged 8 t/ha. Data in this year’s report showed a range of yields with the different traditional varieties that farmers used with SRI methods: from 7 t/ha with Baleh to 10.5 t/ha with Shah Lawangi. All of the local varieties gave some positive yield response to the new practices.

  Farmers in their second year with SRI had 11.5% higher yields than they had in their first year. Second-year farmers now serving as Resource Persons for the spread of SRI through ‘participatory technology development’ (PTD) had SRI yields of 14.5 t/ha this year. Second-year farmers expanded their SRI area to  one-sixth of their rice land, whereas first-year SRI users put only about 5% of their area under SRI to begin. A program objective for next year is to encourage farmers, who now have more experience and confidence, to apply SRI techniques on much larger areas. Labor for transplanting is the main constraint on expansion of area.

  During the year, farmers and staff from the Afghanistan Water, Agriculture and Technology Transfer project supported by USAID and from the Camp Kiwi program of the New Zealand government visited SRI farmers to observe their crop results. In the end-of-season evaluation, first-year farmers acknowledged that most had not taken SRI very seriously at the start of the season, so recommendations (especially for weeding) were not followed as thoroughly as they now intend to do next year, having seen the better results of second-year farmers, who have both confidence in and skill for SRI management from their own experience. Experiments are beginning with green manures to improve soil fertility.

2003-2009 - see Afghanistan activity archives

Reports and Articles

• Anwari, Gulaqa. 2017. Effects of cultivation methods on yield of local rice varieties in Kunduz, Afghanistan. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development 4(3): 60-63
• Kabir, Humayun. 2014. A successful case of enhancing agriculture productivity through IPM/FFS. SRI-Rice website. (1p., 121KB pdf) [Case study of FAO IPM Farmer Field School (FFS) in Khasapaz village, Dehdadi district, Balk Province, that is carrying out SWI].
• Kabir, Humayun. 2014. A new hope to revolutionize wheat cultivation in Afghanistan. SRI-Rice website. (1p., 518KB pdf) [Case study of FAO IPM Farmer Field School (FFS) in Teemtak village, Kalafgan district, Takhar Province, that is carrying out SWI].
• Ramzi, Ali Muhammad, and Humayun Kabir. 2013. Rice production under water management constraints with SRI methods in northeastern Afghanistan. Taiwan Water Conservancy Journal 61(4): 76-85.
• Joint Development Associates International, Inc. 2012. Innovative rice production. JDA International website. June 19. [Press release about JDA's GIZ-funded 2011-2012 SRI work in Balkh Province]
• Ramzi, Ali Muhammad, and Haji Mohd Osman. 2012. System of Rice Intensification (SRI): 2011 Campaign Results & Recommendations. Aga Khan Foundation/Afghanistan. System of Rice Intensification website. (14p., 2.10 MB pdf) [SRI activities of the Participatory Management of Irrigation Systems (PMIS) project managed by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF). The project is part of a larger government-led initiative, the Panj-Amu River Basin Program (PARBP), which is funded by the European Union.]
• 2012. Afghanistan: Raising yields with the System of Rice Intensification. Global News and Views - SRI blog. January 31.
• Thomas, Vincent and Ali Mohammad Ramzi. 2011. SRI contributions to rice production dealing with water management constraints in northeastern Afghanistan. Paddy and Water Environment 9:101-109. DOI: 10.1007/s10333-010-0228-0
• Ramzi, Ali Muhammad. 2011. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Afghanistan: 2010 Campaign Results & Recommendations. Aga Khan Foundation/Afghanistan. System of Rice Intensification website. (29p., 2.96 MB pdf) [SRI activities of the Participatory Management of Irrigation Systems (PMIS) project managed by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF). The project is part of a larger government-led initiative, the Panj-Amu River Basin Program (PARBP), which is funded by the European Union.]
• Thomas, Vincent and Ali Muhammad Ramzi. 2009. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) 2009 Campaign results & recommendations. Participatory Management of Irrigation System (PMIS) Project. Aga Khan Foundation/Afghanistan. System of Rice Intensification website. (29p., 4.0MB pdf)
• 2009. Case Study: System of Rice Intensification. Annex 3, "Agricultural Technologies for Developing Countries." Institut für Technikfolgenabschätzung und Systemanalyse (ITAS) website. April. [Final Report Agricultural Technologies for Developing Countries STOA Project. Section on Afghanistan is on pp. 16-18 and 30-31]
• Ramzi, Ali Muhammad. 2008. SRI Final Report for 2008. Aga Khan Foundation/Afghanistan. System of Rice Intensification website. November 29. [Communication from Aga Khan Foundation/Afghanistan PMIS social organizer/NRM officer to V. Thomas]
  - version with photos (6p., 824KB pdf)
  - version without photos (5p., 82KB)
• Ramzi, Ali Muhammad. 2008. PMIS/NRM/SRI Marking the plots & transplantation 2008. Aga Khan Foundation/Afghanistan. System of Rice Intensification website. May 28. (4p., 785KB pdf) [Communication from Aga Khan Foundation/Afghanistan PMIS social organizer/NRM officer to V. Thomas]
• Kabir, Humayun. 2008. Report on Short-term Technical Assistance to German Agro Action (GAA) for its Project on Social Management of Water in Afghanistan (SMWA), Taloqan Province, Afghanistan. System of Rice Intensification website. May 1-19. (14p., 256KB pdf). [Field visit report prepared for. German Agro Action (GAA)]
• Ramzi, Ali Muhammad. 2008 (May 09). SRI Seed soaking, seedbed preparation & seed broadcasting (PMIS/NRM/SRI practical work for 2008) . Aga Khan Foundation/Afghanistan. System of Rice Intensification website. May 9. (3p., 364 KB pdf). [Communication from Aga Khan Foundation/Afghanistan PMIS social organizer/NRM officer to V. Thomas.]
• Singh, Krishna M. and Ajay Kumar. 2008. Training of master trainers for Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) in Balkh and Nangarhar Provinces of Afghanistan to identify critical issues for Strategic Research & Extension Plan (SREP) preparation in selected district. Afghanistan Water Agriculture Technology Transfer Project. USAID website. (75p., 1.91MB pdf). [Report submitted to Afghanistan Water Agriculture Technology Transfer Project (AWATT). SRI is mentioned as one of five Afghanistan "success stories" - see page 29 of report.]
• Ramzi, Ali Muhammad. 2008. Final Report on SRI Practices in Baghlan and Takhar Provinces, 2007. Aga Khan Foundation/Afghanistan. System of Rice Intensification website. December 27. (9p., 619KB pdf). [Report prepared for Aga Khan Foundation/Afghanistan by the PMIS social organizer/NRM officer]
• Ramzi, Ali Muhammad. 200. Update on SRI demo-plots in Baghlan Province Aga Khan Foundation/Afghanistan. System of Rice Intensification website. August 3. (3p., 542KB pdf). [Report for Aga Khan Foundation/Afghanistan by the PMIS social organizer/NRM officer]
• Ramzi, Ali Muhammad. 2007. PMIS/NRM: Brief report on SRI demo-plots in Baghlan Province. Aga Khan Foundation/Afghanistan. System of Rice Intensification website. July 23. (5p., 480KB pdf). [ Report to the AKF/Afghanistan Coordinator]
• Ramzi, Ali Muhammad. 2007. Brief report on SRI farmers and agriculture students' field visit. Aga Khan Foundation/Afghanistan. System of Rice Intensification website. May 9. (3p., 430KB pdf). [Report to the AKF/Afghanistan Coordinator.]
• Kabir, Humayun. 2003. Introduction of SRI into Afghanistan. Aga Khan Foundation/Afghanistan. System of Rice Intensification website. (8p., 308KB pdf). [Trip report by the agricultural advisor for the Metta Development Foundation in Myanmar]

Practical Information

• PIPM Project (FAO). 2012. Increase Rice Yield through the System of Rice Intensification. System of Rice Intensification website. (1p.,791KB pdf) [Instructional poster designed for the Farmer Field Schools in the 8 provinces where the Promoting Integrated Pest Management (PIPM) project is active in Afghanistan. (see project details)]
• PIPM Project (FAO). 2012. System of Wheat Intensification - An Easy Opportunity to Increase Wheat Yields in Afghanistan. System of Rice Intensification website. (1p.,799KB pdf) [Instructional poster designed for the Farmer Field Schools where the Promoting Integrated Pest Management (PIPM) project is active in Afghanistan.]
• Ramzi, Ali Muhammad, G. Harzat, F. Hussain and V. Thomas. 2009. System of Rice Intensification - An Emerging Alternative. Participatory Management of Irrigation System (PMIS) Project. Aga Khan Foundation. System of Rice Intensification website. (24 p., 12.08MB) [see Dari language version]
• ترتيب دهنده گان: علی محمد رمزی، ونسنت توماس، فواد حسين و غلام حضرت . 2011. سيستم افزايش شالی(ايس آر آی) - بديل نوپيدا. Participatory Management of Irrigation System (PMIS) Project. Aga Khan Foundation. System of Rice Intensification website. (24 p., 4.35MB) [Dari language version of the English language SRI manual entitled "System of Rice Intensification - An Emerging Alternative"]

Videos

• 2013 (October 1). System for Wheat Intensification (Eng). 4:38 min. Produced by the IPM program of FAO and Aghanistan's Ministry of Irrigation, Agriculture and Livestock (MAIL). Shafiullah Baryalai channel, YouTube. [Overview of the the System of Wheat Intensification experience of the MAIL/FAO IPM Program in Aghanistan. See also Dari version]

Presentations

• Ramzi, Ali Muhammad. 2007. System of Rice Intensification Presentation - PMIS Project.
  Download presentation as pdf file of PowerPoint presentation (saved as pdf) for farmers by the Aga Khan Foundation/Afghanistan PMIS NRM officer. 15 slides. (2.12 MB pdf)
  
• Ramzi, Ali Muhammad. 2008. System of Rice Intensification in Afghanistan. PowerPoint presented at the 3rd National SRI Symposium. TNAU, Coimbatore, India. 13 slides.
  
  

0847 System of Rice Intensification in Afghanistan

Photo Collection

The Afghanistan SRI photo collection was supplied by Ali Muhammad Ramzi and other colleagues in Afghanistan. (Click on the inidividual photos showing in the slideshow in the Afghanistan summary section at the top of the page to enlarge them). Click here to see individual photos on Google Photos.

Additional photos of the Aga Khan Foundation SRI work in Afghanistan can be found in nearly all the reports listed in the Reports and Articles section above.