BHUTAN SRI ACTIVITY ARCHIVES (2005-2009)
SRI Activity Archives for Bhutan (2005-2009)
(See main Bhutan page for 2010-2019 progress)
2009
- Successful Trials during
2009 in Deorali Geog
Thirty-two farmers participated in SRI training in 2008 in Deorali Geog. In collaboration with the interested farmers, SRI trials were set up in 2009 at Balabas, a 30-minute journey by vehicle from the Dungkhag Administration. The site lies at an altitude about 450m above the sea level and receives heavy rainfall during summer seasons. Eight-day old seedlings grown on a nursery prepared with the "solarization technique" were planted singly at spacings of 25cm x 25cm, 30cm x 30cm, random, and the more closely-spaced conventional distance. (Solarization is a technique for treating the nursery bed with the sun’s heat to eliminate harmful organisms such as nematodes and also weed seeds which may cause diseases or competition for the young seedlings.) As noted in the report, SRI plots also included farmyard manure, alternate wetting and drying and two weedings (though more were planned). SRI plots had substantially higher rates of tillering and yield compared with the random and conventional plots. The highest yield was 10 tons/ha for the 30cmx30cm spacing compared with 3.5 tons/ha for the conventional system (see report for details).
With the success of SRI during 2009, more farmers of the geog are interested in adopting SRI techniques in the next planting season. Farmers have pointed out that besides increasing their yield, this technique was found to be useful in saving resources like labor, water and seed.
- SRI Study Tour to India and Nepal
The Ministry of Agriculture, Royal Government of Bhutan, is increasing support for promoting System of Rice Intensification (SRI) practices to improve rice production and yield. In conjunction with these efforts, a seven-member team consisting of four district agricultural officers, two agricultural scientists from Renewable Natural Resources Research Centre (RNRRC) and Karma Lhendup, Royal University of Bhutan, embarked on an SRI study tour (October 11-19, 2009) to Tripura and Meghalaya States in India and Morang District in Nepal. Key recommendations on transplanting, spacing and water and nutrient management as well as action plans based on the trip findings can be found in Karma Lhendup's report. Also see video highlights from the tour.
- Two 2009 SRI Articles Published in the Journal of Renewable Natural
Resources - Bhutan
A June 2009 journal article shows yields of three improved varieties and one local variety were higher using SRI methods than those using conventional rice production practices in 2008 experiments conducted by Karma Lhendup and his colleagues at several sites in Lobesa. IR64 showed the highest yield performance (10.1t/ha) followed by Nyabja and Bajo Maap (9.7 t/ha each). Input cost for seed, fertilizer and water were also reduced with the SRI experiments. A second article in the June 2009 edition of the Journal of Renewable Natural Resources expands on IR64 trials in Wandgue and Punakha. (These results are also covered in earlier reports provided by Karma Lhendup below).
- Workshop Reviews SRI Experience in Bhutan and Plans for 2009
A workshop organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Department of Agriculture May 12, 2009, concluded that SRI results from the first three years warrant expanded evaluation and demonstration. The 2008 results from the College of Natural Resources of the Royal University of Bhutan (CNR report) and the Renewable Natural Resources Research Centre at Bajo (RNRRC report) were presented, along with reports from four districts where SRI methods were tried by Department staff during 2008. Average SRI yields were higher than those obtained from improved on-station methods and traditional farmers practices. SRI methods also used less seed and water, resulted in a shorter crop cycle (by as much as 15 days), and resulted in a reduction in infestation by the weed "shochum" (Potamogeton distinctus) that badly affects rice crops in many parts of the country. The MOA and DOA officials present gave full support to 2009 trials and planned a similar review at the end of the year to consider expanded experience and to plan for 2010 expansion.
- 2008 SRI Evaluation
Results from CNR and RNRRC Completed
The two reports noted above were received early in 2009: 1) The final report on the trials done during 2008 on the experiment farm of the College of Natural Resources of the Royal University of Bhutan at Lobese and on a nearby farmer's field and 2) results from the Renewable Natural Resources Research Centre on its trials at nearby Bajo in 2008. Both reports indicated productivity gains with SRI methods, and show more benefit from SRI practices in this third year of SRI evaluations than in the first or second year.
The CNR's replicated trials evaluated four varieties, two Bhutanese improved, one IRRI improved, and one local. The average yield with SRI practices was 8.7 t/ha vs. 6.85 t/ha with usual (improved) methods, a 29% average increase. IR64 gave the highest yield with SRI management, 10.1 t/ha from replicated trials. On the farmer's field at Sopsokhe, IR64 was used with both SRI methods and farmer practice. The SRI yield was 40% higher, 9.6 t/ha compared to 6.6 t/ha with usual methods. The photo at left shows the 97 tillers on one plant after harvest. (Click on photo for a larger image).
In the Bajo RNRRC trials (right), at 1300 masl, the SRI average yield with IR64 variety was 8.56 t/ha vs. 7 t/ha with best management practices. One plot was measured as 9.18 t/ha. Here too, as at the CNR, this third year of trials gave better results than the Centre's trials the first two years.
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Bhutan is 28th Country to Report SRI Benefits
Karma Lhendup, Sherubtse College of the Royal University of Bhutan, conducted a set of replicated trials of SRI methods at three locations in Kanglung district (1800m elevation). A report of his 2006 results (825 kb) is also available without pictures (for a smaller file size - 451 kb). Only some of the SRI methods were used in these initial trials -- young seedlings (3-leaf stage), single seedlings, wide spacing (30x30 cm gave better performance than 20x20 cm), and reduced water application (non-flooding). There was no introduction and evaluation of organic soil fertilization (standard chemical fertilizer applications were made), and there was no active soil aeration (only hand weeding, not using a rotary hoe). The average yield increase comparing replicated plot results was 0.65 t/ha, significant at the .05 level of confidence. Profuse increases in tillering were observed, and farmers were impressed with both the plant growth and the cost-saving opportunities.
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SRI Presented at National Exposition
Karma Lhendup and two of his students at Sherubtse College in Kanglung participated in and presented a poster on SRI at a national expo organized by the Renewable Natural Resources Sector of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) in December, 2006. Two thousand five hundred participants -- including the Minister of Agriculture and 1,500 farmers - attended. The poster communicated SRI results from the first season of trials at four locations. Much interest was expressed from farmers and agricultural professionals, including the Minister (see report). It is expected that there will be a network for communication and experience-sharing on SRI in Bhutan before the next season, when trials and demonstrations will be conducted in many other locations.
On October 26,2006, Lhendup organized a field day to demonstrate SRI results to farmers, monks, local officials and agricultural professionals in the districts around Kanglung.