COLOMBIA
Overview of SRI in Colombia
Jorge Orlando Acosta Buitrago began SRI research in 2009 for the ingenieria agronómico degree at the Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuariasat of the University of Cundinamarca in Fusagasugá. His experiments, the first SRI research carried out in Colombia, were done in the municipality of Purification, Tolima, between July 2010 and August 2011. He evaluated the variety F733 under three types of management (organic SRI, and chemical SRI and mixed chemical/organic SRI) and compared them with the conventional direct seeding rice system. Although returns for SRI treatments were negative with conventional rice pricing despite 600% seed savings, returns were positive in the organic market. A 2013 article, El SICA orgánico en Colombia, published in the magazine LEISA revista de agroecología, discusses these findings. After completing his thesis, Acosta presented his findings at the First Workshop on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Latin America held October 30 - November 1, 2011, at the EARTH University campus in Costa Rica. (See PowerPoint presentation).
Progress and Activities
2013 Updates
Jorge Acosta to Facilitate SRI-Rice Communications in Latin America
Beginning in April 2013, Jorge Orlando Acosta Buitrago will be facilitating Spanish language outreach in Latin America for Cornell's SRI-Rice Center. He is also currently a graduate student at Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE) in Turrialba, Costa Rica. Jorge also recently wrote an article, El SICA orgánico en Colombia, which
was published in the magazine LEISA revista de agroecología.
2011
- Jorge Acosta Presents Thesis Findings at First Workshop on the
System of Rice Intensification in Latin America SRI Workshop in Costa
Rica
Following completion of his thesis at the University of Cundinamarca in Colombia, Jorge Acosta (right), presented his findings at the First Workshop on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Latin America held October 30 - November 1, 2011, at the EARTH University campus in Costa Rica. (See PowerPoint presentation).
Acosta's research for the ingenieria agronómico degree was undertaken at the Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuariasat of the University of Cundinamarca in Fusagasugá. His experiments, the first SRI research carried out in Colombia, were done in the municipality of Purification, Tolima, between July 2010 and August 2011. He evaluated the variety F733 under three types of management (organic SRI, and chemical SRI and mixed chemical/organic SRI) and compared them with the conventional direct seeding rice system. (See thesis for variables measured). The organic SRI treatment yielded 8 tons/ha, producing 15.8% more rice than the conventional system (6.91 tons/ha). SRI using chemical fertilizers and chemical/organic combination obtained a 5.99 and 6.97 ton/ha respectively. Despite 600% seed savings, returns for SRI treatments were negative with conventional rice pricing. However, returns were positive in the organic market. SRI assessments were recommended for a minimum of 2 years, as SRI yields often increase over time and are projected to produce positive returns in the second or third season in conventional markets.
2009
-
SICA Trials Started in Colombia during 2009
Jorge Orlando Acosta
Buitrago, whose SRI research plot is shown at left, is studying at the
University of Cundinamarca in Colombia for a degree in agronomic engineering.
Acosta planted probably the first SICA field (2 hectares) in his country, and
is writing a thesis on his observations. The main difficulties that he has
encountered are in weed control. He is using a motorized weeder (right), and
this is giving only partial control. -
Reports and General Articles
- Acosta Buitrago, Jorge O. 2013. El SICA orgánico en Colombia. LEISA revista de agroecología 29 (1): 18-20.
Research and Evaluations
- Acosta Buitrago, Jorge Orlando. 2011. Evaluación del Sistema Intensivo del Cultivo Arrocero (SICA) en el Municipio de Purificación Tolima. Thesis (ingeniero agronomo), Universidad de Cundinamarca. (128p 5.83MB pdf)
Presentations
The following PowerPoint by Jorge Orlando Acosta Buitrago and Alejandro Alcazar Acosta, Evaluación del Sistema Intensivo del Cultivo Arrocero (SICA) en Colombia, was presented at the First Workshop on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Latin America held October 30 - November 1, 2011, at the EARTH University campus in Costa Rica.
Photos
- Photos about SICA/SRI in Colombia can be found on our Picasa photo gallery. They are also embedded as a slideshow in the overview section at the top of the page.
