SRI International Network and Resources Center

NEPAL

Overview

The first SRI trials in Nepal were undertaken in 1998 by a government agronomist at the Khumaltar Research Farm (near Kathmandu) in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development CRSP program. In 2001, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and Appropriate Technology Asia (ATA) began trials at sites near Kathmandu and in the Rupandehi District. Most of these early trials did not produce expected results. In 2002-2003, Farmer Field Schools in the Sunsari-Morang irrigation project supported by DFID in the terai (southern plains) of Nepal undertook replicated SRI trials which produced an average of 8 t/ha, more than either improved practices or conventional practices. In April 2002, SRI presentations sponsored by CIMMYT and Winrock International made at the National Agricultural Research Council (NARC) headquarters in Kathmandu were followed by the formation of a national SRI network and the SRI-Nepal discussion group. A national workshop was held in 2003.

During April 2005, an SRI project was among the winners of the World Bank’s Nepal Development Marketplace (NDM) competition. Mr. Rajendra Uprety from the District Agricultural Development Office in Morang (terai), whose trials from 2004-2007 showed doubling of yields and earlier maturing crops with SRI, used the funds to promote SRI within his and neighboring districts.

SRI evaluation was carried out in 2004 - 2005 by PARDYP (People and Resource Dynamics in Mountain Watersheds of the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Region) sponsored by ICIMOD (the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development). This began with a few farmers in Jhiku Khola Watership in 2004 and expanded into a 15-village program in 2005 where over 100 farmers participated in SRI Farmer Field Schools. Results included a 40-50% yield increase, 75% reduction in seed requirements and 50-75% reduction in water use, as well as reduced labor for transplanting and irrigation. The cost of weeding was 50-60% more, while costs of fertilizer and harvesting remained the same. During December 2005, ICIMOD hosted a national SRI workshop in Kathmandu.

During 2008, ATA's demonstration and education center in the Madana Village Development Committee (VDC) area has successfully used SRI methods at 2500 m altitude in southern Humla district of Nepal. On May 22-23, 2009, a training program was organized in cooperation with World Vision International/Nepal and Sunaulo Bihani Society Development Center. In April 2010 the NGO FAYA-Nepal in collaboration with UN/FAO established a demonstration plot and carried out trainings in Kailali district with EU funding. Demonstration plots were established in the Dolpa district (Karnali zone) during July 2010.

Two master's theses on SRI (about productivity and economic viability and weed control) were completed at Tribhuvan University during 2009. In a presentation at the 3rd International Rice Congress during 2010, Rajendra Uprety presented evidence that in the Morang District combining SRI with mechanization gave 55% higher yields than conventional cultivation, with 27% reduction in costs of cultivation. Several SRI trainings in early 2011 involving government agencies, UN and bilateral aid groups, and national NGOs (see 2011 updates) have increased the spread of SRI in Nepal. Reports from a 2010 FAYA-Nepal/Mercy Corps Nepal project showed the System of Wheat Intensification (SWI), an adaptation of SRI principles to wheat, average grain yield increased by 91 to 100 percent with adoption of SWI technology compared to traditional practice. Early in 2012, Ram Khadka reported that the Ministry of Local Development have prioritized the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) as an important intervention for food security in Nepal.

During 2013, several magazine articles, a research article and a professional video about the SRI experience in the Kailali district of Farwestern Nepal all pointed to successful adaptation and adoption of SRI over the past few years. According to Rajendra Uprety, the total area covered by SRI is around 1,000 hectares over 35 districts in Nepal as of mid-2013. During 2015, mechanized SRI is making a big impact in Sunsari and Morang districts (see article for details). In June 2015, a new National Network for Nepal was formed (see item below for details). To help achieve self-sufficiency in rice production, the Ministry of Agricultural Development launched a Mega Rice Production Program (MRPP) which emphasizes wider spacing of plants, line transplanting, and mechanical weed management, integrating SRI principles into the conventional rice production system. A 2015 report from the Morang district explains the higher yields achieved by SRI farmers along with varietal performance. By the end of 2016, SRI had been promoted in 35 districts through the Nepal's Mega Rice Production Program (MRPP). During 2017, three irrigation projects were planned to divert water to huge tracts of the Tarai are about to launch in the central and western plains; SRI (which combined with mechanization has already boosted productivity in Tarai farms from an average of 3 tons/hectare to 9 tons/hectare at a lower cost) has been recommended to be used in these areas. During 2019, a study published in the journal PeerJ has shown the significant potential of Trichoderma for increasing both rice grain yield and quality, especially in combination with SRI management practices. During 2020 and 2021, research was carried out on SRI adoption and GHG emissions in Nepal (see items below) and various government and NGO SRI efforts continues (see examples from Morang and World Neighbors).

Progress and Activities.

2024 Updates

• SCI Methods Show Improved Yields with Finger Millet in Sundarbazar, Lamjung, Nepal

  [January 20, 2024] A 2023 article by Pandey et al in the Reviews In Food And Agriculture indicated that several varieties of finger millet grown with System of Crop Intensification (SCI) methods had superior yields compared to both conventional transplanting of 30-day-old seedlings and direct-seeding. Growth attributes like plant height, tillering habit and growth rates recorded maximum values with SCI method resulting in highest yield (2.75 tons/ha). The yield obtained from CT and DS was 14.90% and 29.69% less than SCI. Kabrekodo-1 variety recorded maximum height at harvest and growth rate during both vegetative and reproductive phases also the yield of this variety was higher than other varieties. Thus, the study revealed Kabrekodo-1 as potential variety of the Sundarbazar, Lamjung, and SCI as a better option to increase performance of finger millet. [See full article in Reviews in Food and Agriculture for more information.]

2021

• Thesis Considers System of Rice Intensification (SRI) Adoption and Its Relevance to Climate Change

  [December 25, 2021] Surabhi Khanal completed a masters thesis at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences that elucidated the determinant factors for SRI adoption (compared to conventional rice production) in Nepal as well as the potential environmental benefits of SRI in the context of climate change. The major determinant factors that influenced the adoption of SRI by the farmers were labor demands, mechanization options, research and extension, irrigation facilities. Khanal suggests that outreach, extension practices and policies will be necessary to accelerate the implementation and adoption of the SRI, which will benefit farming households nationwide as well as the natural environment. He conclude that SRI can best be promoted by investments in research and extension, initiatives that promote mechanization and irrigation services. [See full thesis.]

• World Neighbors Helps Communities Adopt SRI in Remote Areas of Nepal

  [November 6, 2021] - An article on the Asia News website reports that as talks in Glasgow [COP 26] consider how to combat climate change globally, in rural Nepal SRI methods are being adapted that can conserve biodiversity, reduce emissions and increase production. World Neighbors finds that SRI methods can increase production from 30% to 50% while consuming less water and limiting the use of fertilizers. According to Srijana Karki, head of World Neighbors programs for India and Nepal, farmer acceptance is increasing despite initial mistrust. Climate change has increased problems, though, especially with water control.

  "90% of our beneficiaries are women, who have only very small plots of land available... and stay in the mountain villages as their husbands move to the city in search of better job opportunities. After seeing the success of the project, however, many have returned”. In additional to working with various rice varieities, World Neighbors chose SRI because it is a simple technology to implement. are, however, communication problems, due to varying dialects, and a low level of education. Involving school children is especially helpful, especially where illiteracy is a problem. Innovation from participants is also included in projects. World Neighbors has supports farmers ideas to use human urine as a fertilizer and have financed attendance at in-depth seminars to learn how to build latrines to collect urine. The article explains that if the plan is successful, farmers can reduce dependence on the market for fertilizers and pesticides, which, due to delays in supply chains, can threaten entire crops. “We try to use local seeds and homemade fertilizers as much as possible to withstand market shocks. This is how the impact of the pandemic was contained.” World Neighbors' intervention approach is always "community driven", Srijana Karki is keen to clarify. "It is by giving the communities the possibility that they can then become the engine of their own development". [See article (in Italian) in Asia News.]

• Paddy Farmers Boost Yield by Using System of Rice Intensification in Nepal

  [July 2, 2021] Nepal’s average paddy productivity is less than four tons per hectare, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. According to an article in the Kathmandu Post, the average yield, after adopting the SRI in Morang, was seven tons; the maximum yield reported was 12 tons per hectare. In Morang, more than 500 farmers have been planting paddy with this technology. While only a few farmers in Morang, Sunsari and Jhapa districts in the eastern part of the country have been adopting this system for several decades, Rajendra Upreti said that the Ministry was working to promote this system more widely. [See full article in Kathmandu Post]

2020

• GHG Research in Nepal Suggests SRI is an Option for Methane Emissions Mitigation

  [March 14, 2020] A chapter by Naut et al in the recent book on Climate Change and Soil Interactions concluded that using System of Rice Intensification (SRI) methods reduced CH4 emission, thus contributing to climate change mitigation. The authors measured fluxes of methane (CH4) with a closed chamber technique from fields in the traditional agricultural system and intensified agricultural system of upland (Bari) and lowland (Khet): System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and conventional farming system (non-SRI). The measurements in Khet and Bari were done every 1–2 weeks over a period of 12 months covering two to three cropping periods, while in SRI and non-SRI, daily measurements were done for a month. The results showed that in both Khet and Bari lands, there was a net emission of CH4 from the soil to the atmosphere. The CH4 emission was significantly higher in Khet land (102.29 µg CH4 m−2 h−1) than in Bari land (0.91 µg CH4 m−2 h−1) at P<.001. The emission was significantly higher during the rainy season than in other seasons (P<.05). The SRI system enhanced the reduction of CH4 emission by four times contributing to climate change mitigation.

2019

• Research Confirms Increased Grain Yield and Quality by Combining Trichoderma and SRI

  [January 11, 2019] A study by Ram B. Khadka and Norman Uphoff published January 11, 2019, in the journal PeerJ has shown the significant potential of Trichoderma for increasing both rice grain yield and quality, especially in combination with SRI management practices. Experiments were conducted during 2015 and 2016 at the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) in Khajura, Banke district, Nepal, showed more effect with the landrace Tilki than with the HYV Sukha-5. The analysis also found the efficiency of Trichoderma to be greater with organic than with inorganic methods of cultivation. This effect in organic systems would be due to the more hospitable environment for Trichoderma build-up. The use of Trichoderma inoculation as a seedling treatment can help to enhance rice production and productivity in Nepal, especially in conjunction with SRI methods and even more so with organic fertilization, which in this integrated system of rice cultivation can reduce the use and cost of chemical fertilizer. In such a system under the prevailing soil and climatic conditions, an indigenous heirloom rice variety was also able to outperform in both agronomic and economic terms the more modern improved variety. [For more information, see the full PeerJ article.]

2018

• Rajendra Uprety Represents the Nepal SRI Community at Two SRI Events in Southeast Asia

  [October 20, 2018] Rajendra Uprety made a presentation on Nepal's SRI Network at the Workshop to Enhance Cooperation and Sharing among SRI National Networks in Asia, held October 18-19, 2018, in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The event, which was attended by 50 participants from 17 countries, was organized by the Malaysian Agroecology Society (SRI-Mas), the Asian Centre of Innovation for ACISAI Centre at the Asian Institute of Technology, and SRI-Rice. It allowed SRI network representatives and other stakeholders to share experiences and to investigate opportunities to collaborate on scaling-up, multi-country research, value chain improvements, accessing resources, and capacity building for SRI networks. The workshop also mapped out the possibilities for forming an Asia Regional SRI Network from the ten Asian SRI networks that operating the region. Rajendra's presentation considered how the SRI Nepal Network could both benefit from and contribute to an SRI Regional Network for Asia as well as other global and regional SRI networks. The details of the SRI Asia Network operations should be completed during 2019. [Workshop presentations by other participants are also available.]

  Prior to the participating in the SRI Networks Workshop in Malaysia, Uprety attended the 5th International Rice Congress (IRC) in Singapore, held October 15-17, 2018. During the Congress, he gave two presentations during regular sessions as well as a talk on mechanized transplanting opportunities at the SRI-Rice research side event (SRI Research: What's New and What's on the Horizon, held October 16; see other side event presentations.) Rajendra also helped provide SRI information to the event participants from the SRI-Rice/Oxfam booth during the three-day event. (He is standing at far right in the picture at left with SRI colleagues at the SRI booth.)

• Lutheran World Federation Reports on SRI Trials in Kailali District

  [August 12, 2018] The Lutheran World Federation program in Nepal, working with the local NGO Digo Bikash Samaj-Kailali, has been introducing SRI methods to marginalized households as part of its counter-poverty program in Munuwa and Janakinagar VDCs in eastern Kailali district. An initial training of 30 farmers, who were skeptical at first, gave the results needed to expand SRI efforts in the area, with farmers now motivated to assist in farmer-to-farmer training. The increment to yield compared to usual production has given enough rice to extend household sufficiency of basic grain by 3 months, and the 120-day crop was harvested after 90 days, giving its higher yield sooner. [See report for details]

2017

• World Neighbors Experience with SRI in Kavre Lead to Expansion in Udaypur

  [December 15, 2017] Learning from Rajendra Uprety's SRI experience in Morang district, World Neighbors began extending SRI methods in Mahadevsthan Village, Kavre. According to Uprety, yields often double, crops mature sooner, water is saved, the risk of crop loss decreases, and, once farmers have acquired experience and skill, SRI can be labor-saving rather than labor-intensive. Saving labor as well as seeds, water, and costs of production makes SRI increasingly attractive to farmers that World Neighbors (WN) works with. In Mahadevsthan Village, farmers are primarily small landholders, most of them women. According to an article in the Kathmandu Tribune, WN reports SRI farmers there are getting an average yield 30% higher than farmers using standard practices, with some as high as 62% higher. [See article in the Kathmandu Tribune.]

  An article by World Neighbors documents the process by which the farmers in Mahadevsthan achieved and monitored their their success. Seven women farmers came forward to do experimentation with SRI, and WN trained them in SRI principles and practices, and then provided them with regular technical support throughout the entire cycle of rice cropping, from seed to harvest. The farmers used a local variety of rice seed and also used organic fertilizer to give their seedlings a good start.

  After the harvest, WN organized an experience-sharing meeting with these seven farmers and other group members in which they compared SRI methods with their conventional method of rice transplantation. People were very excited with the yield results, which were 30-50 % higher than obtained with general practice. During the sharing process, farmers (all women) also talked about criticisms from their own family members and neighbors who were doubtful about the new methods. They shared how they dealt with drought stress, weed management, and low self-confidence during the cropping period. Various family problems associated with skepticism were mentioned, and many experienced stress through the first month until they saw how many tillers could come from one seedling; their worries then turned to the harvest date. (It was also quite unusual for farmers to see a rice field with seedlings sown in rows maintaining a regular and wide distance). However, as the season went on, they realized that their distress over the timing of maturity was unnecessary as the rice grains matured more quickly than expected. Since their yield was also better, the farmers were quite satisfied. Based on this success, WN is also now working to introduce SRI to farmers in Udaypur. [See World Neighbors article for details of the methodology used and the yield results.]

• Irrigation, Mechanization and SRI Can Help Nepal's Rice Deficit

  [July 14, 2017] Nepal has an annual rice deficit of about 1 million tons even during years with good monsoons. Rice production is averaging about 5 million tons because only 18% of the land is irrigated, and productivity is low. This year, only 40% of rice fields have reportedly been planted because of late monsoons and elections. An article in the Nepali Times explains how this may change. Three irrigation projects that will divert water to huge tracts of the Tarai are about to launch in the central and western plains, which means farmers can plant spring rice as well. New techniques like System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and cross-breeding by farmers have improved yields, and need to be scaled up. SRI is now being practiced in 12 districts and has doubled the yield in many places, while using half the amount of seedlings and much less water. SRI combined with mechanization has boosted productivity in Tarai farms from an average of 3 tons/hectare to 9 tons/hectare at a lower cost. Power tillers, automatic paddy planters and harvesters are replacing manual farming even in the hills. Rajendra Uprety, Regional Directorate of Agriculture in Biratnagar, notes, “We need to grow more rice to achieve food security, and need a new methodology for local seeds for higher yields. SRI is suitable to achieve that objective.” [See Nepali Times article for details.]

2016

• Seminar at Cornell University Highlights SRI Progress in Nepal

  [December 9, 2016] Ram B. Khadka visited SRI-Rice at Cornell University during December and presented a seminar entitled New Directions for the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Nepal: Mechanization and Biofertilizers. Khadka's research showed that the yields of organic SRI were larger than non-organic SRI, conventional, and direct-seeded rice; SRI-grown rice also experienced less disease and lodging than the other methods. The effect on lodging was most pronounced with taller, traditional varieties, as evidenced by the photo at right in which all of the non-SRI rice has lodged following a weather event. Even higher yields were obtained with organic SRI when Trichoderma was added. (Trichoderma is a fungus that occurs naturally in soils and helps control soil diseases and break down crop residues to make otherwise unavailable soil nutrients available to plants).

  Ratooning experiments also showed great promise for Nepal, as time is saved in crop establishment, the cost of seed is eliminated, and labor is reduced. It may be especially valuable in Nepal when the length of the growing season makes it difficult to prepare the fields in time to plant traditional long duration varieities. The seminar also covered the development of equipment for SRI, including manual weeders, roller markers, and experiments with adapting a crank transplanter. Khadka hopes that motorized weeders can be made available in the near future, as this will reduce drudgery as well as increase efficiency in rice cultivation. [See presentation for details.]

• SRI Promoted in 35 Districts through the Mega Rice Production Program (MRPP)

  [December 9, 2016] SRI promotion through the Mega Rice Production Program (MRPP), which began with a focus on Spring rice, launched in 15 districts of Nepal last year. According to Ram B. Khadka, this year, it expanded to 35 districts, including hill districts. The upcoming expansion for Spring rice may increase to 50 districts. As there is flexibility in the MRPP guidelines, the rice production methods can be adapted. Some of the districts are using machine transplanting. These include Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Kailali, Barnyard, and Bara (and possibly more). While the exact records of areas planted to SRI have not been completed, 200 ha were planned for each districts.

• Morang District Report Sheds Light on SRI Integration with Conventional Rice Production

  [June 2016] To achieve self-sufficiency in rice production, the Ministry of Agricultural Development recently launched a Mega Rice Production Program (MRPP) which emphasizes wider spacing of plants, line transplanting, and mechanical weed management, integrating SRI principles into the conventional rice production system. A year-end report on SRI and rice production in Morang district notes that integration of some of the recommended SRI practices into conventional rice farming system has in fact become popular in the Morang district. According to Rajendra Uprety, Morang farmers' increasing awareness about the importance of younger seedlings, fewer seedling/hill, wider spacing, mechanical weeding, and AWD has resulted in greater savings and income for farmers through reduction of seed rate, in water use, and lower production costs, which are associated with higher yield.

  The SRI farmers' yields in Morang district during 2015 (which was a drought year) fluctuated from 0.6 to 7.8 tons/ha, with an average yield of 4.1 tons/ha. The average yield of 95 randomly-sampled SRI farmers in the rainy season was 5.5 tons/ha (range 3.6-7.8 tons/ha), 1.4 tons higher than district average. However, over 40% of the typical farmers produced less than 4 tons/ha yield while this percentage was only 11.5% among those farmers who used SRI methods. With conventional methods, only 9.25% farmers using conventional methods produced more than 6 tons/ha yield while this proportion was 40% for SRI farmers. (For more information, including the results of varietal trials, see the full report).

1998-2015 -see Nepal activity archives

Reports and Articles

• Shrestha, Aavash. 2022. System of Rice Intensification (SRI). Agriculture Student Liaison Forum (ASLF) blog. January 7. [Student blogger covers SRI progress in Morang, Nepal.]
• Pant, Shashwat. 2021. SRI: A new technique is helping Nepal farmers produce more rice with less water. Online Khabar, November 21.
• De Poli, Alessandra. 2021. Il sistema agricolo di un missionario francese per le popolazioni rurali del Nepal. AsiaNews.it website. November 6. [Italian language article about World Neighbors SRI experience in Nepal. Most participants are women. At the request of the participants, they are experimenting with using human urine as fertilizer.]
• Bhandari, Binod. Paddy farmers boost yield by using System of Rice Intensification. Kathmandu Post, August 6.
• Basnet, Bhola Man Singh. 2021. Taking rice science to farmers, myRepublica, June 29.
• Bhandari, Binod. 2021. Paddy farmers boost yield by using System of Rice Intensification. Kathmandu Post, July 2, 2021.
• Basnet, Bholo Man Singh. 2018. Rice science to farmers. Halokhabar website. [Article about rice in Nepal that notes also the importance of SRI.]
• World Neighbors. 2017. World Neighbors experience with SRI in Kavre, Nepal. SRI-Rice website (9p., 971KB pdf)
• Sánchez, Erica. 2017. Sustainable landscape: How to reduce rice methane emissions? #WeAreClimate blog. November 7. [Story about progress on a MIT Climate CoLab project to reduce methane emissions by using SRI in Nepal.]
• Levitt, Shannon. 2017. Jesuit scientist’s controversial rice system flowers in poor nations. Crux webiste. November 6 [Catholic magazine remembers Father Laulanie; plus info from World Neighbor's director on Nepal program.]
• 2017. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Nepal. Kathmandu Tribune, October 18. [World Neighbors work in Mahadevsthan Village, Kavre show average SRI yields 30% higher (as high as 62%); will now introduce to Udaypur].
• 2017. MoAD to support drought-hit farmers. The Himalayan Times. August 6. [Ministry of Ag Development to introduce SRI into Terai districts as part of drought resistance program]
• 2017. Rice self-sufficiency. Nepali Time, Nation section. July 14-20 edition, #867
• WN. 2017. Sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods. World Neighbors website. [Description of World Neighbors' programs that cites SRI project in Nepal as an example of their work.] [accessed July 2, 2017]
• 2016. Paddy mission programme falls flat. The Himalayan Times. August 25. [Nepal failed to reach rice targets; 13 districts were part of program to promote SRI.]
  
• Uprety, Rajendra. 2016. Integration of SRI with conventional methods and its performance in Morang district, Nepal, 2015. SRI-Rice website. June 26.
• 2015. Nepal farmers countering climate challenges. Business Standard, October 3. [SRI among climate-smart innovations promoted by govt. eastern Terai; introduced into Mahadevsthan and Nayagaun villages.]
• House panel instructs facilitating paddy plantation. The Himalayan Times, August 10.
• 2015. Nepal may lose ‘Rs 25b’ from paddy. Kathmandu Post, August 10. [Ministry of Ag. Development to expedite its SRI and direct seeding in districts with experiencing poor rainfall.]
• 2015. A brief report on the National SRI Network Nepal. SRI-Rice website. July. (10p, 100 KB pdf). [Minutes of the meeting to reorganize the National SRI Network of Nepal].
• Awale, Sonia. 2015. Nepal's quiet green revolution. Nepali Times, Nation section, July 3-9.
• Singh, Bhola Man. 2015. Hail the humble paddy. Kathmandu Post. June 29
• 2015. Nepali rice farmers need appropriate technologies to boost yields, says expert. Oryza website. June 30.
• 2014. New farming technology doubles paddy output. e-Kantipur, October 13.
• Dhital, Maina. 2013. SRI: Making a world of difference. ekantipur.com website. July 16.
• 2013. Multi-sectoral collaboration can promote SRI. Kathmandu Post, July 16.

• Stapleton, Ellen. 2013. New System of Rice Intensification (SRI) video about Nepal. SRI News and Views blog. July 10.
• Khadka, Ram B. 2013. [Article about SRI and National Rice Day], June 29. [Nepali language article in a national newspaper.]
• Basnet, Bhola Man Singh. 2013. Rice and food security, Gorkapatra Online, June 25. [Growing more with less discussed as Nepal's National Rice Day approaches]
• Uprety, Rajendra. 2013. Hybridizing Technology: The Case of rice farming in Nepal. Landscape for People, Food and Nature blog. May 8.
• Uprety, Rajendra. 2013. Aprendiendo de los agricultores. LEISA revista de agroecología 29 (1): 12-13. [Spanish language article about Uprety's work with SRI in Nepal]
• Ram B. Khadka and Norman Uphoff. 2013. 水稻强化栽培体系给尼泊尔洪水多发地区 - 带来了新的希望. LEISA China 7(1): 22-25. [Chinese language article about Ram Khadka's work with SRI in Nepal]
• Uprety, Rajendra. 2013. 向农民学习. LEISA China 7(1): 14-16. [Chinese language article about Uprety's work with SRI in Nepal]
• Khadka, Ram Bahadur and Ranjana Rawal. 2013. Food security in floodprone areas: SRI shows the way. LEISA India 15(1): 27-29.
• Uprety, Rajendra. 2013. Learning from farmers. Farming Matters 29(1): 20-22. March. [Article about Uprety's work with SRI in Nepal]
• एसआरआई प्रबिधीबाट रोपाइ शुरु. 2013. [Cultivation of paddy started with SRI methods]. B FM 91.2 website. February 19.
• Paudel, Prem. Prasad. 2011. जैविक तरकारी खेतीका नमूना बने अर्जुन न्यौपाने [Arjun Nyopane becomes the example of organic farming, Nepal]. An environmental blog of Rasuwa blog. November 21.
• Khadka, Ram Bahadur, and Prashanta Raut. 2011. System of Wheat Intensification (SWI): A new concept on low input technology for increasing wheat yield in marginal land. System of Rice Intensification website. (11p., 246KB pdf) [Report on a SWI project in Far Western Nepal by European Union Food Facility Project, Forum for Awareness and Youth Activity Nepal and Safety Nets Supporting Agricultural Productivity (SNAP) Mercy Corps Nepal]
• 2011. Government ignores high rice production method. The Himalayan, July 13, Top Stories section.
• सघन धानखेती प्रणाली सरकारी प्राथमिकतामा राखिनु पर्ने. 2011. [SRI is the government’s priority, Nepal] Journalist blog, July 11.
• Spence, Linda. 2011. IPS Innovation in the Rice Fields of Nepal. P.E.O International website. May-June edition. [Story about Janani Rajbhandari Thapa's promotion of SRI in Chitwan Valley, Nepal. She is now a PhD student at Texas A&M University.]
• एसआरआई प्रविधिमा किसानको आकर्षण. 2011. [Farmers are taking interest in SRI]. Aarthik Abhiyaan. June 29.
• Mahato, Rubeena. 2011. Nepal's hunger solution. Nepali Times, June 24-30, Nation section, Issue 559.
• Mahato, Rubeena. 2011. Nepal can feed itself . Nepali Times, June 24-30, Headline, Issue 559.
• Uprety, Rajendra. 2011. SRI training in Jhapa. System of Rice Intensification website. (3p., 441KB pdf)
• Uprety, Rajendra. 2011. SRI activities in Nepal as of 2011. System of Rice Intensification website. (3p., 25.47KB pdf)
• Uprety, Rajendra. 2010. Meshing mechanization with SRI methods for rice cultivation in Nepal. Paper presented at the 3rd International Rice Congress, held in Hanoi, Vietnam, November 8-12. (5p, 40.2KB pdf)
• एसआरआई प्रविधिबाट धान खेती. 2011. [Cultivating paddy with SRI principles]. ,Kantipur October 22.
• Khadka, Ram Bahadur. 2010. First time SRI demonstration plot is established in Kailali district in Nepal. System of Rice Intensification website. (1p., 117KB pdf) [Report for the EU food facility project, and FAYA-Nepal, Dhangadhi, Kailali, Nepal.]
• 2010. NEPAL: Training farmers to adapt to unpredictable weather. IRIN (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), July 19.
• धानखेतीमा आधुनिक प्रविधि. 2007. [Improved paddy cultivation techniques]. Kantipur July 04.
• Uphoff, Norman. 2006. Report on a visit to Nepal's Morang District, November 2-5, 2006, to review the status of SRI activities there, followed by other activities. System of Rice Intensification website. (30p. pdf) [Trip report for Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development]
• Uprety, Rajendra. 2006. SRI takes root in Nepal. LEISA 22(4): 25-27
• Uprety, Rajendra. 2005. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) performance in Morang District during 2005 main season. System of Rice Intensification website. (10p. pdf) [Report for District Agriculture Development Office, Biratnagar, Morang, Nepal]
• Dixit, Kunda. 2005. Less is more: working miracles in Nepal's rice fields. SciDev.net, Sept. 15, Features section.
• Dixit, Kunda. 2005. The miracle is it's no miracle. Nepali Times, July 15 - 21, Nation section, Issue 256.
• Uprety, Rajendra. 2005. Progress report of SRI promotional activities in Morang district and other places in Nepal. Agriculture Development Office, Morang, Nepal. System of Rice Intensification website. (pdf)
• Uprety, Rajendra. 2005. Performance of System of Rice Intensification in Morang District, 2004. System of Rice Intensification website. (7p., pdf) [Report for District Agriculture Development Office, Biratnagar, Morang, Nepal]
• Uprety, Rajendra. 2004. System of Rice Intensification in the context of Nepalese rice production. System of Rice Intensification website. (4p., pdf) [Report for District Agriculture Development Office, Biratnagar, Morang, Nepal]
• Adoption of system of rice intensification (SRI) technique in central Terai of Nepal. WISARD Project information on an SRI project of the Nepal Agriculture Research Council and the (NARC): Agriculture Research Station (Agri-Machinery) in Ranighat and the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Parwanipur (Project duration: from May 2003 until December 2005) [no longer online]
• Evans, Chris, S. Justice and S. Shrestha. 2002. Experience with the System of Rice Intensification in Nepal. Paper presented at the conference on Assessments of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), April 1-4, in Sanya, China.

Evaluations and Research (in chronological order)

• Yadav, Shubh Pravat Singh, Netra Prasad Ghimire, et al. 2024. Advancing effective methods for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from rice (Oryza sativa L.) fields. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment 3(4): e70012 ,doi:10.1002/sae2.70012 [accessed November 8, 2024]
• Pandey, Menuka, Hemant Raj Awasthi, Roshan Subedi, and Kamal Joshi. 2023. Crop intensification practices for better finger millet growth. Reviews in Food And Agriculture 4(2): 71-77.
• Banjade, Dhurba, Dipak Khana, Aman Shrestha and Karuna Shrestha. 2023. Effects of seedling and plant spacing on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) for spring rice (Oryza sativa L. Chaite 2). AgroEnvironmental Sustainability 1(3): xx-xx
• Niraula, Rochak, and Rahul Bikram Karki. 2023. Efficacy of different weed management practices on growth and yield of spring rice under System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Bara, Nepal. Journal of the Plant Protection Society 8:125-137. doi:10.3126/jpps.v8i1.56454
• Rai, Khushubu, et al. 2023. Response of different seedling establishment methods on growth and yield of rice in Terai Region of Nepal. Reviews In Food And Agriculture 4(1): 07-12.
• Gurung, Suk B., Ram B. Khadka, and Narayan B. Dhami. 2023. Effects of finger-millet intensification on yield and disease-resistance in the central hills of Nepal . Nepalese Journal of Agricultural Sciences 24: 5-21.
• Khadka, Ram Bahadur. 2022. Microbial inoculation can enhance SRI performance and reduce biotic and abiotic stresses in rice. Journal of Rice Research 15 (Special issue) 77-80. doi:10.58297/YKBR1159
• Khanal, Surabhi. 2021. System of rice intensification in Nepal: determinant factors for adoption, and relevance to climate change. Master's thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences. 59p. [accessed March 17, 2022]
• Raut, Nani, et al. 2020. Methane emission from unsustainable crop production in Nepal, system of rice intensification as an option for mitigation, in Climate Change and Soil Interactions, pages 37-49. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-818032-7.00003-5
• Shrestha, Jiban, and Subash Subedi. 2019. Improving crop productivity through sustainable intensification. South Asian Research Journal of Agriculture and Fisheries 1(1): 8-11.
• Khatri-Chhetri, Arun, et al. 2019. Potential of climate-smart agriculture in reducing women farmers’ drudgery in high climatic risk areas. Climatic Change (online first) pp 1–14. doi:10.1007/s10584-018-2350-8
• Khadka, Ram B., and Norman Uphoff. 2019. Effects of Trichoderma seedling treatment with System of Rice Intensification management and with conventional management of transplanted rice. PeerJ: e5877. doi:10.7717/peerj.5877
• Dhakal, Bishal, et al. 2017. Assessment of yield and yield attributing characters of drought tolerant rice cultivars under different crop management practices in Central Terai of Nepal. International Journal of Science and Research 6(10): 1646-1649.
• Dhakal, Bishal, et al. 2017. Productivity assessment of drought tolerant rice cultivars under different crop management practices in Central Terai of Nepal. International Journal of Environmental & Agriculture Research 3(10): 20-25.
• Khadka, R. B., and K. Dahal. 2016. Performance of rice varieties under conventional and SRI practices in far western Tarai of Nepal. Journal of Agriculture and Environment 17: 148-156.
• Uprety, Rajendra. 2016. Agricultural intensification in Nepal, with particular reference to systems of rice intensification. PhD dissertation, Wageningen University (The Netherlands). doi:10.18174/392853 (204p. pdf)
• Rana, Sadhana. 2015. Transforming livelihood through innovative agricultural reform: An insight into the adoption of system of rice intensification (SRI) in Nepal. Master thesis, Norwegian University of Life Sciences.
• Loukes, Keira. 2015. The System of Rice Intensification (SRI): Complicating the global narrative. Master's thesis. Queen's University. (138p., 15.18MB pdf) [An exploratory, qualitative study based on fieldwork in Nepal’s Tera.] [accessed August 14, 2015]
• Khadka, Ram B., Hari P. Acharya, and Norman Uphoff. 2014. Performance of landrace and improved rice varieties under the System of Rice Intensification management in Bajhang district of Nepal. Journal of Agriculture and Environment 15: 1-10.
• Dahal, Khem Raj. 2014. System of Rice Intensification (SRI): A potential approach to enhance rice productivity and food security. Journal of Forest and Livelihood 12(1): 75-81
• Dahal, Khem R., and Ram B. Khadka. 2012. Performance of rice with varied age of seedlings and planting geometry under System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in farmer's field in western Terai, Nepal. Nepal Journal of Science and Technology 13(2): 1-6. doi:10.3126/njst.v13i2.7706
• Sigdel, Udit P., Durga Devkota, Narayan R. Joshi, et al. 2014. Impact of result demonstration of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) adoption among participant and non-participant farmers in Chitwan, Nepal. International Journal of Agricultural Extension 2(3): 153-158
• Pandey, Sharad. 2012. Effect of weed control methods on rice cultivars under SRI practices. Saarbrücken: Lambert Academic Publishing. [Explores suitable weeding method and variety for rice cultivation using the system of rice intensification (SRI) in Nepal]
• Dhital, Krishna. 2011. Study on System of Rice Intensification in transplanted and direct-seeded versions compared with standard farmer practice in Chitwan, Nepal. Master's thesis, Tribhuvan University (Rampur, Nepal). (152p., 922KB pdf) [see also abstract]
• Khadka, Ram Bahadur, and Prashanta Raut. 2011. System of Wheat Intensification (SWI): A new concept on low input technology for increasing wheat yield in marginal land. System of Rice Intensification website. (11p., 246KB pdf) [Report on a SWI project in Far Western Nepal by European Union Food Facility Project, Forum for Awareness and Youth Activity Nepal and Safety Nets Supporting Agricultural Productivity (SNAP) Mercy Corps Nepal]
• Karki, Sudeep. 2010. System of Rice Intensification: An analysis of adoption and potential environmental benefits. Master's thesis. Norwegian University of Life Sciences. (80p., 8.65MB)
• Uprety, Rajendra. 2010. Meshing mechanization with SRI methods for rice cultivation in Nepal. Paper presented at the 3rd International Rice Congress, held in Hanoi, Vietnam, November 8-12. (5p, 40.2KB pdf)
• Karki, Keshav Bahadur. 2009. Productivity and economic viability of rice under different planting pattern and age of seedlings through System of Rice Intensification (SRI). Tribhuvan University, Nepal. (107p., 446KB pdf)
• Pandey, Sharad. 2009. Effect of weed control methods on rice cultivars under the System of Rice Intensification (SRI). Master's thesis, Tribhuvan University, Nepal. (176 p.,876 KB pdf)
• Rajbhandari, Rajeev. 2007. System of Rice Intensification under different plant population and levels of nitrogen. Master's thesis, Tribhuvan University (Rampur, Nepal). System of Rice Intensification website. (125p, 527KB pdf)
• Dhakal, Madhav Prasad. 2005. Farmers’ evaluation of the System of Rice Intensification in the middle mountains of Nepal. System of Rice Intensification website. (39 p., pdf) [Article for People and Resource Dynamics in Mountain Watersheds of the HKH (PARDYP) /International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Khumaltar, Kathmandu, Nepal]
• Uprety, Rajendra. 2005. System of Rice Intensification (SRI) performance in Morang District during 2005 main season. System of Rice Intensification website. (10p., pdf) [Report for District Agriculture Development Office, Biratnagar, Morang, Nepal]
• 2003. Yield Data from Treatment Evaluated by Sunsari-Morang Farmer Field Schools, Nepal Monsoon season, 2003. System of Rice Intensification website. (2p., pdf) [Data from District Agriculture Development Office, Biratnagar, Morang, Nepal]

Practical Information

• Khadka, Ram. B. 2015. Adopt SRI, Build a Country Self-sufficient in Rice. [Nepali language SRI poster for Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Khajura, and funded by the Agriculture and Food Security Project (AFSP) to create awareness SRI in Nepal's farming community.]
• 2011. SRI poster (in Nepali; English version in not online). EU/FAO Food Security project. System of Rice Intensification website. (A corresponding booklet is not yet online)
• System of Rice Intensification (SRI). ICIMOD website.( 4p pdf)(ICIMOD publication on how to use SRI methods in Nepal; developed in conjunction with WOCAT.)
• Nepali language SRI manual. Appropriate Technology Asia. (6p., 4MB pdf - slow download!).
• Uprety, Rajendra. Nepali language SRI manual. Morang District Agricultural Development Office, Ministry of Agriculture. 6p. (2.234MB pdf).
• Nepali language SRI manual. Appropriate Technology Asia and the SRI Group-Nepal. 16 p. (16 p., 749KB pdf) (An English version is also available).

National Workshops, Conferences, and Meetings

• National SRI Network Meeting (to reorganize the network)
  Nepal Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) Hall, Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Khumaltar, Lalitpur, June 19, 2015
  
• Meeting of Nepal SRI Network Participants
  Biratnagar, Nepal, May 2006
  
• Exchange Workshop on the System of Rice Intensification
  International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Lalitpur, Nepal, December 19, 2005
• Report of Meeting of Nepal SRI Network Participants
  Kathmandu, Nepal, April 2004
  (from notes of Khem Raj Dahal, IAAS, Chitwan)

Nepal SRI Network Social Media

• Twitter: @NepalSRI
• Facebook: Nepal SRI Network (https://www.facebook.com/NepalSRINetwork)
• A 2002 discussion list (SRI-NEPAL) is no longer active.

PowerPoint Presentations

(Notes: Click here to see all SRI Nepal presentations on slidehare.net. Transcripts are at the bottom of each presentation. There is a "full screen" button at the lower right corner of the presentation to enlarge the presentation.)

• Khadka, Ram Bahadur. 2016. New Directions for the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Nepal: Mechanization and Biofertilizers. 21 slides. Presentation at the SRI-Rice seminar series. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, December 9. SRI-Rice channel, Slideshare.net.
• Dahal, Khem Raj. 2015. SRI History, Present Perspectives and Future Strategies in Nepal. Presented at the National SRI Nepal Network Meeting, Lalitpur, Nepal, June 19. 11 slides.
• Khadka, Ram Bahadur. 2015. System of Rice Intensification Research Perspective in Nepal. Presented at the National SRI Network meeting, Lalitpur, Nepal, June 19. 27 slides.
• 2014. Water reliability, seedling age and transplanting methods for mechanical weed management. Presentation by Rajendra Uprety, Ministry of Agriculture, Nepal, at the Workshop on Crop Production Equipment for SRI, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Pathumthani, Thailand, November 1-3, 2014.
• 2014. Performance of the USHA weeder in rice and other crops in Western Nepal. Presentation by Ram B. Khadka, National Agricultural Research Council, Nepal, at the the Workshop on Crop Production Equipment for SRI, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Pathumthani, Thailand, November 1-3, 2014
• Khadka, Ram. B. 2013. System of Wheat Intensification - A New Technology for Wheat (SWI) Intensification Practiced in Kailali Nepal. Presentation by Ram B. Khadka, Programme Coordinator, European Union Food Facility, FAYA- Nepal, Dhangadhi, Kailali, Nepal. 10 slides.
• Adhikari, Debraj. 2012. A Sharing on System of Wheat Intensification (SWI) in Sindhuli, Nepal.
  Presentation by the by the Plant Protection Officer, District Agriculture Development Office, Sindhuli, Nepal, to the ICWMP Farmer Field School in Sindhuli. 22 slides.
• 2012. Performance of Rice with Varied Age of Seedlings and Planting Geometry under System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Farmer's Field in Western Terai, Nepal.
  PowerPoint presentation by Ram Bahadur Khadka, Scientist, Regional Agriculture Research Station, Khajura, at the 4th National Convention of Society of Agricultural Scientists in Nepal (SAS-N), Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal, April 4-6. 17 slides.
• 2010. Meshing mechanization with SRI methods for rice cultivation in Nepal
  PowerPoint presentation by Rajendra Uprety at the 3rd International Rice Congress, held in Hanoi, Vietnam, November 8-12. (see also accompanying paper). 16 slides.
• 2009. Dynamics of Rice Intensification System in Nepal
  - PowerPoint presentation by Rajendra Uprety (TAD, Wageningen UR). 48 slides
• 2008. System of Rice Intensification (SRI): Experiences of Nepal
  - PowerPoint presentation by Rajendra Uprety (District Agriculture Development Office, Morang, Nepal) at the 3rd National SRI Symposium at TNAU, Coimbatore, India. 23 slides
• 2007. Facing the Ecology of Green Revolution Rice: The Controversy Around the System of Rice Intensification and its Consequences for Future Rice Improvement Strategies
  - PowerPoint presentation by Rajendra Uprety, Agriculture Extension Officer, District Agriculture Development Office, Morang, Nepal. 16 slides
• 2006. The System of Rice Intensification (SRI): A Good Alternative for Increasing Irrigated Rice Cultivation and its Productivity in Nepal
  - PowerPoint presentation by Rajendra Uprety, Agriculture Extension Officer, District Agriculture Development Office, Morang, Nepal. 31 slides
• 2003. SRI
  - PowerPoint presentation by Andrea Jenny, 51 slides.

Videos

• 2021 (June 10). SRI System of Rice cultivation. 3:28 min. Udaya Agri_tech channel, YouTube. [Nepali language explanation of how to implement SRI methods.]
• 2020 (May 21). What is SRI technology in paddy cultivation, धानमा SRI प्रविधि. 11:40 min. Agritech Nepal channel, YouTube. [Nepali video introducing SRI and its principles.]
• 2016 (June 21). NEPAL Rice, far-western Nepal. 14:55 min. Images Nepal channel, YouTube. [Nepali language video about the SRI work in Far-Western Nepal.]
• SRI Nepal. (Long version - 12:29 min; Short version - 4:54 min). Produced by Flooded Cellar Productions in partnership with SRI-Rice. Flooded Cellar channel, YouTube. [Video about SRI experiences by farmers and researchers in the Kailali district of Farwestern Nepal. This is a very well-done video by a professional video production company.]

Photo Archive

• System of Rice Intensification

  The Nepal SRI-Rice photo collection contains pictures obtained from Rajendra Uprety, Andreas Jenny, Norman Uphoff, and others. A slideshow of the photos is embedded in the summary section at the top of the page.

• System of Wheat Intensification

  The Nepal SWI photo collection contains pictures about the System of Wheat Intensification provided by Ram B. Khadka. A slideshow of the photos is embedded in the SWI section at the top of the page.