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Rice Production in Guinea & SRIPeace Corps Guinea Agroforestry
PST January 9, 2017
Hillary Maraham72@cornell.edu
Guinea RPCV ‘12-’14, Mali RPCRV
‘14-’15
Rice production in Sub-Saharan Africa
Each dot represents 20,000 tons Data: FAO
Rice production 2006
64% of rice is produced in West AfricaNigeria, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali
Ref: Warda (2008) Africa rice trends 2007
Rice production, consumption and deficit in West Africa between 2010 and 2018
Regional Policy: ECOWAS Rice Offensive (2012) to double rice production in the region
by 2018
Rice can grow in nearly every climate zone in West Africa, from the Sahel in the north to the humid coastline in the south.
Rice production basins in West Africa
Bulletin club du sahel-AO: Enjeu Ouest Africain N°2 Juin 2011
Rice system Surface area % Contribution to production %
Yields (t/ha)
Irrigated 12-14 38 5 -6
Lowland rainfed 31 24 1 – 2.5
Upland rainfed 44 21 1
There are 4 major rice systems in the region:
1. Irrigated rice occurs in every climate zone, as long as there is enough water, and the right infrastructure exists
2. Rainfed upland rice occurs in the southern and middle latitudes, where rainfall is sufficient to grow rice in a manner similar to maize
3. Rainfed lowland rice occurs in valleys and ponds that flood seasonally throughout West Africa
4. Swamp/deepwater rice occurs in the coastal southwest, using special varieties of rice
Rice Production & Imports in Guinea
• Nearly 80% of farms in Guinea produce rice, representing approximately 1/3 of the population involved in rice production, with 75% of this production destined for personal household consumption (i.e. subsistence production); Rice that is sold is used to finance household needs and children’s education
• Guinea imports approximately 20% of its domestic annual rice requirements and imports are increasing: In 2015, over 600,000 tons of rice was imported
• Guinea’s National Strategy in regards to rice production is to reduce rice imports by 15%, become self-sufficient in rice production, and to become a net exporter– Despite this emphasis on domestic production, rice imports
have continued to rise
Continued…• There has been significant investment in this
sector, as a result the contribution of the rice sector to GDP is continually improving: 5.2% in 2000, expected to reach 6.2% by 2018
• Guinea participated in World Bank’s “WAAPP” (West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program), with IRAG testing SRI for its viability in Guinea, with positive results
• During the Ebola crisis, rice production in Guinea fell by 1/5, and cross-border trade with neighboring countries (Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Mali) faced new obstacles including temporarily closed borders, halting exports
Rice Production & Trade in Guinea
Rice in Guinean Culture & Diet
• Oryza glaberrima, native Africa rice, was domesticated in neighboring Mali ~1500 BC and is still cultivated in parts of Guinea today- though most rice grown is derived from Asian Oryza sativa
• Eaten by all ethnic groups as the base of every meal of the day (bouillie, gâteau, rice & sauce…): 170 kilograms consumed per capita/ year
• “Le pain blanc,” used in traditional/ religious practices: offered to ancestors, during sacrifices, beekeeping…
• Given as a gift to welcome important people to a community (riz du pays/ “baara baara”)
Introduction tothe System of Rice Intensification (SRI)
What is the System of Rice Intensification, or SRI?
Simply put, SRI is a way to grow more rice, more ecologically, using less water,
seed, and agrochemicals.
It is primarily a knowledge and management approach, not a specific variety of rice.
Through smarter management, plants grow better, soil health improves, and yields increase.
SRI started in Madagascar in the1980s, with farmers growing irrigated
rice.
Between 1997 and 2015, SRI spread to 55+ countries, for both irrigated and
rainfed rice.
SRI is visually distinct…
When using a nursery, SRI plants are transplanted very young – when they have only 2 leaves
SRI at a glance:
Fields are watered but not flooded during the initial plant growth phase and up until flowering
SRI at a glance:
Organic matter is the primary source of soil fertility
SRI at a glance:
Plants have plenty of space.SRI at a glance:
1 plant
1 plant
1 plant
1 plant
25cm +
25cm +
SRI is different from conventional rice farming in
several key ways…
Plant Spacing
Irrigation
Narrow spacing, multiple plants per ‘hill’ (4-10+)
Wide spacing, 1 (or 2) plants per ‘hill’
Fields are often permanently flooded
Watering as needed, soils stay aerobic
SRI Conventional
SRI vs. Conventional
SRI vs. Conventional
Transplanting
Fertilization
If transplanting, at 3-5 weeks; plant roots often
damaged
Careful transplanting at the 2-leaf stage (8-12
days)
Often with chemical / mineral fertilizers only
Organic matter (compost, manure, etc.)
is preferred
SRI Conventional
A key aspect of SRI is how it changes plant growth…
Wider, more open
plant shape(33° vs. 18°)
More chlorophyll in
the leaves
Taller plants,deeper roots
(24% taller)
Longer, wider, thicker leaves
(36% longer, 36% wider)
More ‘tillers’
Changes to plant growth with SRI:
SRIConventional
With SRI, plants show better growth above and below ground
These two plants are the same age and the
same variety…
few tillers
many tillers
shallow roots
deeper roots
Tiller: a lateral shoot growing from the base
of a plant stem
SRIConventional
SRI plants have more ‘tillers’ and deeper roots
Conventional – rice plants left in the nursery (27 days old)
1-2 tillers per plant
SRI – A single plant, transplanted from the same nursery 15 days earlier (27 days old)
1 plant12 tillers
SRI – The same plant, at 43 days old
1 plant94 tillers
Conventional27 days old
1-2 tillers each
SRI27 days old
12 tillers
When left in close proximity plants grow upright; when given space they spread out.
This improved plant growth brings a number of benefits…
Higher yield (30%, often
more)
Shorter cropping cycle (1-2
weeks)
Saves money on inputs
Benefits of SRI:
Better overall plant and soil
health
Larger, better quality grain
Benefits of SRI: Greater Resilience
Better pest resistance
Better disease resistance
Better wind resistance
Better drought resistance
Benefits of SRI: Reduced Inputs
30-50% reduction in water use
80-95% reduction in
seed use
Reduced pumping and fuel costs for irrigated
rice
Up to 100% reduction in agrochemical use
Like any methodology, SRI has its challenges…
Some SRI Challenges
Finding organic matter
AdaptationLack of tools
Behavior change
Early ripening
Changes in labor
Vulnerability of young seedlings
But these can all be overcome with careful testing, adaptation, and
farmer innovation.
Review• What are the major principles of SRI?
Principle 1:Establish plants early and
carefully
Principle 2:Reduce plant density
Principle 3:Build soil health and fertility using
organic matter
Principle 4:Manage water carefully to avoid
permanent flooding during the vegetative growth phase
Understanding how SRI changes for different rice
systems
How (and why) can PCVs use SRI in their communities?
• Rice is grown in most rural communities in Guinea: engage farmers on an important aspect of their livelihoods
• No material resources needed outside of those available in community
• Can be used along with other trainings in agricultural techniques including: compost, nurseries, seed selection…
• Can visibly see results: build community enthusiasm for other projects
• SRI encourages farmers to think differently & critically- it can change they way they farm. Guineans like to follow rules… always encourage innovation and adaptation!
Resources for PCVs• SRI toolkit available on PC Live• SRI-Rice website, YouTube channel,
Facebook groups (including West Africa group and PC SRI group)
• Contact: Hillary Mara (ham72@cornell.edu)/ Devon Jenkins (dlj67@cornell.edu)
• In Guinea, Dr. Barry of IRAG/ Martin Kourouma of NARSEME (Kindia) 628245912
References• Most slides in this presentation are adapted from the
SRI-Rice/Peace Corps Presentations developed by Devon Jenkins for the PC SRI toolkit and from a presentation by Dr. Erika Styger, SRI-Rice.
• Other works cited include:• “National Strategy for the Development of Rice Growing.”
Republic of Guinea: Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. http://www.jica.go.jp/english/our_work/thematic_issues/agricultural/pdf/guinea_en.pdf
• “Reviving Agriculture in Ebola-hit Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.” The World Bank. February 12 2015. http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agriculture/brief/reviving-agriculture-in-ebola-hit-guinea-liberia-and-sierra-leone
• “Regional Agricultural Policy for West Africa.” ECOWAP. 2008. http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/IMG/pdf/01_ANG-ComCEDEAO.pdf
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