SRI Update on Vietnam Initiative

Hanoi, January 9th, 2008

Le Thi Nguyet MinhAndre Dorr

OVERVIEW

1. Reality check – opportunity2. Some SRI basic issues3. Towards a new SRI project4. Q & A

1. Reality checks - opportunities1.1. Vietnam has evolved from a net importer of rice in

the early 80s to being the world second largest exporter in the last few years

1.2. But population growth (estimate: 116 M in 2020), urban area growth, finite resources especially water, will require major improvements in productivity just to keep supply in line with domestic demand

1.3. SRI methodologies can answer to this important supply challenge while increasing trend toward sustainable agriculture

1.4. SRI methodologies also have the ability to substantially reduce the dependence on artificial inputs and being environment friendly

2. Some SRI basic issues2.1. Impact potentials2.2. Innovation2.3. Benefits from SRI2.4. Spin-off benefits from SRI

2.1. Impact potentials • Ability to change the lives of millions of rice farmers,

regardless of landholding size• To influence global rice sector, and food security• Potential of scalability • Increased support to

small farmer agriculture • Improved social resilience

– Strengthened income security through higher land productivity

– Coherent social network– Boosting farmer confidence

2.2. Innovation• Innovative changing management

practices (land, water) with reduced inputs (seeds, chemicals, water) but higher yields

• Self-help farmer groups platform towards cooperatives to improve resilience (farmer to farmer extension)

• Combined informal and formal channels – NGO networks- Local government, Ministry of Agriculture

- Politician- School teachers

• Adaptive extension and learning material

2.3. Benefits from SRI

• Reduced inputs:– Seed by 70-80%– Fertilizers by 50 % (150 kg/ha down to 75 kg/ha)

• Most SRI farmers have given up pesticide • Net income per ha increases up to 200 %.

2.4.Spin-off benefits of SRI• Increased self-confidence and self-reliance as they

can get higher production by using only their existing resources

• Growing interest among farmers in other technical and social innovations (e.g. saving for self-reliance, collective marketing & purchase)

• SRI to SID (System of intensification & diversification) to diversity farm portfolio: feed animals with rice surplus, converting part of rice fields to other products (vegetables, fish, husbandry and trees planting)

• OA has historically conducted a pilot project on community based SRI application with PPD and Ha Tay PPSD

• Results indicated 78-90% seed saving 30% water saving 8 – 15% yield increase More $ 120 – 140/ha/crop

• OA and its partners (OQ, PPD and SRD) have now embarked in a larger (6 province project), $USD 600,000/3 yr project

3. Towards a new SRI project

Organisational chart

Oxfam America

Oxfam Quebec PPD SRD

Gender Technical support Baseline Study MEL Communication

Nghe An Ha Tinh Ha Tay Thai NguyenPhu ThoYen Bai

3.1.What we have done so far?• Agreements with new local partners (Provincial PPSD of Nghe

An, Ha Tinh, Phu Tho & Thai Nguyen) concluded (in addition to 2 provinces of Ha Tay and Yen Bai)

• TOT training for 6 provinces• Baseline study: consultants finished field study• Gender study: in process of recruiting consultants• Planning workshops in provinces & communes• Select farmers participating in the program• Form farmer self-help groups• Farmer Field School (FFS) opening in 6 provinces• SRI experiments by farmer groups in the 4 new provinces• Trial SRI book-keeping completed and start rolling out

3.2.What to do in the next 6 months?

• Gender study carried out and completed• FFS continued• SRI experiments continued• Evaluation workshops at the commune and

province levels• Study tours for farmers (rotating between

provinces)• MEL system established & developed

Q & A