Meshing mechanization with SRI methods for rice cultivation in Nepal

Presented in

3rd International Rice Congress 20108-12 November 2010, Hanoi, Vietnam

Rajendra UpretySenior Agriculture Development Officer

Department of AgricultureNepal

Rice Cultivation in Nepal

Problems of rice cultivation in Nepal

Low yields

High production costs

Labor shortages

Water shortages for irrigation

Manual/bullock-based cultivation

To solve some of the above mentioned problems, the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) has been introduced to raise factor productivity and reduce water requirements. But even though SRI raises

labor productivity, its labor requirements often limit its adoption.

Mechanization of rice farming Mechanization is being introduced in Morang

district of eastern Nepal in conjunction with SRI practices.

In the first year, 27 farmers participated with 24 ha area under mechanized rice farming

Machines were used for land preparation, transplanting, and harvesting work.

Machines were provided by Buddha Air, but all cost has calculated, and a fixed rent for these machines was paid by farmer users

Average cost distribution of rice farming in 2009

Seed cost5%

Nursery preparation

9%

Land preparation

18%

Transplanting13%Weed

management11%

Fertilizer15%

Harvesting+threshing29%

Average cost distribution of Mechanize rice farming

Average cost for different activities of rice farming, 2009

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Co

st (

US

$/h

a)

Work of rice farming

Cost comparision of conventional and mechanized rice farming

Mechanize

Conventional

Average cost differences of conventional and mechanized rice cultivation

Work Conventional Mechanical Difference (%)

Seed 17.7 12 32.2

Nursery 17 20 -17.6

Land Prep. 80.7 40.3 50.1

Transplanting 46.4 32.3 30.4

Fertilizers 31.9 31.9 00

Weeding 29.7 22.2 25.3

Harvesting 90.4 62.8 30.5

Total 313 226 27.8

Yield distribution of conventional and mechanized rice farming

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

<3.0 3.0-4.0 4.0-5.0 5.0-6.0 >6.0

Nu

mb

ers

of f

arm

ers

Yield (t/ha)

Yield distribution of different rice farmers

Mechanized rice farming

Conventional rice farming

Conventional- 4.2 t/ha

Mechanical- 4.8 t/ha

Yield and production costs of rice farming by different weed management practices

3168N =

Type of weeding

no-w eedingManualMechanical

Prod

uctio

n co

st b

y m

echa

nize

met

hod

(US$

/ha)

400

300

200

100

15

3168N =

Type of weeding

no-w eedingManualMechanical

Crop

yie

ld w

ith m

echa

niza

tion

(t/ha

)

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

Ave. 5.83 4.48 2.73

Ave. 224 235 188

US$/hat / ha

Cost and profit situation

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Production cost (US$/ha) Profit (US$/ha)

US

$/h

a

Cost and Profit

Cost and profit of rice farming in Morang, Nepal, 2009 Conventional

Mechanical

-27 % +35.7%

Labor required for conventional and mechanical rice farming in Morang, 2009

Work Conv. Mech. Saving

Nursery Preparation 8 10 +2

Land Preparation 24 10 14

Transplanting 35 7 28

Weeding 24 16 8

Fertilization 2 2 0

Irrigation 2 2 0

Harvesting + Threshing 44 10 34

Total 137 55 82

Conclusions

Mechanization of rice farming can reduced labor requirements and production costs, and it will be a good solution for Nepalese rice farmers who are faced with labor shortages and high costs of production

Mechanization can reduce the costs of land preparation, transplanting, and harvesting.

Farmers can cut down on their labor costs for weeding if and when they have access to appropriate weeders at an affordable cost.

Conclusions (continued)

Those farmers who are familiar with SRI methods were able to scale-up their SRI practice with some modification.

The results show that a combination of mechanization and SRI can increase production and further enhance farmer income by reducing production cost.

Besides this, Nepalese farmers who can save valuable time by mechanization then can take on other additional work for bettering their livelihoods.