SRI is a set of effective, eco-friendly rice farming practices proven to increase crop productivity, while at the same time reducing inputs such as seed, water, fertiliser and pesticides. The key tenets of SRI include the use of younger seedlings, single plant transplantation, wider spacing of plants, timely drainage of water, and frequent weeding. SRI was initially developed in the 1980s by a French priest, Fr. Henri de Laulanié, S.J., working in Madagascar. It was Dr. Norman Uphoff of Cornell University’s International Institute for Food, Agriculture, and Development (CIIFAD), however, who popularised SRI through his work with farmers, NGOs, governments, and research institutes throughout the world.
An SRI plant (left) and a non-SRI plant (right). Notice the strong healthy roots of the SRI plant.
For more information, visit CIIFAD’s SRI page.
You can also watch two multimedia presentations from the World Bank on SRI:
Improving Rice Productivity and Achieving Water Savings
“How-to” Guide for Farmers and Practitioners Based on an application in the Philippines
PDF Brochure on SRI (World Bank)
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