SRI is the 'System of Rice Intensification'. SRI is an agroecological method for growing rice which achieves greater yields from reduced inputs such as water, seed and agrochemicals. Read more on our Learn Hub: 'What is SRI?'
There are 4 key principles of SRI:
Read more on the principles and practices here.
SRI Improves:
Reduces:
Read more on the benefits of SRI here.
Not necessarily. It will depend on each farmer and their context. In some areas where rice production is already relatively labour intensive, farmers have reported reductions within the first season in the number of days of labour per hectare required. For other farmers certain operations of SRI can take more time while the new management methods of SRI are initially learnt. However, as experience in and the understanding of SRI practices are gained, labour requirements per hectare usually decline.
Agriculture is one of few interventions that can change the trajectory of climate change this decade. SRI is a nature-based solution that offers multiple benefits in tandem:
Read more on ‘Why SRI?’ here.
Yes. SRI is an effective, proven and validated method for improving rice cultivation and supporting climate action. Thousands of studies and research papers exist, which can be easily accessed through the SRI-Rice Zotero Research Database available here.
Due to the evidence of SRI’s proven benefits, 11 governments so far have committed to using SRI in their NDCs as a mitigation or adaptation method. See which countries here.
No. SRI utilises farmers' already available resources and does not require additional inputs. As inputs are reduced, the production costs can also be lowered which makes SRI a cost-effective and economically attractive option.
SRI methodology can be used with organic or inorganic amendments. However, there is a strong need to end the current chemical dependence in cultivation practices today and farmers should receive the support necessary to transition towards agroecological approaches, such as SRI, that remove the need for agrochemicals that are damaging to human health and the environment. Read more on our Learn Hub: 'What are the main practices of SRI?'
No. SRI methods can improve the yields from any rice variety including high-yielding, traditional, improved, unimproved, hybrids or landraces.
There are numerous organisations from local to international levels that use and recognise SRI as a sustainable method of rice cultivation. Some of the major international institutions that include SRI in their programs or advocate SRI implementation include: The World Bank, Oxfam, the FAO, UNDP, European Union, IFAD, IRRI, GIZ, WWF, SNV, Africare, amongst many others.
Eleven governments have selected SRI as a mitigation or adaptation action in their Nationally Determined Contributions too. See which countries here.
Lotus Foods based in the United States of America sell nationally on amazon.com and their own website. COMACO also sells their SRI brand ‘Chama Rice’ locally in the Mchinga province in Zambia. We hope more suppliers will be available worldwide in the future.
Our goal is to increase the estimated 9 million hectares of land under SRI cultivation to 50 million hectares by 2030 to enhance food security and climate action simultaneously. Read more at About Us.
SRI-2030 is an initiative of The Downforce Trust, a charity registered in England No. 1187541. You can see our team and contact us here.
