The system of rice Intensification (SRI) developed in Madagascar has been controversial in some agronomic circles, in part because there have been no large-scale, long-term evaluations of the impact of the alternative methods recommended. This review reports on on-farm comparative evaluations conducted over nine seasons between 2002 and 2006 across eight provinces in Eastern Indonesia under a major irrigation project (SSIMP-DISIMP), with project management by a Nippon Koei consultant team. It summarizes the results of 12 133 comparison trials that covered a total area of 9429 ha. Average yield increase was 78% (3.3 t/ha) with reductions of 40% in water use, 50% in fertilizer applications and 20% in the costs of production. While the controversy will not be resolved by any single evaluation, these results support the previous reports that SRI practices, when used in combination, can achieve significantly higher output of rice with a reduction in inputs, enhancing simultaneously the productivity of the resources (land, labour, water and capital) used in irrigated rice production.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Sato et al. (2007) studied this question.