- Plant young, single seedlings widely spaced, 25 cm apart rather than more seedlings close together as in conventional rice growing system
- Soil should be wet but not inundated by flood irrigation
- Weed and aerate soil by use of a simple machine
Policies and Practices: WWF’s Rice Initiative
Further information
WWF and the system of rice intensification (SRI) for food and water security
About 70% of all water withdrawn goes to crops including cotton, sugar and rice that are among the “thirstiest.” Half the world depends on rice – as a food staple, source of income, or both.More than 90% of the rice that reaches our tables is grown in Asia. Traditional farming needs 3,000 to 5,000 litres of water to produce a kilo of rice. By using the “system of rice intensification” (SRI), more rice can be grown per litre. Results from SRI pilot projects in India, supported by WWF, have shown substantial increases in crop yields – and farmer incomes – while using about 30% less water.
WWF has been working collaboratively to pilot and document encouraging results of water savings and better yield in rice. This entails work with farmers, rural associations, government and water agencies, and international rice, food and policy institutes. A global partnership of key international agencies is envisaged for driving guidelines to meet sustainable irrigated rice production and contribute to the broad millennium development aspirations of water access, food security and improved livelihoods.
SRI method of paddy cultivation
To achieve higher productivity in the paddy:
SRI in India - Innovation and Institutions
The System of Rice Intensification, or SRI for short, is a fascinating case of rural innovation that has been developed outside the formal rice research establishment both in India and the rest of the world. This report documents the history of this practice in India in the last few years and presents some of the institutional changes and challenges of SRI as farmers and other actors are continuously shaping it through their practice.
Download SRI in India - Innovation and Institutions (pdf, 0.7MB)
Download SRI in India - Innovation and Institutions (pdf, 0.7MB)