Less Water More Rice

Geographical location:

Asia/Pacific > East Asia > China

Asia/Pacific > Southern Asia > India
Asia/Pacific > Southern Asia > Nepal
Europe/Middle-East > North Africa > Morocco

Summary

This project will progress the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in India. It builds on the 3-year work of the Dialogue in Water, Food and Environment project, which was based on the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).

The SRI method has proved that it is possible to produce more rice with much less water. SRI will particularly address one of the most important challenges facing developing countries - achieving food security without further causing degradation to freshwater ecosystems.

Background

Almost 1 billion people live under conditions of extreme poverty, with many more struggling to sustain marginal livelihoods that are directly dependent on fragile and finite natural resources - particularly land, water, and related ecosystems.

Agriculture is the main consumer of water resources and is still the main driver of water infrastructure to dam and divert more water to irrigation. Without solutions to this enormous challenge, the inevitable result will be accelerated loss of natural habitats and biodiversity in these countries.

The Dialogue on Water, Food and Environment project, funded by the Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIS), was very successful. DGIS extended the project period to July 2007, with permission to carry forward left over funds. WWF Netherlands also agreed to provide bridging funds to allow the project to run until December 2007.

SRI has potential to get support from other aid agencies and a process is already underway to get major support for the project.

Objectives

There are 2 overall objectives:
1. Increased water productivity in irrigated rice production, contributing to the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 1 and 7.

2. Improved freshwater ecosystems.

Specific objectives include:
- Continue strategic partnerships with national NGOs in promoting SRI in at least 2 more states, i.e. Orissa, Jammu and Kashmir and Chatteeshgarh. There are already partners in these locations but they lack critical support.
- Support the ICRISAT staff in the provision of key national technical expertise.
- Establish a national level panel in India with the government to scientifically validate the results.
- Establish a network of SRI organizations to promote the work.
- Work with federal governments to convince them to invest in the method and also evolve national target of converting 20% of their irrigated rice fields to SRI by 2015.
- Raise funds from other aid agencies to allow the project to expand the SRI work.
- Initiate SRI work in Morocco, China, Nepal and on other WWF projects based on specific requests. This will be subject to the funds available for the field work.

Solution

- Direct support to farmers to test the SRI method.
- Support to local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to promote the method.
- Publication of detailed manuals for farmers to adopt the method in local languages.
- Dialogue with national and international agencies which have a mandate to improve rice production.
- Advocacy towards local governments to accept the method as part of their effort to reduce the water crisis.
- Dialogue with aid agencies to promote the method.
- Organization of a national level seminar in India on SRI to share experiences and build a network.