Rice is Nice! Rice is set to become a major food staple in Africa, as urbanization and population growth has seen demand for rice grow rapidly over recent decades. The younger generation are eating more rice in place of traditional foods, for a number of reasons. Rice is easy to prepare, requires less energy to […]
Prof. Bancy Mati is the convenor and manager of the SRI-Africa knowledge portal. She ensures that information, publications and happenings in the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) nexus in Africa is collated and uploaded on the website. Prof. Mati is credited with introducing SRI in Kenya in 2009. From humble beginnings, she worked diligently with […]
In East Africa, rice farming faces various challenges mainly low soil fertility and environmental hazard due to low decomposition into compost and poor disposal of husks. Anaerobic conditions created under paddy rice systems cause poor decomposing rice straw residues, resulting in the emission of methane (Greenhouse gases-GHG). Excessive use of N-fertilizers leads to nitrous oxide emissions […]
Water is a valuable resource for rice production, which is an integral component of food security in East Africa (EA). Rice farming is expanding in the region, with up to 90% produced on smallholder farms using traditional flooding and rainfed methods, vulnerable to climate change and variability. Despite EA’s enormous agricultural and crop potential, the […]
Discover how Tanzanian farmers are boosting rice production despite climate change using System of Rice Intensification (SRI)! Learn key practices like young seedlings, reduced water use, less fertilizers, and smart spacing to grow more rice with fewer resources.