Ghana: Rice farmers share climate-smart practices at Tono Irrigation Scheme
The Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) has facilitated a cross-regional learning visit for rice farmers to the Tono Irrigation Scheme as part of efforts to strengthen climate-resilient agriculture and boost rice productivity in northern Ghana. The initiative forms part of the Scaling Up of Climate Resilient Rice Production Practices in West Africa (RICOWAS) project, a […]
Wethungerhilfe & CHAP Launch Climate-Resilient Rice Project to Strengthen Food Security in Liberia
MONROVIA – Wethungerhilfe (WHH) Liberia, in partnership with its national implementing partner, the Community of Hope Agriculture Project (CHAP), has officially launched the Climate-Resilient Rice Production in Grand Gedeh and Montserrado Project, following a successful three-day inception workshop held January 28–30, 2026, at the Corina Hotel in Monrovia. The workshop brought together government institutions, development partners, […]
SRI and the Malagasy paradox of short-termism, or “When Madagascar imports rice of its own invention”
Abstract : The relative failure of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Madagascar reveals a deep-seated societal paradigm: a systematic preference for short-term security at the expense of promising long-term investments. Invented by Malagasy farmers in the 1980s, SRI has shown remarkable performance in over 50 countries (yield gains of 30-100%, water savings of 40%), […]
SUSTAIN Pro project, in collaboration with the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) and Norad held a SRI training Feb. 12 and 20 in Kilmbero
As the new rice-growing season nears in the Kilombero landscape, the SUSTAIN Pro project, in collaboration with the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) @official_taritanzania, has conducted refresher training for Village Agricultural Extension Officers (VAEOs) and farmers in Itete and Njage villages on the 19th and 20th of this month. The training focused on reinforcing the […]
On-farm impact of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI): Evidence and knowledge gaps
The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is being promoted worldwide, but relatively little is yet known about its impacts at farm level. This article reviews available evidence on the impact of SRI practices in terms of yield and productivity. Adoption of SRI practices necessarily changes the mix and allocation of inputs, in particular of water, […]
Comparing productivity of rice under system of rice intensification and conventional flooding: A switching regression approach
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important food crops for more than 50% of the world population (Atera et al., 2018). Globally, about 160 million hectares are estimated to be under rice production with an annual production of approximately 500 million metric tons (Kirby et al., 2017). The demand for rice has […]
SRI 2.0 and Beyond: Sequencing the Protean Evolution of the System of Rice Intensification
SRI has progressed well beyond what it was when first assembled some 40 years ago by Henri de Laulanié, SJ, in Madagascar [1]. It has changed considerably since becoming known outside that country after 2000. Initially, SRI was understood and presented in terms of certain practices, some quite counterintuitive, for improving smallholder production of irrigated […]
An analysis of the adoption of the “system of rice intensification” (SRI): why a homegrown technique has yet to take seed among rice farmers in Madagascar
To combat food insecurity in Madagascar, organizations have promoted the Système de Riziculture Intensifiée (SRI), or System of Rice Intensification, an agroecological rice-growing technique. However, despite its many benefits, adoption remains low (and disadoption remains high) in Madagascar. To better understand these dynamics, we use data from two surveys of 328 rice farming households in southeastern Madagascar […]
Economics of Rice Irrigation Technologies in Kilombero Sub-Basin: A Case of Farming Households from Kilombero in Morogoro, Tanzania
The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is strongly emphasized by the Ministry of Agriculture in Tanzania to replace traditional flooding. SRI technologies have been scientifically proven to be more efficient in water use than traditional flooding (TFIT). SRI irrigation is therefore a good solution to approach climate change impacts that leads to water stresses, particularly […]
TANZANIA / GLOBAL: Comprehensive Review of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) to Enhance Productivity and Environmental Sustainability in Rice-Producing Countries
Context The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is a sustainable rice cultivation method designed to enhance productivity while minimizing resource inputs. It addresses global food security and environmental challenges by improving yield, reducing water use, and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in resource-constrained agricultural systems. Objective This review aims to evaluate the core principles of […]
System of Rice Intensification (SRI) as a Sustainable Approach to Enhanced Rice Production
▸ abstract System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is a climate‑smart, input‑reducing and output‑increasing way of growing rice. It focuses on altering management of plants, soil, water and nutrients instead of using external inputs. Developed in Madagascar during the 1980s, SRI has become a worldwide phenomenon because it can help grow more rice by consuming less […]
Spreading the system of rice intensification across East and Southern Africa
SRI is an innovative concept. This new system cannot be considered a “technique”. SRI is more of a philosophy based on good management of the rice plant, the soil and the water conditions. N. Uphoff describes SRI as “an innovation that encourages further innovation”. It is also an ongoing innovation. The system is not a […]