Revision as of 15:26, 6 March 2014 by
***** (***** | *****)Rice is the staple food for the majority of the population in developing countries and therefore crucial for food security. The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) is gaining popularity due to its high potential in increasing rice yield and protecting natural resources. SRI is a flexible set of practices aiming to provide the best environment for the rice plant to utilize its potential, thereby improving the productive efficiency of land, labor, water, nutrients and capital. Therefore it is emerging as a potential alternative to flooded rice cultivation, and the number of farmers practicing some or all SRI principles is steadily increasing.
Background
SRI was originally developed by the French priest Henri de Laulanié in the highlands of Madagascar during the 1970s and 1980s. During a 1983 drought, which prevented many farmers from flooding, he noticed that the rice plants and their roots showed unusually strong growth. The Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development (CIIFAD) started to work with de Laulanié in 1994 and supported the spread of SRI from Madagascar around the world.
The Concept of SRI
