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Progress and Activities (2001-2008)

2008 Update
• Ir. Angel Fernández prepared a review of progress with demonstrating SRI/SICA under Peruvian conditions in advance of his participation in the 4tah International Rice Meeting held in Havana, June 2-6. Trials plots have shown that yields can be boosted from 5-7 tons/ha to 8-10 tons/ha, with a 20% reduction in costs/ha (from $1,000 to $800), making rice much more profitable than at present.

Despite evident economic advantages of SRI, Ir. Fernández says he has encountered problems in getting it introduced. There are very high costs of irrigation in the coastal region of Peru, and the costs of agrochemical inputs are mounting. With the introduction of new varieties, rice yields increased during the 1990s, up to 8 tons in 2000. But since then, there has been no further gain in yield. SRI thus comes along at an opportune time. With some financial support, the first 500 hectares of SICA have been planted, and he expects that the results will warrant expansion to 2,000 hectares, and then 3,000 hectares. In another area, they expect to expand SICA to 5,000 hectares. His goal is to reach 20,000 hectares within 5 years, but rising input costs and tighter water constraints could drive this acceptance faster if the yield gains hold up.

2007 Activities
• During 2007, Ir. Fernández reported on results of carefully planned trials over the last four seasons of six months each. The evaluations started with 19 farmers on 100 hectares, but the number grew to 169 farmers on 400 hectares by the third season, and then to 500 hectares in the fourth, indicating farmer satisfaction with the methods. Whereas yields over the past 10 years with standard methods in that area have been 5-7 tons/ha, with SRI methods the yields have been at least 8 tons/ha and more usually 9-10 tons/ha, with some yields of 10-11 and 11-12 tons/ha achieved by farmers who adapted appropriately all the SRI practices -- sowing density, water applications, fertilization, and timing of irrigation.

Costs of production were reduced from $1000/ha to $800/ha, adding to the profitability of SRI methods. A mechanical weeder is being used that makes the use of herbicides unnecessary, and fertilizer applications are reduced by 50-60%, with higher yield. Dr. Fenández reports that the profitability of SRI has become very convincing to farmers, and he hopes to expand this transformation of rice production in Peru.

2001-2006 Progress
• The first SRI results in Peru were reported by Pablo Lutz, based on what he read about the methods in a 2001 article in ECHO Development Notes. Farmers near Pucallpa in the Amazonian region got a yield of 8 t/ha with SRI methods where before they got only 2 t/ha, with a lot of time devoted to bird-scaring. With SRI, this was not necessary because the heavier panicles hung down so that birds could not feed on them. In addition, they got a ratoon (regrowth) harvest of 5.5 t/ha.

• Angel Fernández García at the National Institute of Engineering became interested in SRI since attending the Sanya conference in 2002. The first two seasons, his trials were not successful due to drought or cold, which also negated other rice production. In 2003, he obtained field-scale yields of 9-11 t/ha, and trial plot results as high as 23 t/ha with IR-42. Rice production in Peru averages 6 t/ha, which is not profitable given the cost or production and prevailing market price for rice. The profitability of rice production with SRI methods, on the other hand, is very attractive, and Dr. Fernandez continued to be optimistic about their spread. (See Spanish language report.)

Reports and Articles

• Fernández García, Á. 2008 (Sept. 10). Sistema Tradicional vs “SICA” castellano ó “SRI” ingles. Document prepared for a visit to farmers in Jaén, Peru (pdf)
• Fernández García, Á. 2008. Avances y perspectivas del SRI/SICA en Perú. Review paper prepared for 4th International Rice Meeting held in Havana, June 2-6, 2008. 3 p. (pdf)
• El Sistema de Intensificación del Cultivo Arrocero (SICA), 6 page SRI manual developed by Asociación Promoción y Desarrollo Agario (Pro-A), Chiclayo, Peru, together with the Asociación Productores de Arroz Ramadino in (pdf, 864 KB)
• Fernández García, Á. 2003. Ensayo de adaptabilidad del "SRI" y 5 variedades en Rioja. Report to the Comisión de Tecnología Agrícola y Comisión de Alimentación. 8 p.