Rice Production in Guinea & SRIPeace Corps Guinea Agroforestry

PST January 9, 2017

Hillary Maraham72@cornell.edu

Guinea RPCV ‘12-’14, Mali RPCRV

‘14-’15

Rice production in Sub-Saharan Africa

Each dot represents 20,000 tons Data: FAO

Rice production 2006

64% of rice is produced in West AfricaNigeria, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali

Ref: Warda (2008) Africa rice trends 2007

Rice production, consumption and deficit in West Africa between 2010 and 2018

Regional Policy: ECOWAS Rice Offensive (2012) to double rice production in the region

by 2018

Rice can grow in nearly every climate zone in West Africa, from the Sahel in the north to the humid coastline in the south.

Rice production basins in West Africa

Bulletin club du sahel-AO: Enjeu Ouest Africain N°2 Juin 2011

Rice system Surface area % Contribution to production %

Yields (t/ha)

Irrigated 12-14 38 5 -6

Lowland rainfed 31 24 1 – 2.5

Upland rainfed 44 21 1

There are 4 major rice systems in the region:

1. Irrigated rice occurs in every climate zone, as long as there is enough water, and the right infrastructure exists

2. Rainfed upland rice occurs in the southern and middle latitudes, where rainfall is sufficient to grow rice in a manner similar to maize

3. Rainfed lowland rice occurs in valleys and ponds that flood seasonally throughout West Africa

4. Swamp/deepwater rice occurs in the coastal southwest, using special varieties of rice

Rice Production & Imports in Guinea

• Nearly 80% of farms in Guinea produce rice, representing approximately 1/3 of the population involved in rice production, with 75% of this production destined for personal household consumption (i.e. subsistence production); Rice that is sold is used to finance household needs and children’s education

• Guinea imports approximately 20% of its domestic annual rice requirements and imports are increasing: In 2015, over 600,000 tons of rice was imported

• Guinea’s National Strategy in regards to rice production is to reduce rice imports by 15%, become self-sufficient in rice production, and to become a net exporter– Despite this emphasis on domestic production, rice imports

have continued to rise

Continued…• There has been significant investment in this

sector, as a result the contribution of the rice sector to GDP is continually improving: 5.2% in 2000, expected to reach 6.2% by 2018

• Guinea participated in World Bank’s “WAAPP” (West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program), with IRAG testing SRI for its viability in Guinea, with positive results

• During the Ebola crisis, rice production in Guinea fell by 1/5, and cross-border trade with neighboring countries (Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Mali) faced new obstacles including temporarily closed borders, halting exports

Rice Production & Trade in Guinea

Rice in Guinean Culture & Diet

• Oryza glaberrima, native Africa rice, was domesticated in neighboring Mali ~1500 BC and is still cultivated in parts of Guinea today- though most rice grown is derived from Asian Oryza sativa

• Eaten by all ethnic groups as the base of every meal of the day (bouillie, gâteau, rice & sauce…): 170 kilograms consumed per capita/ year

• “Le pain blanc,” used in traditional/ religious practices: offered to ancestors, during sacrifices, beekeeping…

• Given as a gift to welcome important people to a community (riz du pays/ “baara baara”)

Introduction tothe System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

What is the System of Rice Intensification, or SRI?

Simply put, SRI is a way to grow more rice, more ecologically, using less water,

seed, and agrochemicals.

It is primarily a knowledge and management approach, not a specific variety of rice.

Through smarter management, plants grow better, soil health improves, and yields increase.

SRI started in Madagascar in the1980s, with farmers growing irrigated

rice.

Between 1997 and 2015, SRI spread to 55+ countries, for both irrigated and

rainfed rice.

SRI is visually distinct…

When using a nursery, SRI plants are transplanted very young – when they have only 2 leaves

SRI at a glance:

Fields are watered but not flooded during the initial plant growth phase and up until flowering

SRI at a glance:

Organic matter is the primary source of soil fertility

SRI at a glance:

Plants have plenty of space.SRI at a glance:

1 plant

1 plant

1 plant

1 plant

25cm +

25cm +

SRI is different from conventional rice farming in

several key ways…

Plant Spacing

Irrigation

Narrow spacing, multiple plants per ‘hill’ (4-10+)

Wide spacing, 1 (or 2) plants per ‘hill’

Fields are often permanently flooded

Watering as needed, soils stay aerobic

SRI Conventional

SRI vs. Conventional

SRI vs. Conventional

Transplanting

Fertilization

If transplanting, at 3-5 weeks; plant roots often

damaged

Careful transplanting at the 2-leaf stage (8-12

days)

Often with chemical / mineral fertilizers only

Organic matter (compost, manure, etc.)

is preferred

SRI Conventional

A key aspect of SRI is how it changes plant growth…

Wider, more open

plant shape(33° vs. 18°)

More chlorophyll in

the leaves

Taller plants,deeper roots

(24% taller)

Longer, wider, thicker leaves

(36% longer, 36% wider)

More ‘tillers’

Changes to plant growth with SRI:

SRIConventional

With SRI, plants show better growth above and below ground

These two plants are the same age and the

same variety…

few tillers

many tillers

shallow roots

deeper roots

Tiller: a lateral shoot growing from the base

of a plant stem

SRIConventional

SRI plants have more ‘tillers’ and deeper roots

Conventional – rice plants left in the nursery (27 days old)

1-2 tillers per plant

SRI – A single plant, transplanted from the same nursery 15 days earlier (27 days old)

1 plant12 tillers

SRI – The same plant, at 43 days old

1 plant94 tillers

Conventional27 days old

1-2 tillers each

SRI27 days old

12 tillers

When left in close proximity plants grow upright; when given space they spread out.

This improved plant growth brings a number of benefits…

Higher yield (30%, often

more)

Shorter cropping cycle (1-2

weeks)

Saves money on inputs

Benefits of SRI:

Better overall plant and soil

health

Larger, better quality grain

Benefits of SRI: Greater Resilience

Better pest resistance

Better disease resistance

Better wind resistance

Better drought resistance

Benefits of SRI: Reduced Inputs

30-50% reduction in water use

80-95% reduction in

seed use

Reduced pumping and fuel costs for irrigated

rice

Up to 100% reduction in agrochemical use

Like any methodology, SRI has its challenges…

Some SRI Challenges

Finding organic matter

AdaptationLack of tools

Behavior change

Early ripening

Changes in labor

Vulnerability of young seedlings

But these can all be overcome with careful testing, adaptation, and

farmer innovation.

Review• What are the major principles of SRI?

Principle 1:Establish plants early and

carefully

Principle 2:Reduce plant density

Principle 3:Build soil health and fertility using

organic matter

Principle 4:Manage water carefully to avoid

permanent flooding during the vegetative growth phase

Understanding how SRI changes for different rice

systems

How (and why) can PCVs use SRI in their communities?

• Rice is grown in most rural communities in Guinea: engage farmers on an important aspect of their livelihoods

• No material resources needed outside of those available in community

• Can be used along with other trainings in agricultural techniques including: compost, nurseries, seed selection…

• Can visibly see results: build community enthusiasm for other projects

• SRI encourages farmers to think differently & critically- it can change they way they farm. Guineans like to follow rules… always encourage innovation and adaptation!

Resources for PCVs• SRI toolkit available on PC Live• SRI-Rice website, YouTube channel,

Facebook groups (including West Africa group and PC SRI group)

• Contact: Hillary Mara (ham72@cornell.edu)/ Devon Jenkins (dlj67@cornell.edu)

• In Guinea, Dr. Barry of IRAG/ Martin Kourouma of NARSEME (Kindia) 628245912

References• Most slides in this presentation are adapted from the

SRI-Rice/Peace Corps Presentations developed by Devon Jenkins for the PC SRI toolkit and from a presentation by Dr. Erika Styger, SRI-Rice.

• Other works cited include:• “National Strategy for the Development of Rice Growing.”

Republic of Guinea: Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. http://www.jica.go.jp/english/our_work/thematic_issues/agricultural/pdf/guinea_en.pdf

• “Reviving Agriculture in Ebola-hit Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.” The World Bank. February 12 2015. http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agriculture/brief/reviving-agriculture-in-ebola-hit-guinea-liberia-and-sierra-leone

• “Regional Agricultural Policy for West Africa.” ECOWAP. 2008. http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/IMG/pdf/01_ANG-ComCEDEAO.pdf