FIDR Foundation for International Development / Relief

2016/12/27

A delegation from the project team participated in an event to look back on the decade of SRI success in Vietnam

FIDR has been promoting and extending "SRI method*” in seven districts of two provinces at the central mountainous region in Vietnam for the purpose of ensuring food security through increasing rice yield. The Vietnamese Government has been aiming for nationwide dissemination of this farming since 2007, and activities in northern Vietnam have drawn attention. In 2010, FIDR introduced SRI experimentally to three farmers of Tay Giang district, Quan Nam Province in central Vietnam. Since its effect was confirmed, in 2012, the project site was expanded to three provinces. Then in 2015, by the request from the neighboring province, it has expanded to 7 districts in 2 provinces.

In 2015, a domestic network which consists of government officials, research institutes and NGOs was established. FIDR, receiving an evaluation that the Project approach had been effective for dissemination, was required to participate in this network as well as to produce training and promotional materials, such as posters and textbooks to disseminate SRI.

In late September, the delegation of 15 members from the project team participated in the workshop which was held in Tai Nguyen province, northern Vietnam. The workshop brought together SRI stakeholders to appreciate ten years of SRI success in Vietnam, and it was an opportunity for the delegation to share the stories of our activities in central Vietnam with others. Through this, it not only enhanced the mutual trust and cooperation among the project team but was a chance for them to build the stronger sense of ownership to the project.

※※SRI(System of Rice Intensification)
SRI is a rice cultivation method achieving high yield without relying on breed improvement or chemical fertilizer. It enhances the growth ability of rice plant by employing techniques such as transplanting single seedling of one to two weeks old in wide spacing, controlling water level of rice sector strictly and weeding thoroughly. As this method brings in two to three times higher yield comparing with conventional cultivation method while input of seeds and water are decreased significantly, it has been introduced and practiced in many developing countries.

2015/01/28

Key Farmers Exercise Leadership

The project promotes SRI (System of Rice Intensification) through “Farmer Field School” where people learn farming techniques by practices in the common field of the village.

Since the start of the project in 2012, FFS were organized five times, in which provincial officers acted as instructors. Gradually the agricultural officers of districts and communes have acquired their skills to lead FFS. It means SRI methods are now disseminated at grass-roots level.

SRI methods are highly reputed over the targeted districts and there are requests for conducting FFS from many villages. However, it is difficult to respond to them with the current number of the governmental instructors. As the villages are located away from the others in mountainous terrain, it is difficult for the government staff to cover all over the districts.

In such a circumstance, “key farmers” who learned skills and had motivation in the targeted areas stood up. The “key farmers” are literally the key to lead the project to success. They now exercise their leadership to disseminate agricultural skills along with the governmental staff.

One of the key farmers says, “We would like to spread the techniques to nearby villages because we gained enough experiences.” Their zeal and confidence are realizing a new arena where farmers learn one another.

※Photo: Key farmer (center) confidently shares her experience of SRI farming

2013/03/01

Big results － Big smiles

We have been conducting trainings on SRI farming method at 9 villages in 4 districts in Quang Nam province from May of this year. In October, the harvest season we have been longing for came.

Farmers who challenged SRI farming method, which could increase yield while controlling the use of herbicide and chemical fertilizer, had tough time in water management, frequent weeding and mixing soils.

Although amount of seeds used was one fifth of that of conventional farming method, the yield topped well above regular years. We think we had this fruitful result because the trainings were divided in several stages with clear themes and also farmers made efforts.

“ We tried SRI farming method in half belief and did not expect this much yield”. After seeing amazing results, challengers of SRI farming method has been increasing.