Mid-term Field Progress Report by Henry Ngimbu (CSRII) for a grant by the Special Self-Help (SSH) of the U.S. Ambassador in Zambia

1. THE U.S. AMBASSADOR’S
SPECIAL SELF-HELP (SSH) PROGRAM
IN WEST BANK OF ZAMBEZI DISTRICT
SRI Mid-term Field Progress Report
The information
in this report was
written by CSRII
for the Special
Self-Help (SSH)
of the U.S.
Ambassador in
Zambia which
has supported
CSRII work.
This report
provides
information on
field activities for
SRI development
at the local level
in the West Bank
of Zambezi
Zambezi West Bank: SRI demo field of rice plants at three months district.

2. THE U.S. AMBASSADOR’S
SPECIAL SELF-HELP (SSH) PROGRAM
IN WEST BANK OF ZAMBEZI DISTRICT
Meeting the principal objectives of the Special Self-Help Program (SSH),:
Projects are
to
be of a high-
impact
nature,
benefiting
the The impact is here
greatest observed from the 2011-
number of 12 farming season where
people 16 SRI demo fields have
possible been developed in West
Bank of Zambezi district.
with any
This has involved 12
single activity. women’s clubs, a youth
club and an old-aged
club. 300 local people
have adapted SRI as a

3. THE U.S. AMBASSADOR’S
SPECIAL SELF-HELP (SSH) PROGRAM
IN WEST BANK OF ZAMBEZI DISTRICT
Meeting the principal objectives of Special Self-Help Program (SSH):
A project
must be within
the
community‟s
ability to
maintain and
operate.
The largest and most pervasive requirement for SRI adoption is change in
farmers‟ thinking and willingness to change. Farmers need a certain amount of
skill and motivation to use SRI techniques successfully.

4. THE U.S. AMBASSADOR’S
SPECIAL SELF-HELP (SSH) PROGRAM
IN WEST BANK OF ZAMBEZI DISTRICT
Meeting the principal objectives of Special Self-Help Program (SSH):
A successful
project should
also demonstrate
the likelihood
that it will be
sustained over a
long period.
There are 14 community-based clubs that have become growers undertaking
to establish the best rice crop stand possible and to maintain the same in the
best possible condition observing best SRI cropping practice for seed

5. THE U.S. AMBASSADOR’S
SPECIAL SELF-HELP (SSH) PROGRAM
IN WEST BANK OF ZAMBEZI DISTRICT
Meeting the principal objectives of Special Self-Help Program (SSH),:
A project
should help
improve basic
economic or
social conditions
at the local
community or
village level, and
have long-lived
value.
The project has provided low-input technology for SRI growers, which should
be flexibly applied based on the enabling factors and farm conditions.

6. THE U.S. AMBASSADOR’S
SPECIAL SELF-HELP (SSH) PROGRAM
IN WEST BANK OF ZAMBEZI DISTRICT
Meeting the principal objectives of Special Self-Help Program (SSH):
A project
should help
improve basic
economic or
social conditions
at the local
community or
village level, and
have long-lived
value.
The project has designed low-input technology for SRI growers, which
should be flexibly applied based on the enabling factors and farm

7. THE U.S. AMBASSADOR’S
SPECIAL SELF-HELP (SSH) PROGRAM
IN WEST BANK OF ZAMBEZI DISTRICT
Meeting the principal objectives of Special Self-Help Program (SSH):
Contributions may
include
labor, materials
(bricks, sand, gravel
, seeds, etc.), land,
buildings, or money
to ensure the
success of the
project. ”
There is overwhelming commitment from local SRI
farmers in ensuring soil biological activity based on the
concept “grow the soil, and the soil will grow the plants”.

8. THE U.S. AMBASSADOR’S
SPECIAL SELF-HELP (SSH) PROGRAM
IN WEST BANK OF ZAMBEZI DISTRICT
Meeting the principal objectives of Special Self-Help Program (SSH):
Contributions may
include
labor, materials
(bricks, sand, grave
l, seeds, etc.), land,
buildings, or
money to ensure
the success of the
project.
As part of self-help initiative, using learning-by-practicing method to build
human capacity in response to local application of SRI, local farmers prepare
seedling nursery in different approaches. Local farmers are managing on their
own to produce healthy seedlings for transplanting -- a practice that is
expected to help the small farmers to significantly increase their rice yields.

9. THE U.S. AMBASSADOR’S
SPECIAL SELF-HELP (SSH) PROGRAM
IN WEST BANK OF ZAMBEZI DISTRICT
Meeting the principal objectives of Special Self-Help Program (SSH):
Contributions may
include
labor, materials
(bricks, sand, grave
l, seeds, etc.), land,
buildings, or
money to ensure
the success of the
project.
Local farmers are contributing their own efforts in
using learning-by-practicing method, transplanting
young seedlings, transplanting single seedling per
clump, carefully and with shallow rooting.

10. THE U.S. AMBASSADOR’S
SPECIAL SELF-HELP (SSH) PROGRAM
IN WEST BANK OF ZAMBEZI DISTRICT
Meeting the principal objectives of Special Self-Help Program (SSH):
Contributions may
include
labor, materials
(bricks, sand, grave
l, seeds, etc.), land,
buildings, or
money to ensure
the success of the
project.
The project promotes ownership of the activities they carry out at the farm-
level. As part of social-economic responsibility at their levels, farmers
participate in their own food preparation, eaten to give them strength while

11. THE U.S. AMBASSADOR’S
SPECIAL SELF-HELP (SSH) PROGRAM
IN WEST BANK OF ZAMBEZI DISTRICT
Meeting the principal objectives of Special Self-Help Program (SSH):
As part of an
ongoing
commitment by
the U.S.
government to
support
Zambian-driven
development
activities on a
local level.
At mid-term the focus is on farming activities in the vegetative growth stage of
the SRI rice demo-fields for the women„s clubs. There is still a final report to
come in August this year, to present end-of-season results focusing, among
other things, on plant height, tiller number per hill, panicles per hill, spikelets
per panicle, % of filled spikelets, flag leaf area, grain length, grain width, root
systems, threshing, and quantities harvested. For that reason, assessment of

12. THE U.S. AMBASSADOR’S
SPECIAL SELF-HELP (SSH) PROGRAM
IN WEST BANK OF ZAMBEZI DISTRICT
SRI VISION IN ZAMBIA
Spread one of the most modern rice farming methodologies in
Zambia and to other African countries
SRI MISSION IN ZAMBIA
Build capacity of human resources with competence. knowledge and
skills to implement SRI at all levels -- from national to farm community,
Regulate the standards and certify rice grown with SRI methods in
Zambia
Support global marketing initiatives for rice grown with SRI methods in
Zambia
Promote and support the development of necessary infrastructure
required to advance rice-growing with SRI methods in Zambia
Raise awareness on the benefits and the importance of SRI to policy
makers, government institutions, development partners, and farmers.
Develop all required documents and disseminating to all relevant

13. THE U.S. AMBASSADOR’S
SPECIAL SELF-HELP (SSH) PROGRAM
IN WEST BANK OF ZAMBEZI DISTRICT
SIX BEST PRACTICES OF SRI
Transplant young seedlings (<15 days, with just 2 leaves)
Set out plants singly with wider spacing
In a square pattern (25x25cm or more) and
Planted shallow, gently, and quickly --
No continuous flooding during the period of vegetative
growth, with either (a) minimum daily applications, or (b)
alternate wetting and drying –keeping soil mostly moist but
not inundated
After panicle initiation, maintain a thin layer of water (1-2
cm) on field until 10 days before harvest

14. THE U.S. AMBASSADOR’S
SPECIAL SELF-HELP (SSH) PROGRAM
IN WEST BANK OF ZAMBEZI DISTRICT
KEY BENEFITS OF SRI
NO NEED to change varieties -- HYVs and hybrids can give the highest yields
with
SRI methods, but local varieties can produce 3-12 t/ha with SRI methods
LESS SEED is used, because plant populations (plant density) will be greatly
reduced(less by 70-80%); fewer plants well- managed will give more yield than
several times more plants casually managed
NO NEED for use of chemical fertilizers -- while these can raise rice yield with
SRI,
the best results are achieved with compost or other organic fertilization of the
soil
NO NEED to apply agrochemicals -- pesticides, fungicides, etc., are usually not
necessary -- farmers find that these are not economical as SRI plants are
usually
resistant to pests/diseases
SIGNIFICANT WATER SAVINGS – usual irrigation water can be reduced by
50% -- but
need good water control to apply smaller amounts of water reliably, regularly
MORE LABOR – is needed at first, but as the SRI methods are mastered, SRI

15. THE U.S. AMBASSADOR’S
SPECIAL SELF-HELP (SSH) PROGRAM
IN WEST BANK OF ZAMBEZI DISTRICT
REMARKABLE RESULTS OF SRI: UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL
Increased TILLERING -- 30-50 tillers/plant, or more, if the soil and water are
well-managed
Larger ROOT SYSTEMS – it can require 5-6x more force to uproot SRI plants;
one evaluation found 28 kg of force was needed to pull up 3 regular plants in a
hill
vs. 53 kg to uproot single SRI plants
Bigger PANICLES -- 200-300 grains/panicle, or more
Positive correlation between the number of panicles and panicle size --
contrary to the negative relationship commonly reported – SRI can give more
and bigger panicles
GRAIN QUALITY -- fewer unfilled grains and fewer broken grains when milling
the paddy, so one can get a higher milled outturn of polished rice from one‟s
paddy (unhusked) production
RESISTANCE to pests, diseases, storms and drought as plants remain
healthier with their deeper root systems and stronger tillers; LODGING is rare;
also RATOON crop is possible
HIGHER YIELDS – average of 3-6 t/ha, even up to 15 t/ha or more
PRODUCTIVITY gains – from all inputs (land, labor, water, capital) -- more

16. THE U.S. AMBASSADOR’S
SPECIAL SELF-HELP (SSH) PROGRAM
IN WEST BANK OF ZAMBEZI DISTRICT
THANK
YOU!!!
(Prepared and presented by: Henry Ngimbu, SRI specialist and advocate-Zambia)
For SRI information, contact details:
Centre for System of Rice Intensification Initiative (CSRII)
Corner Savenda/Nyangongo Road
HNN Village, Mize Royal Capital
P.O. Box 150109
Zambezi, ZAMBIA
Phone: +260- 977- 172359
E-mail: csriizambia@ymail.com, or
hngimbu@gmail.com
or
check out the SRI home page:
http://ciifad.cornell.edu/sri/
including a Zambia SRI country page:
http://sri.ciifad.cornell.edu/countries/zambia/index.html