Authors: Diddier Moreira (presenter) and Kelly Witkowski Title: Validating and Contextualizing SRI in Latin America and the Caribbean Presented at: The 5th International Rice Congress Venue: Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore Date: October 15, 2018

1. Advances toward sustainable,
productive, profitable and
climate-smart rice production
systems in Latin America and the
Caribbean
Díddier Moreira
15 Oct 2018
With data and input from Kelly Witkowski (IICA), Gabriel Garcés (FEDEARROZ, Colombia), Karla
Validating and
Contextualizing SRI

2. Context
Validate and
document SRI
Adapt machinery Increase knowledge
and skills
SRI??

3. Photos: Juan Arthur
Dominican Republic
0w
2w
6w
10w
14w

5. Transplanting

6. Mechanized weeders

7. Results SRI vs. conventional: Dom. Rep.
Seeds -84-95%
Water - 28-45%
Yields 2-17%
Income 2-17%
Labor cost - 20-30%
Input costs - 19-23%
Utilities 41-102%

8. Results SRI vs. conventional: Colombia
Seeds - 79-93%
Water - 0-13%
Yield 12%
Income 25%
Labor cost - 27%
Input costs - 18%
Utilities 84%

9. Results SRI vs. conventional: Venezuela
Planting
method
Tillers
(units)
Stem
thickness
(mm)
Panicles
(units)
Height
(cm)
Yield
(Kg/ha)
Pre-
germinated
broadcast
4,77 4,49 4,23 80,20 4 277,50
Direct
seeding
5,83 5,14 5,03 81,38 5 223,38
SRI 25,60 6,28 21,63 96,55 8 170,34
SRI INIA 30,40 6,37 26,71 99,93 11 393,72

10. • Improves rice plant
phenotypes
• more, taller tillers;
• longer, heavier roots;
• more spikes
• Increases productivity
• Increases profitability
• Reduces water use (15-25%)
• Decreases seeds (80-90%),
• Reduces agrochemical use
Conclusions to date
SRI vs. conventional,
both 124 days
Calabozo, Guarico, Venezuela
Photo: Miguel Aguero

11. Lodging after storm,
conventional vs SRI,
Tolima, Ibagué, Colombia
Photo: Gabriel Garcés
• Climate-smart
innovation
• Requires continual
learning + adjustments
• Collaboration among
producers, researchers,
and technicians.
Conclusions to date

12. Challenges and Next Steps
• Increased research in field stations combined with
scaled trials in farmers fields
– Experiment to identify complete “ideal” SRI for
each agro-ecological context
• Continue mechanization process; adjustments
and direct seeding
• Calculate water use efficiency
• Incorporate organic nutritional plan
• Use modeling tools to identify potential
adaptation contribution under future climate
scenarios

13. Thank you! ¡Gracias!
Second regional SRI workshop, Colombia 2017