1. Rice Production in Guinea & SRI
Peace Corps Guinea Agroforestry
PST January 9, 2017
Hillary Mara
ham72@cornell.edu
Guinea RPCV ‘12-’14,
Mali RPCRV ‘14-’15

2. Rice production in Sub-Saharan Africa
64%
32%
3%
1%
West Africa
Eastern Africa
Central Africa
Southern Africa
Each dot represents 20,000 tons Data: FAO
Rice production 2006
64% of rice is produced in
West Africa
Nigeria, Guinea, Ivory Coast,
Mali
Ref: Warda (2008) Africa rice trends 2007

3. 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

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

5. 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

6. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Rice Production & Trade in Guinea

11. 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”)

12. Introduction to
the System of Rice
Intensification (SRI)

13. What is the System of Rice
Intensification, or SRI?

14. Simply put, SRI is a way to grow more rice,
more ecologically, using less water, seed, and
agrochemicals.

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

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

17. SRI started in Madagascar in the
1980s, with farmers growing irrigated rice.

18. Between 1997 and 2015, SRI spread to 55+
countries, for both irrigated and rainfed rice.

19. SRI is visually distinct…

20. When using a nursery, SRI plants are transplanted
very young – when they have only 2 leaves
SRI at a glance:

21. Fields are watered but not flooded during the initial
plant growth phase and up until flowering
SRI at a glance:

22. Organic matter is the primary source of soil fertility
SRI at a glance:

23. Plants have plenty of space.
SRI at a glance:
1 plant 1 plant
1 plant1 plant
25cm +
25cm +

24. SRI is different from conventional
rice farming in several key ways…

25. 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

26. 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

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

28. 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:

29. SRIConventional
With SRI, plants
show better growth
above and below
ground
These two plants are the
same age and the same
variety…

30. 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

31. Conventional – rice plants left in
the nursery (27 days old)
1-2 tillers
per plant

32. SRI – A single plant, transplanted from the
same nursery 15 days earlier (27 days old)
1 plant
12 tillers

33. SRI – The same plant, at 43 days old
1 plant
94 tillers

34. Conventional
27 days old
1-2 tillers each
SRI
27 days old
12 tillers
When left in close proximity plants grow upright;
when given space they spread out.

37. This improved plant growth brings a
number of benefits…

38. 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

39. Benefits of SRI: Greater Resilience
Better pest resistance Better disease resistance
Better wind resistance Better drought resistance

40. 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

41. Like any methodology, SRI has its
challenges…

42. Some SRI Challenges
Finding organic
matter
AdaptationLack of
tools
Behavior
change
Early
ripening
Changes
in labor
Vulnerability of
young seedlings

43. But these can all be overcome with
careful testing, adaptation, and farmer
innovation.

44. Review
• What are the major principles of SRI?

45. Principle 1:
Establish plants early and carefully

46. Principle 2:
Reduce plant density

48. Principle 3:
Build soil health and fertility using organic matter

49. Principle 4:
Manage water carefully to avoid permanent
flooding during the vegetative growth phase

50. Understanding how SRI
changes for different rice
systems

52. 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!

53. 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

54. 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/agricul
tural/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