A Wikiblog E-Book by Norman Uphoff with many others
Table Of Contents
Preface: A CONTEMPORARY QUEST
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Chapter 1: WHAT MAKES THIS STORY IMPORTANT
Global challenges to be dealt with
Benefits of SRI
Increased crop yields
Lower costs of production and more net income for farmers
Less reliance on purchased inputs and agrochemicals
Saving of water
Resilience to hazards of climate change
Shorter cropping cycle
Reducing the momentum for global warming
Gender equity
Food and nutritional benefits
Costs of SRI
Learning costs
Increased labor, at least initially when learning
Need for water control
Soil fertility?
Chapter 2: HOW THIS STORY WILL BE TOLD
Combining biography and autobiography
A wiki/blog e-book
Multiple readerships
‘Good news’ vs. ‘fake news’
This is not a Guinness Book of Records for rice production
The dialectic of probabilities vs. possibilities
Chapter 3: INTRODUCING THE SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION
First learning about SRI in Madagascar
Evaluating SRI performance around Ranomafana National Park
SRI’s origins in Madagascar
Getting SRI started in Madagascar
Part I: HOW UNDERSTANDING OF SRI DEVELOPED AND DIVERSIFIED
Chapter 4: THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ROOT SYSTEMS TO SRI SUCCESS
Understanding rice plants as open systems rather than as closed systems: A fundamental insight
Degradation of roots under flooded soil conditions
Testing root-pulling resistance
Roots are not a ‘waste’
Discussing roots at the International Rice Research Institute
Paying more attention to the growth and health of roots
Chapter 5: CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE LIFE IN THE SOIL
Rice plants benefit from bacteria both in their root zone and roots
Fungi also contribute to SRI success
Documenting an association between growth-promoting bacteria and SRI performance
Microbial activity can enhance the availability of phosphorus
Broadening the consideration of microbial services
An ambitious book project on the life in the soil
Beneficial microbes live inside plants as well as on them and around their roots
How similar effects are observed with beneficial fungi
Microbes living within plant cells affect plant growth
Chapter 6: NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND PATTERNING OF GROWTH
The dynamics of how rice plants take up nitrogen from the soil
SRI plants take up more nutrients and convert more of them into grain
Phyllochrons in rice: Why transplanting seedlings at a young age accelerates plant growth
What regulates rice plants’ biological clock?
Feed and aerate the soil, and the soil will feed the plant
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Chapter 7: EVALUATIONS OF SRI STARTING WITH FACTORIAL TRIALS
The need for factorial and other kinds of evaluation
Results of factorial trials done in Madagascar, reported in 2002
Independent evaluations in other countries
Cambodia (GTZ); Laos (IRRI); Sri Lanka (IWMI);
India: Tamil Nadu (TNAU), Andhra Pradesh (ANGRAU), W. Bengal (IWMI);
Bangladesh (IRRI); Nepal (NEDECO); China: Sichuan (CAU);
Indonesia (Nippon Koei)
Assessing labor requirements with SRI cultivation methods
Other things learned from evaluations
Chapter 8: BUILDING UP SRI KNOWLEDGE THROUGH INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL COLLABORATION
Wageningen University project, 2000-2002
First International SRI Conference, held in China in 2002
WWF-ICRISAT Project in India, 2004-2009
The Lower Mekong Basin SRI project in Southeast Asia, 2013-2018
The West African Agricultural Productivity Program, 2014-2016
IICA’s SRI initiative for the Latin American and Caribbean region
An unsuccessful initiative for collaboration among IRRI, Cornell and Wageningen University
Chapter 9: CONTRIBUTIONS FROM RESEARCHERS AROUND THE WORLD
China; Thailand; Vietnam;
East Asia: Japan, Korea, Taiwan;
Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia;
South Asia: India, Nepal;
The Middle East: Iraq;
Sub-Saharan Africa: The Gambia, Mali, Kenya, Benin;
Latin America: Panama
Chapter 10: CONTROVERSY OVER ‘SUPER-YIELDS’
Working with both old and new varieties of rice
The dialectic between phenotypes and genotypes
Assessing and exceeding genetic potential
Evaluations done at IRRI
Close-up looks at two ‘super-yields’: Soatanana, Madagascar; Darveshpura, India
Averages are more important than ‘super-yields’: Aceh province, Indonesia;
Damoh district, Madhya Pradesh, India
Chapter 11: DEMONSTRABLE DIFFERENCES IN RICE PHENOTYPES
Measurable differences in resulting rice plants
Higher milling outturn and better grain quality
Yield enhancement from soil-aerating weeding
Shorter crop cycle: Less time to reach maturity
Nutritional value of grains: More micronutrient content
Chapter 12: INCREASING CROP RESISTANCE TO CLIMATE AND OTHER STRESSES WHILE ABATING CLIMATE CHANGE
Drought tolerance and greater water productivity
Resistance to storm damage and lodging
Pest and disease resistance
Cold-temperature tolerance
Lower greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies
Chapter 13: ADAPTING SRI IDEAS AND METHODS TO GROWING RAINFED RICE
Madagascar, Philippines, Cambodia,
Myanmar, India, Mali
Chapter 14: IMPROVING THE PRODUCTION OF OTHER CROPS BY EXTRAPOLATING SRI IDEAS AND METHODS
The System of Crop Intensification
Finger millet: India, elsewhere
Wheat: India, Ethiopia and Mali, elsewhere
Sugarcane: India, elsewhere
Maize: India
Teff: Ethiopia
Mustard: India
Still other crops
Vegetables: India, United States and Sierra Leone
Legumes and pulses: India and Ethiopia
Spices: India
Strange encounters of the SCI kind
Chicken SCI: Cambodia
Lac SCI: India
Orchard SCI: United States
Chapter 15: SRI BENEFITS FOR WOMEN FARMERS AND FROM THEM
Advancing gender equity for women: Sri Lanka; Philippines; India
Women’s leadership on SRI dissemination: Vietnam; India
Chapter 16: APPLICATIONS OF SRI IDEAS AND METHODS IN AREAS OF DISRUPTED AGRICULTURE
Sierra Leone; Nepal; Sri Lanka; Mali;
Indonesia; Afghanistan; Iraq;
Timor Leste; Sub-Saharan Africa;
Kashmir; Venezuela; India (Covid-19)
Chapter 17: LINKING SRI FARMERS TO MARKET OPPORTUNITIES
First SEED Award
Lotus Foods collaboration
Country initiatives: Madagascar; Cambodia; Indonesia;
Kenya; Liberia; India; Tanzania; DR Congo
Chapter 18: CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY
Wildlife conservation: Madagascar; Indonesia; Zambia; Cambodia
Conservation of rice genetic resources: Sri Lanka; India
Below-ground biodiversity: Thailand
Chapter 19: MAKING SRI MORE ATTRACTIVE AND LESS LABORIOUS THROUGH MECHANIZATION
Harvesting
Weeding
Manual mechanical weeding: Cambodia; Nepal
Motorized weeding: Sri Lanka
Manufacture of hand weeders: Kenya
Crop establishment
Mechanical transplanting: Costa Rica; India; China; Pakistan
Mechanical direct-seeding: India; Vietnam; Kenya; Sri Lanka
SRI equipment resources and dissemination
Chapter 20: INTENSIFYING FARMING SYSTEMS AND CAPITALIZING ON AGROECOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS
Intensification with diversification, linking SRI with aquaculture and horticulture: Cambodia; India
Developing SRI within a broader context
Convergence with conservation agriculture: Pakistan, China
Connections with other agroecological approaches
Annex: SYNTHESES FOR UNDERSTANDING SRI
Part II: HOW SRI GAINED ACCEPTANCE
Chapter 21: EARLY APPROVAL FROM EMINENT RICE SCIENTISTS
Prof. Yuan Long-ping, China
Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, India
Chapter 22: RESPONSES FROM THE INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SYSTEM
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
International Rice Congresses
The Africa Rice Center (WARDA)
The International Center for Improvement of Maize and Wheat (CIMMYT)
The International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
The International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
Elsewhere within the CGIAR System
Chapter 23: INITIATIVE AND AMBIVALENCE FROM UNIVERSITIES
Universities in China
Other East Asian universities
Southeast Asian universities
Universities in India
Other South Asian universities
Universities in Africa
Latin American universities
European universities
U.S. and Canadian universities
Chapter 24: CONTRIBUTIONS FROM CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS
National and local development NGOs
International development NGOs
Agroecological NGOs
Conservation NGOs
Faith-based NGOs
Farmer organizations
Chapter 25: CIVIL SOCIETY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS
Madagascar; China; Cuba; France; Germany; Zambia; Sierra Leone;
Kenya; Ethiopia; Cambodia; Philippines; Thailand; Vietnam; Japan;
Indonesia; Taiwan; Malaysia; Myanmar; Sri Lanka; India; Pakistan;
Nepal; Bangladesh; Iran; Iraq; Benin; Liberia; USA;
The Catholic Church; International Organizations; and the CGIAR System
Chapter 26: CIVIL SOCIETY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FARMERS
India; Cambodia; Indonesia; China; Sri Lanka; Nepal; Kenya;
Cuba; Madagascar; Haiti; Brazil; Philippines; USA
Chapter 27: LEADERSHIP FROM NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS
Agricultural research institutions in China
Other agricultural research institutions in East Asia
Southeast Asian agricultural research institutions
Agricultural research institutions in India
Other agricultural research institutions in South Asia
Agricultural research institutions in the Middle East
Agricultural research institutions in Africa and Latin America
Agricultural research institutions in Europe and the United States
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Chapter 28: ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS
Professional publishing
Initial publications on SRI
The journal Nature
Agricultural Systems
International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability
Field Crops Research
Other journals
Special issues
Some author problems
Chapter 29: ATTENTION FROM THE MEDIA
Radio communication
Visual communication
Print media and newspapers
Electronic media: Websites; Discussion groups; Social media; Blogs; Email
Chapter 30: ENGAGEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization
The World Bank
The International Fund for Agricultural Development
The UN Environmental Program
The UN Development Program
Other International Organizations
Regional Organizations
Chapter 31: SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND POLITICAL LEADERS
East Asia: China, and elsewhere in East Asia
Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand,
Myanmar, Timor Leste, Solomon Islands
South Asia: India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan
Middle East: Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt
Sub-Saharan Africa: Madagascar, East, Central and Southern Africa, West Africa
Latin America and the Caribbean: Cuba, Costa Rica, Panama, Dominican Republic
Chapter 32: ASSISTANCE FROM BILATERAL DONORS
German development assistance
Dutch assistance
British assistance
French assistance
Swiss assistance
Scandinavian assistance
Australian assistance
Japanese assistance
U.S. assistance
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Chapter 33: IMPACTS OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PRIZES
The World Food Prize
The SEED Award
The Olam Prize for Innovation in Food Security
Environmental recognition
Awards for SRI colleagues
International awards
National awards
An award that could have changed SRI’s trajectory
Award competitions that were unsuccessful
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Chapter 34: BACKING FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR
Early connections: Syngenta Bangladesh Co. Ltd., and the Andhra Pradesh Rice Millers’ Association
India: Usha Martin Ltd., Abuja Cement Ltd., Tata Steel, Tilda Rice, AgSri, BASIX, Sathguru, Nature Bio- Foods Ltd. and Pratithi Organic Foods, and NBL Bank
Indonesia: Nippon Koei, Garuda Airlines, Marathon Oil, and PT Sampoerna
Pakistan: Pedaver Pvt. Ltd.
Taiwan: Caremed Supply Inc.
Malaysia: Asian Overland Services
Tanzania: Kilombero Plantations Ltd.
Venezuela: Nestlé Venezuela
United States and United Kingdom: Lotus Foods, and Flooded Cellar Productions
Switzerland: SwissRe, and Syngenta International
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Chapter 35: SUPPORT FROM FOUNDATIONS
Starting small
Jim Carrey’s Better U Foundation and some other foundations
The Rockefeller Foundation
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Developing-country foundations
Chapter 36: CATALYTIC ROLES FROM CORNELL
No tipping point
A typology of roles
A brief chronology of Cornell involvement with SRI
CIIFAD, 1994-2005
Interim period, 2005-2010
SRI-Rice from 2010
Support for networking: National networking; Regional networking; Informal international networking
Communication hub: Website; Social media
Source of knowledge: Knowledge collection; Knowledge generation; Staying close to the field
Presentations
Personal connections
Special concerns
Funding
Strategy
Associated linkages
Annex: PRESENTATIONS ON SRI
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Part III: HOW SRI KNOWLEDGE AND OPPORTUNITIES SPREAD AROUND THE WORLD [to be drafted in 2021]
Chapter 37: CHINA
Chapter 38: THE REST OF EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC REGION
Japan; Taiwan; Korea; Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; Solomon Islands
Chapter 39: INDONESIA AND PHILIPPINES
Chapter 40: THE REST OF SOUTHEAST ASIA
Cambodia; Myanmar; Laos; Vietnam; Thailand; Malaysia
Chapter 41: INDIA
Chapter 42: THE REST OF SOUTH ASIA
Sri Lanka; Bangladesh; Nepal; Pakistan; Bhutan
Chapter 43: THE MIDDLE EAST
Afghanistan; Iraq; Iran; Egypt; Central Asia; North Africa
Chapter 44: WEST AFRICA
Gambia; Mali; Nigeria; Ghana; Benin; Togo; Burkina Faso; Niger; Senegal;
Ivory Coast; Guinea; Other countries
Chapter 45: THE REST OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Madagascar; Zambia; Kenya; Tanzania; Malawi; Ethiopia; Rwanda and Burundi;
Democratic Republic of the Congo; Mozambique; Other countries
Chapter 46: THE LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN REGION
Cuba; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; Haiti; Panama; Brazil; Peru; Ecuador;
Bolivia; Chile; Colombia; Venezuela; Other countries: Guyana, Surinam,
Nicaragua, Honduras
Chapter 47: EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA
Netherlands; United Kingdom; Germany; France; Other European Countries; Canada; the United States
PART IV: REFLECTIONS ON THESE PROCESSES [to be drafted in 2021]
Chapter 48: UNDERSTANDING AN INNOVATION
Chapter 49: GAINING ACCEPTANCE OF INNOVATION
Chapter 50: DISSEMINATING INNOVATION
Chapter 51: IMPLICATIONS FOR REVISING OUR INSTITUTIONS AND TECHNOLOGY TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE WORLD
ANNEX: MINI-MEMOIRES HELPING TO TELL THE SRI STORY
Sebastien Rafaralahy and Justin Rabenandrasana, Madagascar
Dinabandhu, West Bengal, India
Anil Verma, Bihar, India
Asif Sharif, Punjab, Pakistan
Effendi Pasandaran, Indonesia
Roland Bunch, USA
V. Balasubramaniam, IRRI, Madagascar, India
Ben Ful Chia, Cameroon
Gamini Batuwitage, Sri Lanka
Michel Grolleaud, France, Madagascar
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To be expanded
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