Opportunities for water saving with higher yield using the system of rice intensification

This paper presents the concept and methodology of The System of Rice Intensification (SRI), a method of growing rice in areas where water availability is limited and traditional flood irrigation of rice paddies is not feasible. Developed in Madagascar, this system purportedly reduces the water requirement for growing rice by 25 to 50 percent, and increases rice yields by 25 to 100 percent. There is much skepticism about SRI, yet its methods have been effectively applied in more than 20 countries. If successful, SRI can conserve water resources, lower farmers' costs of production, and increase farmers' net incomes.