More productive and sustainable rice for Latin America

Executive Summary

Rice is the fourth most consumed food in Latin America and on average contributes 11% of the caloric intake per capita in the region, making it fundamental for food security. Currently, there are an estimated 5.3 million hectares cultivated with rice in the Americas, mostly by small producers. The high climatic variability associated with climate change has decreased water availability, in turn affecting rice production and the well-being of rice producers. Consequently, more efficient, resilient and environmentally friendly systems are required to remain productive in the face of climate change. The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) has enabled increased yields and reduced water and agrochemical use in production, contributing to the development of a more sustainable agriculture and allowing the development of plants more resilient to the shocks of climate change. SRI has not yet been evaluated in Argentina and other countries in the region. The aim of this project is to disseminate knowledge generated in countries where the SRI methodology has already been adapted, validated and used, in order to advance in the regional scaling of this technology.

The technological solution

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) favors plant development, improving the efficiency of nutrient, light and water use. It is based on the incorporation of biomass in the soil, transplanting young seedlings in low density, placing one seedling per site, using irrigation (not flooding) and mechanical control of weeds.

Results

Beneficiaries

The beneficiaries of the project are 120 rice producers from Chile, 105 from Panama, 450 from Argentina and 300 from Venezuela. There are 28 beneficiary rice producing farms: 10 in Chile, 10 in Panama, 5 in Argentina and 3 in Venezuela. Likewise, 45 technicians trained in the SRI methodology are considered beneficiaries: 12 in Chile, 15 in Panama, 15 in Argentina and 3 in Venezuela.

Sustainable Development Goals

Main donors

Dissemination products