THE SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION (SRI) Management Strategy for a More Sustainable and Productive Rice Sector

Abstract

Increased and more stable rice yields contribute to food security while also allowing small-scale farmers to diversify their crop system. SRI rice panicles have fewer unfilled or broken grains which increases the amount of milled rice from harvested paddy by up to 15%. SRI methods also increase the micronutrient uptake by the plant, resulting in improved nutritional qualities in the grain. Beneficial nutrients such as Iron, Zinc, Copper and Manganese are all found to increase in SRI rice when compared with traditionally cultivated rice. Levels of heavy metals, such as arsenic and lead, are shown to decrease.