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First SRI Results Reported in Rwanda
Claus Reiner, country program manager in IFAD’s Eastern and Southern Africa Division, reports that SRI methods have proved to be productive in the PAPSTA project (Support Project for the Strategic Transformation of Agriculture), supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

A supervision team visiting Rwanda in September 2008 found that in two project-supported marshland areas (Kibaza and Rwabutazi), the wide application of SRI has increased rice yields from 4 t/ha to 6 t/ha in Kibaza and to 7 t/ha in Rwabutazi, respectively. The total number of rice farmers in both marshlands together is 2,000. Reiner notes that further increases appear possible because the SRI methods are not yet being fully utilizes. (see Bavugamenshi presentation at the Jan. 2009 IFAD meeting).

Knowledge of SRI was brought to farmers in these areas by the president and secretary of Association Tefy Saina, Sebastien Rafaralahy and Justin Rabenandrasana, whom the IFAD project brought to Rwanda from Madagascar in 2006.

Reports, Articles and presentations

• Mudingu, Joseph. 2009 (March 12). Upcountry insight: Rice farmers target increased production by 2009 (reference to SRI is in 12th sentence), The New Times (Rwanda)
• 2009 (January). Making Rice a Cash Cow in Rwanda. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Rome, Italy. 3p. (pdf)
• Bavugamenshi, Jonas. 2009. System of Rice Intensification in Rwanda. PowerPoint presentation at an International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) meeting to discuss the pros and cons of SRI. Rome, Italy on Jan. 23, 2009.