In the village of Essil, researchers from ISRA are trialling a combination of hybrid rice and intensive farming techniques to improve yields. Farmers are calling for more resources to realise this potential.
The first crops were harvested under the watchful eyes of researchers and villagers. In Essil, a rice-growing village in the department of Ziguinchor, in southern Senegal, trials conducted jointly by CORAF and the Senegalese Institute for Agricultural Research (ISRA) as part of the World Bank-funded FSRP programme have just yielded their results. And these are deemed “encouraging” by scientists and local communities.
On a 1,200-square-metre experimental plot, hybrid rice varieties originating from Senegal, Mali and Burkina Faso were grown using the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), a method that reduces the amount of seed used whilst prioritising organic fertilisation. “Despite a late start, the varieties performed well,” notes Simon Bassène, a researcher at the ISRA station in Djibélor. The short-cycle plants, with a growth period of around 90 days, adapted particularly well to local rainfall patterns.
Combination of hybrid rice varieties and SRI
These trials form part of the Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP), a regional initiative funded by the World Bank and coordinated by ECOWAS, CILSS and CORAF. The aim is to identify technologies capable of strengthening food security in a region where rice forms the staple diet, but where imports remain substantial.
“Hybrid varieties are recognised for their high yield potential. Combining them with SRI meets our ambition to significantly improve production,” explains Dr Niéyidouba Lamien, programme manager at CORAF and coordinator of Component 2 of the FSRP. According to him, observations made in Essil confirm the relevance of this approach, which has already been tested in the Senegal River Valley and in other countries in the region.
The challenge of mechanisation
Farmers in Essil took advantage of the joint monitoring mission by the CORAF and ISRA teams to voice their concerns. “With the traditional tool, the kajandou, we can only cultivate a small portion of the available land. Yields of two to three tonnes per hectare could be achieved with support for mechanisation and hydro-agricultural infrastructure.”, explains Charles Alex Sagna, village chief and rice farmer.
Farmers are also calling for the completion of anti-salinity structures, which are essential in this coastal area where soil salinisation threatens crops, as well as improved seed availability. “The rise in demand for hybrid seeds will be a major challenge for the next phases of the programme. We will incorporate the concerns expressed by producers, particularly regarding mechanisation, into our future interventions,” assured Dr Niéyidouba Lamien.
