Author: Diddier Moreira and Kelly Witkowski Title: SRI en las Americas - The Latin America SRI Network Event: Workshop to Enhance Cooperation and Sharing among SRI National Networks in Asia Date: October 18-19, 2018 Location: The Leverage Business Hotel, Skudai, Malaysia

1. SRI en las Americas
The Latin American SRI Network
October 2018
Kelly Witkowski (IICA), Diddier Moreira

2. SRI in LAC
Rice produced in 26 countries; staple food;
~60% irrigated; direct seeding prominent; 1m. farmers
• Early experiences: Cuba (2000) Peru (2002)
• More adopters (~2007-08) Brazil, Colombia,
Costa Rica, Panama
• 2011: Haiti and the Dominican Republic
• 2015-2018: Venezuela, Argentina, Chile,
Nicaragua, Suriname, Bolivia
• Interest rapidly expanding - climate change presents
an opportunity
• Primary challenges include large scale, cost of labor
http://mapsof.net/america/america-political-map

3. - Rena Perez (Cuba) as
informal coordinator
- support from SRI-Rice,
Cornell
- SICA-America Latina, a
Spanish language Google est.
2009
- Part time regional
coordinator hired
(supported by Earth Links)
to work on social media and
promote dialogue
- 1st regional workshop
2011 (SRI-Rice and Earth
University)
- Leadership from IICA
- Intensification of
activities and increase in
number of countries
involved
-2nd regional workshop in
2017
???
(focus on
consolidation
and
continuity)
2002-2010
Est.
~2002
2011-2014 2014-2018
• Informal membership and coordination
• Capitalizes on existing resources and efforts
2019-->

4. Activities
• Communication
• Facebook page, google group, WhatsApp, email
• Disseminating tools and information
• Producing manuals, videos, posters, radio shows, fact
sheets, etc.
• Translating existing resources
• Training (farmers, technicians, students)
• Technical backstopping
• S-S exchange
• Bi-national, regional
• Webinars
• Database/website (in progress)
• Proposal development

5. Successes
• Awareness raising and
generating interest in many
countries
• Demonstration or validation
activities
• Generation of tools to facilitate
use of SRI (data collection
sheets, manuals, etc.)
• Identification of interests, entry
points and necessary next steps
• Partnerships (eg: with SRI-Rice)
Challenges
• Continuity
• Financial resources (no
sustained core funding)
• In-person exchange necessary!
• Active participation within group
(not just with coordinating
institution)
• Monitoring actions and
evaluating impact
• Scaling up and out
• 2 languages

6. An Asia-wide alliance: potential benefits and
contributions
• Exchange – both in person and virtual
• GHG monitoring, water use efficiency,
mechanization, data collection and
evaluation, other in field innovations,
• Machinery – sourcing and adjusting
• transplanters, direct seeders, weeders
• Joint research (eg: modelling and impact
evaluation)
• Data collection and evaluation to strengthen
evidence base
• Collaboration on funding proposals (S-S
cooperation)

7. Next steps
• Proposals!
• Secure institutional commitment and a multi-year
funding source to sustain basic operational
activities
• Develop more formal terms of reference and action
plan; secure active members to serve as core
• Hire a coordinator to expand actions and enhance
participation
• Hold a third regional workshop and support
additional S-S cooperation
• Continue to maintain facebook page, increase
awareness, connect actors, and promote exchange
and learning with other regions