System of Rice Intensification: Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change

System of Rice Intensification (SRI) offers three major benefits that have significant influence on climate change:

1.      Reduced emissions of methane

2.      Reduced demand for water

3.      Reduced use of Nitrogen fertilizers   

Reduced emissions of methane:

Methane released from agriculture activities are mainly from inundated rice fields and ruminant animals. Methane is produced from anerobic methane that is deprived from oxygen due to continuous flooding. Making Paddy fields alternately wet and dry will reduce the methane gas emissions.

Reduced demand for water:

It is estimated that 24-30% of the world fresh water resources are used to irrigate paddy fields. With SRI methods irrigation requirement for paddy cultivation is reduced by 25 – 50%.  Reduced water requirement for paddy means availability of more water for other crops, human requirement etc. Reduced water requirement for paddy also leads reduction in ground water exploitation.

Reduced use of Nitrogen fertilizers:

About 16% of Nitrogen fertilizers are used in Paddy fields. SRI method promotes usage of organic manure and subsequently reduced usage of Nitrogen fertilizers.