Better Rice Initiative Asia (BRIA): High-Quality Rice for Southeast Asia

Project description

Title: Better Rice Initiative Asia (BRIA): High-Quality Rice for Southeast Asia
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Countries: Thailand, Viet Nam, Philippines and Indonesia
Partner: BASF, Bayer, DSM, Yara, Olam, Deutsche Bank, John Deere, CropLife International
Lead executing agency: Indonesia: Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia; Thailand: Rice Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives; Philippines: Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) under the Department of Agriculture; Viet Nam: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
(MARD)
Overall term: 2013 to 2017

A rice farmer harvests his crop. Photo: GIZ

Context

Mostly grown by smallholders, either for themselves or for the local market, rice is the staple food in most Asian countries. Only about five per cent is exported. In terms of food supplies and local value added, rice is the most important crop cultivated in Southeast Asia.

Asia’s fast-growing population is fuelling demand for rice. In Indonesia, for example, demand is set to increase by nearly forty per cent over the next twenty-five years. Stagnating yields, shrinking cropping areas and the fact that fewer young people want to work as farmers are major challenges when it comes to satisfying this demand. Furthermore, there is also the issue of climate change. Long-term food security thus requires the modernisation of smallholder agriculture. And this can only be achieved, if farmers have better access to agricultural extension services, financing, markets and farm inputs. Their governments however often lack the requisite resources. On top of this, so-called ‘hidden hunger’ – or lack of nutrition – is yet another problem. Many people’s diets are too one-sided, which means they lack key micronutrients. The upshot: children fail to develop their cognitive skills in full, their growth is stunted and adults are susceptible to diseases.

To overcome these challenges, smallholder farms need to be strengthened and integrated into all stages of food production – from cropping to processing and marketing.

Objective

Rice productivity and the income of smallholder farming families are increased and the food situation in in Thailand, Viet Nam, Indonesia and the Philippines improved.

Rice farmers thresh the rice mechanically. Photo: GIZ

Approach

GIZ is cooperating with public and private partners to promote the rice sector’s sustainable development and thus improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Its partners include various companies but also national agencies such as the Thai Rice Department, the Philippine Department of Agriculture, the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture and the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In the Philippines, the project team is training government and private agricultural advisors in the following areas: general plant production, business management and special rice cropping techniques. Between them these advisors have an outreach of around 8,000 farmers. The project works closely with government facilities, such as the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) run by the Philippine Department of Agriculture and the Municipal Agriculture Offices.

In Thailand, the project is training lead farmers. These are people who have a high level of influence on their peers in the surrounding area. After learning about topics such as land preparation, seeding practices, irrigation, fertilisation, integrated plant protection and business planning and marketing, these lead farmers subsequently share their knowledge with their neighbours. Furthermore, television campaigns featuring good agricultural practices are also helping to communicate a wide range of know-how. The project is also assisting Thailand’s Rice Department to develop strategies for post-harvest management.

In Indonesia, the project partners are establishing 375 Sustainable Rice Production Centers (SRPC) in the two provinces of East Java and North Sumatra. The project team is training 125 extension workers in sustainable rice production. Once qualified, they will each take on responsibility for three centres. Here they will train so-called lead farmers who, in turn, will train rice farmers.

The project is also teaching vegetable oil producers how to enrich oil with vitamin A and rice millers how to add various micronutrients, vitamins, iron and zinc to rice.

In Viet Nam, the project aims to improve the income situation of rice farmers in the three provinces of Dong Thap, Hau Giang and Kien Giang. Activities include raising rice production in an ecologically sustainable manner and improving access to quality markets.

In cooperation with the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD), the project has worked with private sector actors to develop a model for rice cultivation that is now being piloted in the three provinces. The respective authorities in charge of agriculture and rural development have approved large-scale trials in rice-growing areas. The objectives are to improve the quality of rice, increase rice farmer income, optimise value chains and strengthen cooperatives in these areas. The three most important stakeholder groups are representatives of the respective agriculture and rural development departments, local authorities and government advisory services. Stakeholders from the private sector include farmer cooperatives, farmer groups, rice traders, rice millers and input suppliers.

Results

  • Training in sustainable rice production practices and cooperation with the agri-business firm OLAM and Thailand's Rice Department have substantially improved marketing opportunities and market access for farmers. At the end of 2016, Thailand produced the world's first crop of rice in compliance with the SRP Sustainable Rice Cultivation Standard.
  • Seed quality is decisive for plant vigour but quality rice seed is very rare and expensive in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The project has therefore trained farmers to become seed producers. In North Sumatra, seven pioneers have already successfully launched seed producing activities. At present, more than 30 farmers are undergoing training.
  • Rice cultivation in Viet Nam faced great problems due to high levels of chemical residues. However, cooperation between the government, farmer cooperatives, rice producers and traders has led to the production of good quality rice and a good market price. Tests for chemical residues have shown that levels now comply with international standards. This criterion has to be met for exports to the EU and US markets.
  • For its training materials, the project harnessed and adapted an innovative adult learning concept. Having generated considerable interest amongst government partners in the Philippines, this approach has led to the incorporation of some of the materials in the curricula used by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and PhilRice. ATI, for example, is using these materials to develop education modules for Climate-Smart Farm Business Schools.
  • The project actively co-founded the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP). Farmers work in line with sustainability criteria and have adapted their seed production practices and rice quality to SRP standards. In other words, they not only seek to make a profit from rice production but also take account of environmental and social standards.

Approach

GIZ is cooperating with public and private partners to promote the rice sector’s sustainable development and thus improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Its partners include various companies but also national agencies such as the Thai Rice Department, the Philippine Department of Agriculture, the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture and the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In the Philippines, the project team is training government and private agricultural advisors in the following areas: general plant production, business management and special rice cropping techniques. Between them these advisors have an outreach of around 8,000 farmers. The project works closely with government facilities, such as the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) run by the Philippine Department of Agriculture and the Municipal Agriculture Offices.

In Thailand, the project is training lead farmers. These are people who have a high level of influence on their peers in the surrounding area. After learning about topics such as land preparation, seeding practices, irrigation, fertilisation, integrated plant protection and business planning and marketing, these lead farmers subsequently share their knowledge with their neighbours. Furthermore, television campaigns featuring good agricultural practices are also helping to communicate a wide range of know-how. The project is also assisting Thailand’s Rice Department to develop strategies for post-harvest management.

In Indonesia, the project partners are establishing 375 Sustainable Rice Production Centers (SRPC) in the two provinces of East Java and North Sumatra. The project team is training 125 extension workers in sustainable rice production. Once qualified, they will each take on responsibility for three centres. Here they will train so-called lead farmers who, in turn, will train rice farmers.

The project is also teaching vegetable oil producers how to enrich oil with vitamin A and rice millers how to add various micronutrients, vitamins, iron and zinc to rice.

In Viet Nam, the project aims to improve the income situation of rice farmers in the three provinces of Dong Thap, Hau Giang and Kien Giang. Activities include raising rice production in an ecologically sustainable manner and improving access to quality markets.

In cooperation with the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD), the project has worked with private sector actors to develop a model for rice cultivation that is now being piloted in the three provinces. The respective authorities in charge of agriculture and rural development have approved large-scale trials in rice-growing areas. The objectives are to improve the quality of rice, increase rice farmer income, optimise value chains and strengthen cooperatives in these areas. The three most important stakeholder groups are representatives of the respective agriculture and rural development departments, local authorities and government advisory services. Stakeholders from the private sector include farmer cooperatives, farmer groups, rice traders, rice millers and input suppliers.

Results

  • Training in sustainable rice production practices and cooperation with the agri-business firm OLAM and Thailand's Rice Department have substantially improved marketing opportunities and market access for farmers. At the end of 2016, Thailand produced the world's first crop of rice in compliance with the SRP Sustainable Rice Cultivation Standard.
  • Seed quality is decisive for plant vigour but quality rice seed is very rare and expensive in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The project has therefore trained farmers to become seed producers. In North Sumatra, seven pioneers have already successfully launched seed producing activities. At present, more than 30 farmers are undergoing training.
  • Rice cultivation in Viet Nam faced great problems due to high levels of chemical residues. However, cooperation between the government, farmer cooperatives, rice producers and traders has led to the production of good quality rice and a good market price. Tests for chemical residues have shown that levels now comply with international standards. This criterion has to be met for exports to the EU and US markets.
  • For its training materials, the project harnessed and adapted an innovative adult learning concept. Having generated considerable interest amongst government partners in the Philippines, this approach has led to the incorporation of some of the materials in the curricula used by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and PhilRice. ATI, for example, is using these materials to develop education modules for Climate-Smart Farm Business Schools.
  • The project actively co-founded the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP). Farmers work in line with sustainability criteria and have adapted their seed production practices and rice quality to SRP standards. In other words, they not only seek to make a profit from rice production but also take account of environmental and social standards.

Overall, the project has delivered direct support to more than 16,000 rice farmers in the four countries.

By the end of 2017, BRIA aims to have reached some 27,500 farmers – 6,500 in Indonesia, 8,000 in the Philippines, 10,000 in Thailand and 3,000 in Viet Nam.

The production practices recommended by the project – including less chemical fertiliser – have lowered costs. As a result, rice farmers have been able to increase their net income by between 10 to 25 per cent.

Overall, the project has delivered direct support to more than 16,000 rice farmers in the four countries.

By the end of 2017, BRIA aims to have reached some 27,500 farmers – 6,500 in Indonesia, 8,000 in the Philippines, 10,000 in Thailand and 3,000 in Viet Nam.

The production practices recommended by the project – including less chemical fertiliser – have lowered costs. As a result, rice farmers have been able to increase their net income by between 10 to 25 per cent.

Transplanting young rice plants. Photo: GIZ

Overall, the project has delivered direct support to more than 16,000 rice farmers in the four countries.

By the end of 2017, BRIA aims to have reached some 27,500 farmers – 6,500 in Indonesia, 8,000 in the Philippines, 10,000 in Thailand and 3,000 in Viet Nam.

The production practices recommended by the project – including less chemical fertiliser – have lowered costs. As a result, rice farmers have been able to increase their net income by between 10 to 25 per cent.