Authored by Khidhir Abbas Hameed
Al-Mishkhab Rice Research Station, Najaf, Iraq
On August 6, 2024, a scientific symposium on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) was organized in the Birah Magrun sub-district, located 30 km west of Sulaymaniyah Governorate in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. This event was coordinated by agricultural expert and researcher Zana M. Dabagh from the Directorate of Agricultural Research in Sulaymaniyah and supported by the Director-General of the Directorate of Agriculture, Mr. Shalao Jamal Rasool.
During the symposium, I had the privilege of delivering a lecture titled “Positive Opportunities of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) under Current Conditions of Climate Change.” The lecture covered several key topics:
- Justifications for Implementing SRI in the Kurdistan Region: The need for sustainable and efficient agricultural practices in the face of climate change.
- Objectives and Principles of SRI: How SRI can optimize water use, increase yields, and improve the overall resilience of rice farming.
- Success Stories from Central and Southern Iraq: Positive outcomes observed from applying SRI methods in fields managed by the Al-Mishkhab Rice Research Station and local farmers.
The symposium was well-attended, with over 75 participants, including technical staff and rice farmers. Following my presentation, a lively discussion took place, where I addressed various questions and suggestions from the attendees. Notably, 10 farmers expressed interest in implementing SRI methods in their own fields and sought my assistance in this endeavor.
The event was documented by the media department of the General Directorate of Agriculture in Sulaymaniyah. The coverage of the symposium can be accessed [here].
Key Attendees:
- Mr. Dana – Director of Agriculture, Dokan District
- Mr. Zana M. Dabagh – Researcher and Agricultural Expert, Directorate of Agriculture, Sulaymaniyah
- Mrs. Feryal – Director of Agricultural Extension Division, Directorate of Agriculture, Sulaymaniyah
- Mr. Saman – Director, Directorate of Agriculture, Birah Magrun
- Mrs. Naziq – Director of Crop Protection Division, Directorate of Agriculture, Dokan District
- Mr. Rassol – Director of Agricultural Services Division, Directorate of Agriculture, Birah Magrun
- Mrs. Halala – Director of Crop Protection Division, Directorate of Agriculture, Birah Magrun
- Mrs. Hareem – Director of Agricultural Extension Division, Birah Magrun
Summary papers detailing the importance of SRI, its objectives, and its benefits for rice farmers were distributed in Kurdish during the event.
