Socio-Economic and Field Performance Evaluation of Different Rice Varieties under System of Rice Intensification in Morogoro, Tanzania

Abstract

Worldwide, many Studies on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) indicate that, the practice has promising results on increased rice productivity especially with high-yielding varieties. Therefore, it was necessary to validate the system at smallholder farmers’ level under Tanzanian condition. The study sought to evaluate the performance of selected rice improved varieties under SRI in different fields and locations in Morogoro region through an action research. Four rice varieties were planted in Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD) experimental fields at the spacing of 25cm x 25cm transplanted at 10 days after emergence. Experimental fields were set in three locations. The evaluation was followed by socio-economic participatory variety selection (pairwise and matrix scoring methods) which involved 36 farmers from all the three locations. It included both consumption (aroma, panicle size, grain weight, milling quality, cookability and palatability) and production traits (Yield, threshability, lodging, maturity, plant height, shuttering, disease tolerance and drought tolerance) of rice varieties. A statistical Package for Social Science computer software (SPSS) and Genestat were used in data analysis. Field results based on production trait (yield) indicated TXD 88 to have the highest yield (9.13t/ha). Other yield levels were 8.7t/ha, 8.4t/ha and 6.2t/ha for TXD 307, TXD 306 and Supa respectively. Yield was significantly influenced by number of productive tillers (P<0.05). Participatory Variety Selection results with consideration of both production and consumption traits highlighted TXD 306 to be suitable for farmers. We recommend the use of improved rice varieties under SRI. The dissemination efforts need to foster on the extensive promotion of TXD 306 since it serves the dual purposes by having competitive production and consumption traits under SRI production system. Breeding programs need to also embark on improving TXD 88 removing its chalkiness.