Question

Who among the following, is credited for developing the concept of SRI (System of Rice Intensification)

• A. Henri de Laulanié
• B. Yuan Longping
• C. MS Swaminathan
• D. Norman E. Borlaug

Hint:

SRI = "More with Less."
Less water, less seed, more yield.
Think of Madagascar when you think of Henri de Laulanié and SRI.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the name of the scientist or individual who developed the "System of Rice Intensification" (SRI), a methodology to increase rice yields with less water and fewer seeds.
Detailed Explanation:

• History of SRI:
The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) was developed in the $1980$s in Madagascar.
It was developed by Father Henri de Laulanié, a French Jesuit priest and agronomist, who spent over $30$ years working with Malagasy farmers.

• Principles of SRI:
Unlike traditional flooded rice farming, SRI involves:
- Transplanting very young seedlings ($8-12$ days old).
- Single seedlings per hill with wide spacing ($25 \times 25$ cm).
- Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) instead of continuous flooding.
- Use of mechanical weeders (conoweeder) to aerate the soil.

• Identifying other personalities:
Yuan Longping: Known as the "Father of Hybrid Rice."
MS Swaminathan: The "Father of the Green Revolution in India."
Norman E. Borlaug: The "Father of the Global Green Revolution" and Nobel Peace Prize winner for developing semi-dwarf wheat.

Step 2: Final Answer:
The concept of SRI is credited to Henri de Laulanié.