Figure 1

Phenotypical effects of SRI (System of Rice intensification) management: (a) Nepali farmer on left holds a rice plant grown with SRI methods from a single seed; (b) on right, a Cuban farmer holds two rice plants of the same variety (VN2084) and same age (52 days after sowing). Both Cuban plants were started in the same nursery, but the plant on right was removed at 9 days and was transplanted into a field where SRI growing conditions were maintained. A video showing, week by week, the contrasting and divergent growth of SRI and conventional rice plants on this same Cuban farm in the following year is posted at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zOMi9Ibao4&feature=relmfu. Pictures courtesy of Rajendra Uprety, District Agricultural Development Office, Biratnagar, Nepal; and Dr. Rena Perez, then food security advisor, Ministry of Sugar, Havana, Cuba