INNOVATION THROUGH ACTION RESEARCH.

EXPERIENCES IN ORGANIC RICE PRODUCTION IN THE CAMARGUE, SOUTH OF FRANCE

Abstract type : Short presentation
Submitted by : Santiago Lopez-Ridaura
Authors and Speakers : Jean Claude Mouret

Information about other authors :

Jean Claude Mouret, Santiago Lopez-Ridaura, Roy Hammond

INRA, Science for Action and Development (SAD), UMR Innovation, 2 P. Viala, 34060 Montpellier, France, CEDEX-1. mouret@supagro.inra.fr

In this paper we present our experience and some of the results issuinged from an action-research platform aimeding at the exploration of alternatives for organic rice production in the Camargue, south of France.

The Camargue, a deltaic region in the South of France and a UNESCO biosphere reserve, is an ecologically sensitive area, with high biodiversity and an important stop-over site for several migrating birds. However, in the Camargue there are over 20 000 hectares of inundated rice annually and the conventional cropping system relies heavily on, among other inputs, the use of chemical fertilizers and herbicides. The high use fertilizers and herbicides) for rice production in the Camargue is a source of concern as it might represent a threat for the stability of the ecosystem.

Organic rice production represents an alternative to reduce input use and their potential pollution. At present, it covers ca. 6% of the rice surface and it is practiced by ca. 120% of farmers. However, farmers practicing organic farming face several technical challenges withand little or no technical references to overcome them.

Since 1998X, INRA has been engaged in several action-research projects in the context of organic rice production in the Camargue. In such projects, INRA leads a reflective process with farmers to identify the main problems related to organic rice production and accompaniesy them in the search of possible solutions.

Each year, before the rice season starts, a meeting with 6 to 12 farmers is organized in which a collective decision is made about one or two specific issues of concern related to organic rice production as well as about the possible alternatives they would like to test for the coming season. Individually, each farmer sets up in his/her parcels a simple (commonly binary) experiment in which the alternative that he/she believes is best and more suitable is put into practice and contrasted with their current techniques.

Along Throughout the growing season farmers note down their practices and we conduct an agronomic follow up where some important variables of crop development are recorded such as plant density at emergence, biomass production at different crop stages as well as yield and its components. Soils are analyzed, and climate data registered. Additional analyses or measuresobservations are made in relation to the specific issue of investigation such as weeds identification and development. or soil analyses.

One collective visit to several parcels is organized in the middle of the growing season where farmers explain their experiment and an informal assessment is carried out pinpointing the difficulties implementing the alternatives and estimating the possible advantages and disadvantages in terms of crop management and yield. At the end of the growing season and once harvest has been conducted, individual sessions are carried out with each farmer to discuss his/her results and draw conclusions on the implementation of the chosen alternative. A general meeting with all farmers is organized where results from the agronomic follow up of all parcels are presented as well as the point of view of farmers. In this meeting ideas are exchanged among farmer to assess the different alternatives and discuss their performance as well as to outlinedraw the way forward in to tackling tackle the specific technical problem under analysis.

Main technical challenges identified for organic rice production in the Camargue are related to soil fertility and weed management. In this paper we present specific results for several alternatives that have been tested in the context of the action-research platform such as the effect of the length the crop rotation, the effect of the preceding crop, different types, doses and timings of organic fertilizer application, different crop residue management strategies, and different soil preparation practices to reduce weed pressure.

For example, results related to the fractioning split application of organic fertilizer by organic farmers for ORP the in the Camargue have shown that organic fertilizers work in a similar way that to chemical fertilizers and that splittingpartitioning their application, instead of one application before sowing as it is commonly practiced, was a good strategy to attain acceptable yield levels and maintain soil fertility. Farmers, however, evoked possible organizational constraints as well as economic risks related to this innovation. Also,  ONE POSSIBLE LIMITATION: eg. Much more work, application problems…?

the effect of the crop precedent on rice yield and weed pressure has been analyzed together with farmers. Rice growers favor alfalfa as a precedent for rice, obtaining good yields without any fertilizer application and relatively low weed pressure. However the introduction of alfalfa into the crop rotation could create problems of soil salinity in lowlands and it might not be an attractive land use for farmers not practicing livestock production.……

Ten years of action-research in the Camargue have allowed farmers to identify and overcome some of the technical problems for organic rice production based on the observation and common reflection on possible alternatives. Although action research requires high time investments by both, farmers and researchers, it is a suitable approach for innovation in the context of organic farming as each farmer, based on his/her own and others experiences, designs a set of practices well adapted to the specific conditions of his/her farm.

Keywords :
Action Research, Camargue, Organic Agriculture, Rice