Field Leveling
 
Neither advanced land leveling nor soil puddling (breaking down the soil structure while submerged in water) are done by farmers here. These two important soil preparation practices are commonly done for irrigated rice elsewhere in the world, and are recommended for SRI. In order to not introduce too many technical innovations at once, we decided to settle for an acceptable land leveling, and to not insist for now on the soil puddling.  
 
The soil was sufficiently level after a few passes with the hardwood beam. As this practice is new to the area, we are open for suggestions on improvement, including techniques for soil puddling.
June 24, 2008
 
Our Approach
During a dusty wind, Africare technicians test a 4-meter long hardwood beam for land leveling. The beam is pulled across the plot, scraping off the high places and filling in holes to make a well-leveled soil surface.
Farmer Daouda starts irrigating the first SRI plot of the season (picture 1). Imam Mahamadou Hamadou, SRI pioneer of Douegoussou from last season, breaks up the soil chunks and levels the plot with his hoe (picture 2). Technicians Ibrahim and Erika checking out the soil consistency of the first flooded SRI plot (picture 3).  
After first attempting to pull the wooden beam across the rice paddy, we were soon looking for ropes to make the task easier and more efficient. Farmers help to fill in some holes with their hoes.  
The very first SRI field leveled!
 
Not textbook perfect, but still ready for planting