Development, Validation, and Dissemination of a Decision Support System for Rainfed Rice Farming in Southeast Asia: A Case Study in Indonesia

Abstract

Rice farmers in rainfed areas face various constraints due to unfavorable environment caused by weather-related uncertainties. The weather-rice-nutrient integrated decision support system (WeRise), a seasonal climate prediction-based online application tool, was developed through the IRRI-Japan Collaborative Research Project (IJCRP) to improve the current situation of rainfed farmers. WeRise provides critical crop management advisory such as optimum sowing timing. The predictability of WeRise was evaluated through hind cast analysis and on-farm field validation in Indonesia. Results from hind cast analysis showed a high predictability of WeRise as demonstrated through a good model fit measured by normalized root mean square errors (RMSEn). Two groups of farmers using Ciherang variety in their cropping obtained different grain yields. The group who used WeRise advisories obtained significantly better grain yield than the group who did not. This also demonstrates another measure of the predictability of WeRise. In addition to technology development and validation, a technology transfer pathway was developed by IJCRP to identify stakeholders and their roles in the uptake and dissemination of WeRise. It involves stakeholders from the national and local governments. Capacity building of national government agencies who could be in-charge of localization/further development, operation, and maintenance of WeRise is among the components of the pathway. The integration of WeRise into the policy, research and development programs was also found to be crucial to facilitate technology transfer. Moreover, policy advocacy should be also conducted by IJCRP within the project implementation period for solving inherent problems including data sharing and coordination among the national and local agencies. Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and post-technology transfer support are also key activities of IJCRP. While Southeast Asian countries may have different government structures, system, and information flow, the WeRise technology transfer pathway developed for Indonesia could serve as a guide for other countries and regions.