In line with the objectives of the Rice Transformation Agenda to attain national self sufficiency in rice by 2015, the Agricultural Transformation Agenda had organized a one day training session for farmers in the South-South Geo- political zone. The training is targeting 200 farmers per state and will cover aspects of land preparation. Seed and varietals selection, nursery preparation and post-harvesting handling techniques of rice al selection, nursery preparation and transplanting techniques. agronomic and cultural
Choice of land
Choose fertile land with moderately high water holding capacity. Clay soils of river valley characteristics and Fadama are most preferred. Farmers should avoid area that is having too much sand and poor water holding capacity, and poor inherent fertility
Land preparation
In the forest cone there is the need to cut d ‘in trees and remove their stumps, the plough the land and disc harrow it twice. Depending on whether the land is flat or sloppy, there is the need to divide the field into smaller plots with bunds for better water retention in the rice field. Smaller plots of 50-100m are recommended for most rice fields. It is advisable to level the land and apply a basal dose of fertilizer before the final harrowing. .
Recommended varieties
Short duration varieties
FARO 44 (sipi 6920233) this matures in 90—1 00 days and etumbe (Inca
Medium duration varieties
FARO 21, 26, 29 and 52 (WITA 4) they mature from I 00—120 days hate duration varieties
FARE) I 5 suitable for iron toxic and water logged areas. FARO 10 – 12, I3 16, 1 7, I 9, 24 and 28. These varieties mature from over 120 days.
Choice of seed
Farmer should use good quality seeds with no insect damage and no contamination by weed seeds, stones and other seed types. Seeds with high percentage of viability of over 80% are recommended for planting.
Source of good quality seed
State Agricultural Development Project that has rice in their production programme.
River Basin Development Authority in your state
Reputable seed companies in your state
Office of the National Seed Service
Large scale rice farmers and other rice farmers
Time of planting
Plant in mid April/early May when the rains are well established. Planting should be done early (by end of June) in flood-prone, waterlogged and gall midge-attached areas.
Seed treatment
Treat selected seeds with a mixture of insecticide and fungicide. For example. Apron Star 42 WS (thiamethoxam 20g/1+ difenoconazole 2g/1+ metalaxy 1 –m 20g) at the rate of one sachet per 4kg seeds or any available seed dressing chemical before sowing. .
Planting
Direct seeding
Dibbling – Under this method rice seeds are sown just like any other upland crop in rows 20- 25cm between rows and 13-20cm between plants. This type of planting can also be done with pre-germinated seeds on wet soils. Sow about 5-6 seeds per hill.
Drilling — in this method holes are drilled using the above inter-row spacing and the rice seeds are sprinkle into the hole in line and lightly covered with soil.
Depth of planting
Sow rice seeds at the depth of 2 – 4cm. When rice is sown at a depth mole than 5cm, the emergence of young seedlings is delayed. Sometimes the seed may rot and plant stand may not be uniform.
Broadcasting – After good land preparation the rice seeds are broadcasted in the fields and covered by light harrowing on fields that arc dried. On puddle plots however, pre-germinated seeds can he broadcasted and the rice will emerge within three days.
Raising nursery
Prepare a good nursery bed by tilling the land properly and raise the bed such that watcr will not submerge the bed Broadcast the rice seeds on the bed and lightly cove’- it with soil. Sometimes pre-germinated seeds that were soaked in water for 48 hours can he used. lo provide seedling for 1 hectare of laud one need a nursery of 500m The seedlings need to be taken care of properly by sprinkling little quantity of NPK fertilizer and weeded. Seedlings are ready for transplanting after 6—8 weeks of sowing in the nursery. Avoid transplanting very old seedling.
Seed rate and plant population
Direct sowing may require 55—63kg/ha of rice seeds for dibbling or drilling respectively.
Transplanting may require 45kg/ha rice seeds white broadcasting may require up to 80— 100kg/ha of rice seeds.
Seeds that are sown at 23cm x 25cm can give up to 160, 000 plants per hectare. Optimum plant density is a function of several factors including planting season, soil type, and rice variety among others. Therefore, the above density should serve as a guide only.
Gap filling
Gap tilling in areas where rice seed did not emerge may be required this can he identified 7-10 days after sowing or transplanting. When using transplanting, remaining seedling can be use for that purpose.
Water management
Maintain the level of water in the field up to 5cm one week after transplanting until grains matures. The water can he drain a week before harvesting, and cracks should not be allowed in the field that could lead to lost of water.
Fertilizer rate and time of application
The recommended rate of fertilizer in the humid forest zone of Nigeria is the application of 60kg N. 30-60 kg P2O5 and 30kg of K20 per hectare. These can he obtained from 2.5 bags of urea, 2.73 bags of SSP and 1 bag of MOP.
P and K are to be applied at land preparation with half dose of N, will allow the fertilizer to be well incorporated with the soil. The remaining N should be applied 6 weeks after planting or transplanting or at the panicle initiation stage.
Weed control
Hand weeding can be done at 3. 6 and 9 weeks after transplanting. This can give a season long control of most of the grasses and broadleaf weeds in rice field. Hand weeding is done by pulling the grasses with hand This method is slow and difficult, only relevant for farmers with small plots. It is also convenient for fields that adopt broadcasting method of planting rice.
In field where rice is sown by dibbling or drilling methods, hand hoe can be use to control weeds, it is faster and easier than hand pulling of weeds. The time for this operation is the same as for hand pulling.
Chemical weed control
A number of chemicals known as herbicides are suitable for weed control in rice. Drain excess water in the field and spray the following herbicides such as Tamarice TM PL, Ronstar TM PL, or Risane TM at 3kg/ha (8litres) 2-3 weeks after transplanting on a clear sunny day. All the above herbicides are post-emergence in action, that is after both rice and weeds had emerged before they can act on the weeds. After 2-3 days of the spray the field can be irrigated or one should allow water to settle in the field not more than 5cm depth. Thereafter the farmer can top dress with urea fertilizer.
Pests and diseases control
Use disease resistant/tolerant varieties to RYMV and Blast
Use good cultural practices to limit infection of blast and RYMV
Use clean and healthy seeds.
Destroy alternative host plants such as rice ratoons
Use bio pesticides to control insect vectors
Rogue disease infected plants
Plant and transplant early
Erect scarecrows randomly to control birds
Use rat poison to control rats.
Harvesting
Rice is ready for harvest when the grains are hard and the panicles are turning yellow/brown in colour. That is about 30-45 days after flowering. The crop is cut with sickle at about 10- 15cm above the ground. The cut material is left on the field in upright position for further drying before threshing.
Threshing
This is done on a tarpaulin by stalking the cut materials and heating it ‘ sticks. On the alternative, the cut material will he taken by hand and beaten on a drum to separate the grains from the straw. there after the threshed material is winnowed manually’ and clean paddy is Further dried in the by spreading it on a clean cement floor. When properly dried the paddy is ready for storage in bags or further processing by milling it directly or parboiling it before milling.
There arc simple machines that can also thresh rice and winnow at the same time, if a farmer has the opportunity to acquire one it is faster and cleaner.
Expected yield
With good management and use of improved high yielding variety ,5—6t/ha paddy can be expected from rice fields.
Parboiling rice
To parboil rice, soak paddy rice in hot water at 70°C (hot enough for your fingers to withstand the heat for about two seconds) for 5 hours. Discard all floating empty grains. Parboil rice by steaming soaked paddy in a jute bag for 10—16 minutes. Stop the steaming when the husks start to split open. Then dry the parboiled material in a shade. After three days of drying the rice can then he milled. Parboiled rice has the advantages of better storage, cooking quality. Better or richer in food value, devoid of unpleasant odour and breaking less during milling. Chalky grains or white centres indicate incomplete parboiling. Which cause breakage of grains during milling. It is important to note parboiling dexterises the kernels and drives the vitamin thiamine and other water-soluble nutrients from the testa or seed coat in to the starchy core.
Storage
Store in cool and dry, rodent-proof place. Infested paddy should he fumigated with phostoxin in air—tight containers at the rate of one tablet/jute bag (100 kg paddy) or 10—15 tablets/ton paddy.