Rice value chain analysis in Tamil Nadu, India
This report is a case study of a multi-impact appraisal of a paddy value chain in India. The value chain is analysed from production to the distribution of rice into inner markets, comparing the performance of an upgrading scenario to the current situation. In the present case, farmers practice 1 to 3 rice crops a year (conventional rice). With the project, a more sustainable agro-ecological rice cultivation, namely Rice System Intensification (SRI), will be proposed to them. Adopting this methodology will improve water-use efficiency, soil conditions, household resilience to food security (high income, food availability and reduction in post-harvest losses) and self-organisation. Finally, the implementation of the SRI methodology on the project area will lead to a decrease in GHG emissions (mainly CH4 from rice cultivation) with a mitigation potential of about 4 tCO2-e per hectare per year.