A prerequisite for a successful growing season is to plan the season well ahead of time. This work plan is a function of:

  • surface area to be cultivated,

  • inputs to apply,

  • labor available,

  • variety to choose, and

  • sowing date.

 

The size of the surface area to cultivate depends, among others, on the availability of:

  • human resources, i.e. family and external labor for the management and maintenance of the surface;

  • financial resources, i.e. estimated costs of external labor, fertilizer and herbicides;

  • material resources, i.e. equipment to prepare the soil, and to harvest, thresh, transport and store the rice.

 

It is also important to estimate resources needed for maintenance and repairs of the irrigation and drainage infrastructure. Inputs needed during the cropping season, such as mineral fertilizers, are ideally bought and properly stored in an aerated place before the start of the season. Avoid storing fertilizers and phytosanitary products inside the house, and keep them out of reach of children.

 

The work plan

Development of the work plan aims to facilitate the organization of the growing season and to avoid delays that may affect crop performance.

The work plan is developed around the planned sowing date. Crop management interventions before and after sowing need to be well planned, e.g.:

  • Access to credit—e.g. what is the last date for filing a request for credit, to obtain fertilizer vouchers, consider reimbursement delays

  • Input supply— access to inputs, prices, terms of delivery, conditions of delivery, etc.

  • Marketing—market access, prices, purchase conditions, transport conditions, etc.

 

The work plan can be presented in a table, listing the different operations, dates of implementation with reference to the sowing date and to the development stages of the plant.

Example of a workplan

No.  Date Operations DAT* Development stage of the plan Observations
1 10 June Ordering of inputs -34    
2 23 June Receiving of inputs -21    
3 24 June Flooding before first plowing -20    
4 28 June First plowing: Installation of the nursery -16    
5 29 June Flooding before second plowing -15    
6 12 July  Harrowing and leveling: basal fertilizer -2    
7 14 July Beginning of transplanting 0    
8 30 July Herbicide application 16 Start of tillering  
9 01 August Urea ferlizer application 18 Start of tillering  
10          
11          
12          
13          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*DAT = days after transplanting (for days before transplanting, use the negative sign).