A prerequisite for a successful growing season is to plan the season well ahead of time. This work plan is a function of:
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surface area to be cultivated,
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inputs to apply,
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labor available,
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variety to choose, and
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sowing date.
The size of the surface area to cultivate depends, among others, on the availability of:
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human resources, i.e. family and external labor for the management and maintenance of the surface;
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financial resources, i.e. estimated costs of external labor, fertilizer and herbicides;
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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.:
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Access to credit—e.g. what is the last date for filing a request for credit, to obtain fertilizer vouchers, consider reimbursement delays
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Input supply— access to inputs, prices, terms of delivery, conditions of delivery, etc.
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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 |
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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).