Dear Andreas,
Fine response to Masud. Every point was to my mind right 'on target.'
Really wider spacing has yet to give better results in Nepal, but I
think that is due to differences in soil. I hope that the soil biota
will improve over time. In Morang, where Rajendra is working, they
definitely seem to have 'better' soils -- not just in terms of
'available' N, P, K and other nutrients, which is a chemical
analysis, static and point-in-time, but in terms of endowment of soil
organisms, who can respond to SRI practices (organic matter in soil,
aeration, optimum water applications, etc.). We are still figuring
some of this out, of course.

I am in Vietnam for 10 days, for a conference on sustainability, but
having opportunity to start working on the kind of networking that
has accelerated SRI in other countries. Very good colleagues here.
... I congratulate (and thank) you on (for) having developed the most
active and effective national SRI network with electronic support. A
priori, Nepal would have been thought one of the least likely
candidates for this exemplary role, but your efforts have made this
happen. ...
Norman