Lowland Rice Farming Research Articles

Wet cultivation in lowland rice causing excess water problems for the subsequent non-rice crops in the Mekong region

Crop diversification is advocated for improvement of income of lowland rice farmers in the Mekong region, including Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. One common problem of adding non-rice crops after wetland rice is excess water caused by reduced drainage associated with the hard pan that is commonly created to store water in the paddy for the rice crop. This paper firstly describes the water balance in the lowland fields particularly on how deep percolation is decreased by the hard pan, and the effect of wet cultivation on soil compaction and water availability in the subsequent crops such as mungbean. Experimental work in Cambodia shows how non-rice crops such as mungbean and peanut often fail completely or partially due to excess water. The common experience is complete failure of the early wet season non-rice crop when rain started earlier and the lowland paddy is saturated with water, but also non-rice crops often do not grow well due to shallow root systems confined to the top soil above the hard pan. Destructing the hard pan may help non-rice crops, but the process is expensive and may have an adverse effect on subsequent rice crops. Experimental work has also demonstrated that where irrigation water is available, irrigation is often not effective as it causes soil saturation in the top soil. Ways to minimize the excess water problem are discussed.

Erratum: Indigenous Soil Fertility Knowledge of Rainfed Lowland Rice Farmers in Central Laos Indigenous Soil Fertility Knowledge (Tropical Agriculture and Development Vol. 57, No. 3 September 2013 J-STAGE p.86-93)

Erratum: Indigenous Soil Fertility Knowledge of Rainfed Lowland Rice Farmers in Central Laos Indigenous Soil Fertility Knowledge (Tropical Agriculture and Development Vol. 57, No. 3 September 2013 J-STAGE p.86-93)

Indigenous Soil Fertility Knowledge of Rainfed Lowland Rice Farmers in Central Laos Indigenous Soil Fertility Knowledge

Indigenous Soil Fertility Knowledge of Rainfed Lowland Rice Farmers in Central Laos Indigenous Soil Fertility Knowledge

Use of computer simulation models to encourage farmers to adopt best rodent management practices in lowland irrigated rice systems in An Giang Province, the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Rice field rats are an important pre-harvest pest of lowland irrigated rice farming systems in Vietnam. Farmers often apply traditional control measures too late for economic benefits to be achieved, due to the progressive inability of rice plants to compensate for damage. The use of computer simulation modelling was examined as a potential alternative approach to the management of rodents in lowland rice crop ecosystems. It was projected that 16 farmers who are involved in action learning cycles using crop simulation models to look at the relationship between timing and effectiveness of different control methods, would change their behaviour about rodent management, so that management is preventative rather than reactionary to pest damage. The study was conducted in three villages (2 treatment villages and 1 reference village) during the autumn-winter cropping season (July-November) in 2009, in An Giang Province in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Effects of alternative rodent management practices were explored using APSIM modelling in a farmer participatory approach. The changes in rodent control practices of farmers before and after the involvement in the APSIM modelling approach are also discussed. The study showed that APSIM modelling adequately simulated actual yields at different rodent damage intensities, for the different growth stages of the rice crop. Pre-season yield predictions in response to rat management were the same for farmers' actual rice yields at the treatment and reference sites. The use of the modelling was an integral component of the learning cycle for farmers and extension workers in achieving a clear understanding of the rationale for changing their traditional rodent control strategies. Farmers subsequently changed the timing of rodent management to the tillering stage of crop development instead of later in crop growth after most damage has been done. It is believed that the model has the potential for application in other provinces of Vietnam with similar rice farming systems to those in the Mekong Delta.

Nitrogen supply via internal nutrient cycling of residues and weeds in lowland rice farming

Development of alternative soil fertility management is opted to mitigate the side effects associated with the excessive use of synthetic fertilizer. Soil fertility management practice through strengthening internal nutrient cycling (agroecological management: AEM) was examined in lowland rice (Oryza sativa) farming in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The principal study fields were established AEM (EAEM), where AEM was established in 1999 and transitional AEM (TAEM), where AEM has been practiced since 2009 and the field is still in transient stage. A field with conventional nutrient management (CNM) was studied for reference purposes.In EAEM field, potential amount of soil N supply was estimated at 41.9gNm−2 in spring 2011. Components in AEM maintained labile N pool were basic mineralizable N (21.0gNm−2) and annually changing mineralizable N (20.9gNm−2). Annually changing mineralizable N include soil drying effect (3.6gNm−2), internal inputs (13.2gNm−2) such as rice straw, rice bran, spring and winter weed as well as external inputs (4.1gNm−2) such as biological N2 fixation, precipitation and guano. Estimated NH4–N released from soil during the cropping season was 28.5gNm−2 in 2011. As the N uptake of rice was 11.5gNm−2 in 2011, EAEM supplied sufficient N to satisfy N demand by the rice plants. Relatively large amount of NH4–N released in EAEM implies that the recycling of on-site N sources would supply substantial amount of N to rice plants. In TAEM (two and three year practice), limited amount of NH4–N (17.8gNm−2) available during the cropping season compared with EAEM emphasized the importance of long-term practice to ensure effects of AEM through increase of basic soil mineralizable N. The research result suggests that AEM might be a sustainable and appropriate soil fertility management option for lowland rice farming if measures such as adjusting application rate of rice bran are employed to control soil N supply.

Risk Perceptions, Attitudes, and Influential Factors of Rainfed Lowland Rice Farmers in Ilocos Norte, Philippines

This study analyzes the risk perceptions and risk attitudes of farmers practicing different rice-based cropping patterns in the rainfed lowland ecosystems of Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The Likert scale and Kruskal-Wallis test were employed to assess the farmers’ risk perceptions while the experimental method was applied to determine the farmers’ risk attitudes (i.e., risk averse, risk neutral, or risk taker). Regression analysis highlights the significant factors affecting perceptions and attitudes. Resource-endowed and resource-poor farmers generally perceived various risk sources as moderately low regardless of crops planted. However, on the average, resource-poor farmers were more likely to consider farming as not risky possibly because they had little to lose or gain compared to their resource-endowed counterparts. By source of risk, both farmer groups perceived that farming is relatively risky considering the increasing price of fertilizer and environmental factors (e.g., weather), which are beyond their control. By crop, the farmers considered rice and corn as relatively risky compared to other crops. The major crops are rice during the wet season and corn in the dry season. High fertilizer costs and erratic climatic conditions usually burden the farmers during the wet season. Similarly, corn output is badly affected by adverse weather circumstances. Farm size and wealth are the variables that affect the farmers’ risk perceptions. The farmers in Ilocos Norte were found to be generally risk averse. Wealth, age, and availability of credit are important determinants of the farmers’ risk attitudes, but their impacts vary across cropping patterns.

"Ketahanan Pangan dan Mekanisme Koping Rumah Tangga Petani Padi Sawah Lebak Berdasarkan Status Kepemilikan Lahan"

Fulfilling of household food security of lowland rice farmers require sufficient capacities to improve their productivity and income. Nowadays, lowland rice farmers are in difficult conditions and at risk to food security. This research aimed to analyze capacity, food security level, and copying mechanism of lowland rice farmer’s household based on land property right and to analyze the correlation between capacity and food security of lowland rice farmer’s household. This research utilized survey method on 200 lowland rice farmers household at Ogan Ilir and Ogan Komering Ilir District, South Sumatera. The data were analyzed by descriptive and Chi-square test. The results showed that the farmer’s capacities level was at middle category, the farmers’ household food security level was low, and coping mechanism of the farmers household was at high category. There was no significant correlation between capacity and food security of the lowland rice farmers household (p>0,05) also was found in this research.

Evaluation of intra and interspecific rice varieties adapted to valley bottom conditions in Burkina Faso

Rice is one of the major staple foods in Burkina Faso and in-country production covers about 60% of the demand and 40% is met from imports. The immense potential of the lowlands in Burkina Faso for durable intensification of rice cropping have not been realised due to biotic and abiotic constraints. Hence, there is an urgent need to increase and improve the production of rice in order to meet up with the high demand. To meet the demand, the rice research program in Burkina Faso evaluated intra and interspecific lowland progenies in 2002 and 2003. The aim of the study is to introduce new lowland NERICAs through a participatory approach and to identify ideotypes that are adapted to lowland conditions. Variations did exist among the 16 rice varieties with respect to the 9 variables that were evaluated. A principal components plot and clustering analysis technique were used to group the accessions. The interspecific varieties formed the most interesting group and have a better capacity for adaptation to the diversity of lowlands. They have acceptable yields, sometimes higher than those of intraspecific varieties and check. Thus, the results obtained were quite encouraging and showed that, the varieties possess good agronomic traits that are well adapted to intensify lowland rice farming. The recent naming of some of these interspecific varieties as NERICA-L (New Rice for Africa Lowland) by AfricaRice Center has confirmed that they compare well with the traditional varieties. Thus from this study, we now have a new set of interspecific lines that are adapted to lowland conditions that can be tested to meet farmers’ needs. Key words: Oryza glaberrima, Oryza sativa, hybridisation, inter-specific, NERICA, sterility, yields.

Agronomic and Environmental Performance of Rapeseed Oilcake in the Lowland Rice Farming of Japan

The use of organic manures as an alternative to chemical fertilizers is an option for the development of sustainable farming systems in Japan. The present study examined the effect of rapeseed oilcake (RO) not only on yield and yield components of rice (Oryza sativa L.) but also on soil fertility parameters and surface water quality in a paddy field by comparing them with the effects of conventional inorganic fertilizer (IF) and a control (CR), that is, natural (unfertilized) system. The long-term field experiment from 1990 to 2006 demonstrated the indigenous sustainability of paddy systems, because husked grain yield and shoot biomass in the CR plot remained at moderate levels (ave. 323 ± 56 g m−2 and 843 ± 166 g m−2, respectively) over 17 successive years. Meanwhile, the application of RO comparatively improved grain yield (ave. 538 ± 83 g m−2) and shoot biomass (ave. 1478 ± 187 g m−2) to almost the same level as with IF (ave. 538 ± 68 g m−2 and 1511 ± 173 g m−2, respectively) during the study period. Soil fertility assessment in the last experimental year (2006) indicated that RO could improve the soil quality to the same extent as IF because major fertility parameters showed similar values between the RO and IF plots. On the other hand, the application of IF induced a substantial increase in estimated load outflows of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from the paddy surface water (2.46 g N m−2; 0.38 g P m−2) as compared to the CR plot (0.92 g N m−2; 0.06 g P m−2). Outflows from the RO plot showed relatively lesser effluent loads (2.00 g N m−2; 0.14 g P m−2) than the IF plot. From the findings of this study, we concluded that RO is agronomically similar to but an environmentally better resource material than conventional IF in the lowland rice farming system in Japan.

Evaluation of intra- and inter-specific rice varieties adapted to valley fringe conditions in Burkina Faso

The immense potential of the lowlands in Burkina Faso for durable intensification of rice cropping have not been realised due to biotic and abiotic stress constraints.To this end, the rice research program in Burkina Faso evaluated 16 intra-and inter-specific lowland progenies in 2002 and 2003. The aim of the study is to introduce new lowland NERICAs through a participatory approach and to identify ideotypes that are adapted to lowland conditions. Variability was found among the 16 rice varieties with respect to the 9 variables that were evaluated. A principal components plot and clustering analysis technique were used to group 16 intra-and inter-specific lowland progenies. The inter-specific varieties formed the most interesting group and showed a better capacity for adaptation to the diversity of lowlands. They had good yields, sometimes higher than those of intra-specific varieties and check. Thus, the results obtained were quite satisfactory as the varieties possess good agronomic traits that are well adapted to intensified lowland rice farming. The recent naming of some of these inter-specific varieties as NERICA-L (New Rice for Africa Lowland) by Africa Rice Center confirmed their status. Thus from this study, a new set of inter-specific lines that are adapted to lowland conditions and which the national research programs in Burkina Faso can use in various tests for satisfying farmers’ needs are discussed. Key words: Hybridisation, inter-specific, insect, blast, NERICA, Oryza glaberrima, Oryza sativa, sterility, yield.

Weed competitiveness of the lowland rice varieties of NERICA in the southern Guinea Savanna

Weed competition is a major constraint to lowland rice production in West Africa. Interspecific rice varieties named New Rice for Africa (NERICA) may have superior weed competitiveness and could as such play an important role in integrated weed management. The NERICA varieties were developed from the wide cross between high-yielding Oryza sativa (L.) and weed competitive and disease resilient Oryza glaberrima (Steud.). In this study weed competitiveness of all 60 lowland varieties of NERICA (NERICA-L) was compared with their most frequently used parents [IR64 ( O. sativa) and TOG5681 ( O. glaberrima)], the weed competitive variety Jaya ( O. sativa) and the O. glaberrima upland NERICA parent CG14. During the 2006 and 2007 rainy seasons these varieties were grown under weed-free and weedy conditions in a lowland farmers’ field with partially controlled irrigation in south-east Benin. Weedy plots included single hand weeding at 28 days after sowing, whereas weed-free plots were weekly weeded. Most important weed species encountered in this study were Basilicum polystachyon, Alternanthera sessilis, Echinochloa colona, Sorghum arundinaceum, Cyperus halpan and Cyperus rotundus. Average weed-inflicted yield loss across varieties was 39% in 2006 and 8% in 2007. In both years varieties differed significantly in grain yields under weed-free and weedy conditions and in the growth of weed biomass they permitted under weedy conditions, as observed at harvest. None of the lowland varieties of NERICA consistently had stronger weed suppressive ability than TOG5681 across 2 years. Nine varieties of NERICA-L (-6, -32, -35, -37, -42, -53, -55, -58 and -60) were identified with high yields under both weed-free and weedy conditions. These nine NERICA-L varieties, together with Jaya, out-yielded the other 51 NERICA-L varieties as well as IR64 and the two O. glaberrima varieties. Weed-free yield, crop growth duration, and weed biomass at harvest significantly correlated with weedy yield in both years. Interspecific breeding using O. glaberrima appears to be an effective approach for improving yield potential and weed competitiveness of semi-dwarf O. sativa and as such for widening the range of useful varieties for lowland rice farmers in Africa.

Farmer participatory learning on integrated crop management of lowland rice in Mali

The African rice gall midge (AfRGM) Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagne and rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) are principal biotic constraints to the sustainable intensifi cation of rainfed and irrigated lowland rice, posing the most serious challenge to human endeavors in West Africa (Nwilene et al 2002). Considerable progress has been made to control both stresses through integrated pest management (IPM) components. But, there has been no focus on farmers' needs, knowledge, and capacity for learning ways of managing pest and disease problems under locally observed conditions (Defoer et al 2004). Often, farmers are handicapped because they lack a basic understanding of pest and disease symptoms, ecology, natural enemies, development patterns of crops and pests, appropriate control measures, soil condition and its effect on the crop, and the effect of weather conditions on pest populations and disease incidence. They do not understand pest resurgence and the reasons for not using insecticides indiscriminately. There is a growing realization that future agricultural growth hinges on smallholder farmers, who must be knowledgeable and exposed to a learning process that involves continuous observation and feedback from the local environment and that enhances decision-making capacity. This paper reports efforts made to train lowland rice farmers on crop management practices and IPM options to enable them to carry out their own experiments on their own farms.

The impact of water conservation and intensification technologies: empirical evidence for rice farmers in Ghana

AbstractThis study employs the propensity score matching model to examine the impact of the adoption of water conservation and intensification technologies on farm output and income among small‐scale lowland rice farmers in the Northern Region of Ghana. The matching was conducted based on the Mahalanobis distance combined with the propensity score. Balancing tests by checking the mean standardized absolute bias in the matched sample were conducted as well as a sensitivity analysis was conducted to check for hidden bias due to unobservable selection. The empirical results show a positive and significant impact of the adoption of bunds technology on input demand as well as a positive but insignificant impact on output supply and net returns. Adopters of the dibbling technology were found to have higher output supply, whereas no statistically significant difference was found between the incomes of adopters and nonadopters of dibbling seed method. The results, however, reveal a positive and significant effect on output and net returns when the dibbling method is combined with intensified weeding. The estimates were found to be relatively insensitive to hidden bias.

Technical efficiency of upland and lowland rice production

The paper examined the efficiency of upland and lowland rice production systems in a prominent rice producing State (Niger State) in Nigeria using descriptive statistics, stochastic production frontier model as well as inefficiency model. The data used were generated from a farm survey involving 240 rice farmers' randomly selected using multistage sampling technique. Results of analysis indicate that upland rice farmers were significantly more technically efficient (81.2%) than lowland rice farmers (76.4%) at P ≤ 0.01. Also, farmers stand the chance of improving their efficiency by 18.8% and 23.6% in upland and lowland production systems respectively and the inefficiency model indicated that this can be achieved when rice farmers plant improved varieties regardless of the production systems. In addition, sex was a significant determinant of efficiency under upland production while experience plays a significant role under lowland production (P ≤ 0.05). Keywords: Stochastic production frontier; efficiency; rice production; NigeriaMoor Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 7 (1&2) 2006 pp.93-99

The effects of repeated soil wetting and drying on lowland rice yield with system of Rice Intensification (SRI) methods

In lowland rice farming, water management is the most important practice that determines the productivity of other inputs, e.g. nutrients, herbicides, pesticides, farm machinery, microbial activity, mineralization rates. Deliberate flooding or poor drainage that keeps soil saturated is detrimental to crops and degrades soil quality. This study evaluated whether rice grain yield could be increased relative to continuous flooding by using the management practices of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI). The effects of SRI's repeated wetting and drying cycles plus different plant populations were investigated at Sapu Research Station in The Gambia, on an alluvial soil between 2000 and 2002. The water management practices proposed for SRI were found to be beneficial to rice growth. At 20 cm spacing, average grain yield with SRI practice was 7.3 t ha−1 compared with 2.5 t ha−1 under continuous flooding. At 30 cm spacing SRI practice yielded 6.6 t ha−1, while under continuous flooding, grain yield was only 1.7 t ha−1. Even wider spacing did not produce higher yield. At 40 cm spacing, SRI management gave 4.7 t ha−1, while continuous flooding yielded 1.3 t ha−1. Thus overall, SRI practices gave better results than continuous flooding. This was probably as a result of increased nutrient availability and superior growing conditions which enhanced physiological development and grain yield. Rewetting dry soil reportedly facilitates nitrogen mineralization. The phenomenon of having a flush of nitrogen mineralization occurring after rewetting dry soil was first reported by Birch in 1958. This intensive pathway of nitrogen mineralization and nitrogen availability has potential to increase lowland rice yields in ways consistent with sustainable agricultural production.

Rice establishment method affects nitrogen use and crop production of rice–legume systems in drought-prone eastern India

The inclusion of grain legumes in rainfed lowland rice farming systems provides an opportunity to increase food production, household income, and human nutrition of impoverished rice farmers in Asia. We examined the effect of rice establishment method on the performance of wet season rice ( Oryza sativa L.) and post-rice crops of either chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) or moong [ Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] on an Udic Haplustalf in the drought-prone, rainfed lowlands of eastern India. Rice was either direct seeded in lines on moist soil immediately after the onset of wet season rain or transplanted after sufficient rainwater accumulated for soil submergence. Crop establishment method had no effect on rice performance in a season (2001) with normal rainfall. In a drought season (2002), direct seeding resulted in mean rice grain yield of 2.3 t ha −1, whereas the transplanted rice crop failed. The agronomic efficiency of N fertilizer applied to direct-seeded rice was comparable for the 2 years (18 and 24 kg grain per kg N applied). Topsoil inorganic N was markedly higher following chickpea and moong than following a post-rice fallow. Direct-seeded rice had higher yield and accumulation of N following a post-rice legume than following fallow, but transplanted rice derived no such benefit from the legume. Direct-seeded rice was established 1–2 months before transplanted rice, and direct-seeded rice matured before transplanted rice by 8 days in the favorable season and by 26 days in the drought season. The soil nitrate present after legumes and fallow rapidly disappeared, presumably by denitrification, following the onset of rains and soil flooding prior to transplanting. A portion of this accumulated soil nitrate was taken up by the direct-seeded rice before it could be lost. But transplanted rice did not benefit from this inorganic N derived from legumes because virtually all soil nitrate was lost before transplanting. Direct seeding of rice ensured better use of residual and applied N, reduced risk due to drought, and favored intensification with post-rice legumes in drought-prone lowland systems.

Land use dynamics and nutrient characteristics of soils and plants along topo-sequences in inland valley watersheds of Ashanti region, Ghana

Surveys on land use dynamics were conducted over a 3-year period along various toposequences in benchmark inland valley watersheds of the Ashanti region, Ghana. Six typical land use systems were selected for more detailed studies, Le., primary forest (PF), cacao farm (CP), fallow (Fallow), mixed cropping (MC), and lowland rice-based systems including both traditional rice (TR) and sawah{ft1} (paddy)-based rice farming (Sawah). Topsoil samples (0-20 cm) and samples of leaves and bark of various plants were collected from these land use systems for nutrient characterization using laboratory analyses. The remaining primary and secondary forests cover only a patchy area, accounting for less than 20%, in forest reserves and surrounding areas. Cacao farms were developed both in the upland areas, middle slopes, and lowland areas, which occupied about 20% of the watershed. Lowland rice farming is estimated to account for about 10% of the watershed. Oil palm cultivation is also common in the lowland areas. The remaining land use systems were mostly fallow and mixed cropping of maize, cocoyam, cassava, and plantain. Plant leaves of various species in the lowland traditional rice area showed higher concentrations of phosphorus and potassium but lower calcium and strontium concentrations than those of the leaves in the upland surveyed plots, especially, the forest area. Nitrogen, sulfur, magnesium, and the other mineral elements, however, did not show any clear differences among the six land use systems. Bark samples tended to exhibit lower concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, magnesium, sodium, silicon, aluminum, iron, manganese, and copper but higher concentrations of calcium and strontium. Cacao leaves showed silicon-accumulator characteristics and the magnesium concentration was high too. Cacao bark contained potassium and zinc in appreciable amounts in compared to the leaves. Topsoil samples of the primary forest and cacao farms in the upland areas showed higher levels of TC, TN, exchangeable Ca and Mg, and eCEC while the levels of available P showed a rather reverse trend compared to the lowland traditional and sawah rice plots. Topsoil samples of the fallow and mixed cropping plots at upland and fringe sites showed intermediate levels. The pH at the mixed cropping site was the lowest. These general fertility trends along upland and lowland topo-sequences were different from those of monsoon Asia and Japan. With the implementation of the sawah rice-based farming system, the inland valleys could contribute to the enhancement of sustainable food production in the country.

Research: Help or hindrance to good farmers in high risk systems?

At least some groups of resource-poor farmers in risky environments have developed sound, rational problem-solving practices. In such cases, agricultural research may lead to recommendations that are not superior, or even equal, to farmers' practices. In other cases, research may help to solve specific problems which farmers were unable to solve and for which potential solutions exist. Careful diagnostic research is needed to understand farmers' systems and, in so doing, to determine: (a) where further research might efficiently and effectively help to solve problems; and (b) where further research may have few benefits. Diagnostic research may also show that recommended innovations can run counter to farmers' solutions. Case examples discuss dryland farmers in Ethiopia, rain-fed lowland rice farmers in eastern India and bean farmers in the Andes of Ecuador.

Growth and N 2-fixation of two stem-nodulating legumes and their effect as green manure on lowland rice

Two stem-nodulating tropical legumes ( Sesbania rostrata and Aeschymmene afraspera) show promise as green manure in lowland rice farming systems. Their performance as biofertilizers for lowland rice was studied at different growth stages, seasons and sites. Both species exhibited fast growth and high N 2 fixation and produced high biomass in a short growth period. Due to photoperiod sensitivity, the use of S. rostrata was limited during the short-day period. A. afraspera was found to be less sensitive to photoperiodism. Both species increased significantly the grain yield of rice. In the short-day period A. afraspera seemed superior-its productivity is higher than that of S. rostrata. In the long-day period, the same increase in yield was reached with both species but A. afraspera had lower biomass and was less labor-intensive to incorporate into soil.

Kith-Centered Action Groups in an Ilokano Barrio

In exploring the composition of kinship-based action groups in a bilaterally organized society, that of the Faroese, Blehr (1963) has advanced the concept of the in order to describe the genealogical structure of groups of task-oriented consanguines and affines. The action groups he analyzed were of two kinds: estate working groups and boat crews. The former were com? posed of men who are lineally, collaterally, and/or affinally related to each other', (Blehr 1963: 271). Such groups were Ego-centered and drawn from the kith category, but the boat crews, instead of being drawn from a single kith category, were on a network of dyadic ties, i.e., on ramifying chains of obligations structured by kith relationships (Blehr 1963: 274). Murdock (1964: 131), while not denying the validity of the kith con? cept, suggests that More ethnographic data are required on such groups and the mechanics of their recruitment before systematic classification will be possible. In this paper I shall present data on a kith-centered type of action group found among the Ilokano of Barrio Suba, Uocos Norte, the Philip? pines. Suba, a barrio of 552 persons, is located on the north shore of Paoay Lake some twelve kilometers south of Laoag, the provincial capital. Like most of their compatriots, the Subans are lowland rice farmers, but for as long as they can remember they have supplemented their diet and incomes by fishing in the lake. A minor fishing technique, named after the type of net used, is dafyis fishing, or beach seining. The nets used are hand-hauled, and da\lis fishing is necessarily a group activity. There were three such groups active in the sitio where we conducted our research in 1963.1 Each was a task-ori? ented group in which membership was based on the kith principle. Dahlis fishing is a sporadic and illegal activity. Nevertheless, it is the form of fishing favored for women and their children since little skill is required. The requirements include a bag seine, a large raft on which to carry the net, and a beach lot cleared of underwater wTeeds. These important properties are not owned by the group members but are supplied by a net owner, or a group of owners, who share in the catch but do not always participate in the actual fishing. Those who do the fishing are called helpers, while the owner of the net, or its largest shareholder, is the or pangulo. The role of the headman is a complex one. He does not fish but shares in the catch. He does not determine the time of fishing, but he does help organize the group. On occasion, however, he will delegate his authority in member-