IRRC: Bangladesh 2011

Rice Situation
Bangladesh has a population of 158 million people and 11.8 million hectares of rice is planted annually. About 60% of the national rice production comes from boro rice (dry season crop), which is grown on more than 4.8 million hectares and irrigated mostly by groundwater pumps. The need for water-saving technologies is crucial in the face of a declining water table.

Current Activities
Dissemination of alternate wetting and drying technology Impact pathway analysis of AWD Documentation of the economic and social impacts of dry-seeded rice cropping systems on alleviating poverty during the months of starvation or monga

Household Survey Data

Baseline (2007) and ex post (2009) household data collected for study on direct seeding and monga alleviation In 2010, Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin in Germany conducted a study called Water Saving in Rice Production in Bangladesha Contribution to Impact Pathway Analysis with Focus on Adoption Processes and Impacts of AWD http://irri.org/irrc.

Linkages to national initiatives and with other projects (and donors)

Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Germany: SLE Postgraduate Studies on International Cooperation; study on water saving in rice production commissioned by the Advisory Service on Agricultural Research for Development of German Technical Cooperation (GTZ-BEAF)

Outcomes and Impacts 1. In July 2009, the secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture endorsed AWD as a national program and directed the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) to promote it to farmers nationwide. 2. The perch water tubes are being produced and sold by the private sector through Syngenta (pani pipe) and partnerships with the International Development Enterprises (hatim tube). In 2010, Syngenta trained 1,200 of its employees and conducted thousands of trials in farmers fields. 3. Integrated management systems for improved crop establishment methods (including direct seeding and reduced tillage), weed management, and well-adapted germplasm have led to a reduction in labor bottlenecks and enhanced livelihoods of rural communities in Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha, and Nilphamari. Household analysis in Nilphamari and Rangpur revealed increased net returns of US$356/ha in the Boro season. 4. About 500,000 leaf color charts (LCCs) were distributed in Bangladesh, largely through the DAE to assist farmers with decision-making on fertilizer use. 5. There is strong partnership between the public and private sectors in the demonstration and dissemination of the AWD technology.

Key IRRI Scientists Rubenito Lampayan (water management) David Johnson (direct seeding, weed management) Florencia Palis (anthropology)

Please see overpage.

Produced by the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium Coordination Unit

IRRC: Bangladesh 2011

Key Partner Agencies Government Institutions Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee Soil Resource Development Institute Department of Agricultural Extension Barind Multipurpose Development Authority Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation Rural Development Authority Civil Society Organizations Concern Bangladesh Inter-cooperation International Development Enterprises-Bangladesh Practical Action Private Sector Companies Syngenta Universities Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Germany

For more information Contact person: Trina Leah Mendoza, Senior Communication Specialist Email: t.mendoza@cgiar.org Web site: www.irri.org/irrc Produced by the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium Coordination Unit