Development of intensive cropping system in two coastal districts for increasing production

Name of the project: Development of intensive cropping system in two coastal districts for increasing production

Funding organization(s):World Bank/Krishi Gobeshona Foundation (WB/KGF)

Duration: 2011-2014

Present status: Completed and reported

Executive Summary

Agricultural production in the south central coastal districts is low. Apart from frequent natural hazards like cyclones and tidal surges, the productivity is constrained due to excess water and drought especially frequent inundation due to tidal flood. In the tidal floodplain of Jhalakathi, Perojpur, Barisal and Patuakhali districts, land topography, hydrology and ecological conditions presents problem in growing HYV rice in the rainy season. Tidal flood very often causes extensive damage to rice seedlings and present difficulty in growing aman rice. Local varieties of rice (eg, Lalmota, Sadamota, Moulata) are the major varieties that farmers grow whose productivity is low compared to the HYVs.

The project ‘Development of intensive cropping system in two coastal districts for increasing production’ was jointly implemented by Patuakhali Science & Technology University (PSTU) and Agrarian Research Foundation (ARF) to increase production in tidal floodplain ecosystem of two southern districts – Jhalakati and Patuakhali introducing HYVs and generating agronomic practices for local T aman varieties and increasing cropping intensity incorporating upland crops (maize, sesame, and chickpea).    

In the first two years, nine on-farm varietal trials and studies were carried out and also to generate technologies involving a large number of farmers.  It was found that in the peripheral areas of saucer like cola (bill) BRRI dhan44 gave over 20% higher seed yield than local T. aman varieties.  Toposequence study showed that the varieties such as Shadamota, lalmota and Moulata gave higher seed yield. HYVs were not suitable in the comparatively low lands which may be attributed to the short statured seedling that get damaged due to high tide. Local varieties of T. aman when used 60 days old 3 seedlings/hill planted in line with row to row distance 50 cm and hill to hill distance 25 cm; and applied with 50% fertilizer of that recommended for the HYVs showed over 25% higher seed yields.

The upland crop trials showed that chickpea (BARI chola-5) could be grown successfully sowing by end-December after harvesting T.aman showing average seed yield of 750 to 1009 kg/ha.

Growing maize (var. MS-888 and Profit) when sown before 15 January yielded 4.990-5.304 t/ha. Both chickpea and maize could be grown in relay with T.aman saving growing duration 15-20 days and yielded 502 and 3482 kg/ha, respectively. In third year the developed technologies were scaled up in greater areas and more farmers.