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.
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