Project summary: Increasing production by adopting improved production practices in tidal floodplain

Project summary: Increasing production by adopting improved production practices in tidal floodplain

Funding organization(s): WB/KGF

Duration: Jan – Sept 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, productivity is constrained due to excess water and drought especially frequent inundation due to tidal floods. In the tidal floodplain of Jhalakathi, Perojpur, Barisal and Patuakhali districts, land topography, hydrology and ecological conditions present problems in growing HYV rice in the rainy season. Tidal flood very often causes extensive damage to rice seedlings, especially to those of the HYVs and present difficulty in growing HYV T. aman rice. So, in the tidal floodplain of Jhalakathi, Perojpur, Barisal and Patuakhali districts Local varieties (eg, Lalmota, Sadamota, Moulata) are the major varieties that farmers grow whose productivity is low compared to the HYVs. 

Agrarian Research Foundation (ARF) in association with Patuakhali Science & Technology University implemented a CGP project (Development of an intensive cropping system in two coastal districts for increasing production, C-2.20) in two upazila of Jhalakathi district through 2011-2013. In the previous two years of that project the developed technologies from nine on-farm trials and experiments revealed that application of 25-50% of fertilizers recommended for HYVs, planting 60 days old seven seedlings/hill in line with  25 cm x 50 cm gave over 25% higher seed yields compared to farmer’s traditional practices. The project also succeeded in growing two upland rabi crops maize and chickpea after the harvest of T. aman which were not grown prior to the inception of the above project.  In the last year, the developed technologies were up-scaled in some limited areas. In view of the success in implementing the above project of the ARF and in response to a request made by Professor Dr. Md. Jafar Ullah of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), KGF offered SAU and Agrarian Research Foundation to scale up the ARF developed technologies in six upazila of Jhalakathi and Perojpur districts for increasing production of local varieties of aman rice followed by chickpea and maize production in the dry season to increase cropping intensity.

Initiating the project, 1200 farmers were selected and motivational activities were carried out. ARF field staff supported by SAU scientists, field supervisors and DAE personnel assisted and supervised farmers in selecting land for sowing seeds and carrying out cultural operations for growing maize and rice. Maize was grown in 81 bighas involving 128 farmers of seven villages (Sachilapur, Kestakathi, Adakhola, Badurtala, Challish Kaonia, Baroikoron and South Nilti) of Jhalakathi and Perojpur districts. In total 2238 farmers were trained during the tenure of the project; 402 on maize production and 1836 on modern technology of local T. aman production. A leaflet prepared in the preceding project describing the improved production technology for growing local varieties of T. aman and another leaflet for growing maize was prepared and distributed among the farmers. Two field days on maize production and a training workshop for farmers in the presence of DAE persons, local NGOs and KGF personnel was also organized.

The sowing of maize started on Jan 15 and finished on Jan 31 after the harvest of T.aman. The range of seed yield of maize varieties is between 1.115 - 8.280 t/ha. Over the varieties, the average seed yields of Kestakathi, Challishkaonia, Adakhola, Badurtala, Sachilapur, Nilti, and Nalchiti were 5.304, 5.052, 5.190, 4.164, 6.462, 2.808, 7.399 and 4.655 t/ha, respectively. Over the sites, the varieties Pacific-984, Kaberi-3110, Uttoron-2 and AS-999 produced seeds yields of 4.656, 4.216, 6.059 and 5.280 t/ha. The lowest in Nilti was attributed to the partial damage of crops at the maturity stage and early flooding due to tides. 

In pursuance of the activity plan of the project under report, seeds of local T. aman Aman rice Sadamota was procured, and distributed among farmers along with other required inputs among the selected farmers of Kestakathi, Challishkaonia, Adakhola, Badurtala, Sachilapur, Nilti, Baroikoron, Borobiraljhuri, Hatalia, Chargasia and Shapleja villages of Jhalakathi and Perojpur districts.  The local variety of T. aman Sadamota was grown using the ARF-developed modern developed technologies in 700 bighas of land.