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.
Nice to read your article! I am looking forward to sharing your experience.
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