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Rice - Relay Sugarcane Cropping: Farmers' Response

G.M.Monirul Alam
Bangladesh Sugarcane Research Institute, lshurdi, Pabna, Bangladesh

M.M.Alam
Bangladesh Sugarcane Research Institute, lshurdi, Pabna, Bangladesh

M.K.Rahman
Bangladesh Sugarcane Research Institute, lshurdi, Pabna, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A preliminary survey was carried out during 2005-06 cropping year in different mills zone where farmers are cultivating rice-relay sugarcane cropping at their field in a small scale to know the response of farmers about the technology. Both primary data taking from 35 farm ers and secondary data provided by respective mills were used. In the same mills zone plant ing time of rice and sugarcane varied from 20 to 25 days. For rice crop, 15% plantation was done early and 25% in late July, 35% in mid and 25% in late August. For sugarcane, 20% plantation was made before mid and 35% in late October, 30% in between early to mid November and the rest 25% in late November. According to farmers' opinion planting time gap between rice and sugarcane might have effects on allowing two intercrops. The most important fact was that most of the farmers were not able to grow second intercrop after harvesting of first inter crop and only 20% farmers grew vegetable and pulses as second intercrop. Equivalent yield of intercrops varied significantly. Mean yield of sugarcane cultivated as sole crop was 50.5 t ha^-1. On the other hand, equivalent yield in rice-relay sugarcane was 89.7 t ha^-1. Net return came from sole sugarcane was Tk. 31308 /ha whereas it was found Tk. 68548 /ha in the case of rice-relay sugarcane cropping systems with successive intercrops. The high benefit-cost ratio (2.33) also was found in rice- relay sugarcane cropping systems compared to sugarcane sole (1.86) cropping system. All farmers interviewed opined rice-relay sugarcane with successive intercropping as a good technology for increasing crops yield as well as economic bene fit per unit area and time compared to sole cropping. However, majority of farmers didn't show much interest to adopt this technology due to some shortfalls that should be minimized for acceleration of the technology.

Keywords: lntercropping, Sugarcane, Rice, Relay cropping, Technology, Yield, Response

Location: Kustia Sugar Mills, Carew & Co., Mobarakgonj Sugar Mills, Natore Sugar Mills, Rajshahi Sugar Mills and Shyampur Sugar Mills zones

Start Date: 00-00-2005

End Date: 00-00-2006

Program Area: Farming System

Non-commodity: Performance

Objectives:

To know how and what extent the rice relay sugarcane cropping technology is accepted by farmers and problems associated with the technology.

Methodology:

A preliminary survey was carried out during 2005-06 cropping year in Kustia Sugar Mills, Carew & Co., Mobarakgonj Sugar Mills, Natore Sugar Mills, Rajshahi Sugar Mills and Shyampur Sugar Mills zones where farmers are trialing this technology (Rice- relay sugarcane cropping) at their field in a small scale. All the farmers trialing sugarcane following this technology in the respective mills zone were selected for interview. A total of 35 farmers were interviewed through structured and open-ended questionnaire. Field conditions of farmers were observed and secondary data were collected from the respective mills. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the data of the study.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Sugarcane, Vol: 28, pp: 92-95, July, 2006, ISSN 1991-8925

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The technology package rice-relay sugarcane with successive intercropping was found effective for total crop production with increased economic benefit but at the same not accepted by majority farmers due to some problems associated with the technology. The following recommendations might contribute enough to make the technology widespread among the farmers. Firstly, the technology should be fine tuned through more agronomic trial considering problems found in the fanmers' fields, especially proper guideline for planting time, row arrangement intercultural operations, fertilizers and crop management, harvesting method, land preparation technique for intercrops etc should be clearly mentioned for every crops. High value and profitable crops compatible as intercrop with rice-relay sugarcane system for different land types and farm category should be introduced. Secondly, necessary training should be given to farmers as well as arrange large scale demonstration in farmers' field for adoption the technology properly. The interviewed farmers opined as rice farming is a long tradition of Bangladesh agriculture besides farmers are now shifting towards some profitable enterprises like vegetables, pulses, spice crops, oil seed etc so to sustain sugarcane cultivation in Bangladesh for domestic sugar and gur production as well as other uses, rice-relay sugarcane could be apt endeavor. But to make it wide accepted among sugarcane and rice farmers more financial supports as subsidies should be provided to the farmers and high value successive intercropping package should be developed.

Knowledge Management: Journal