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Productivity of Ecological Organic and Conventional Rice- Cropping Systems in Bangladesh

Zahirul Islam
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh

Tim Chancellor
Natural Resources Institute,University of Greenwich, Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4TB, United Kingdom

Anisur Rahman
Proshika Manobik Unnayan Kendra, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh

K. L. Heong
Crop and Environment SciencesDivision, International Rice Research Institute, Los Banos, Laguna, Philippines

Nur Ahmed
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh

M. H. Khan Choudhury
Proshika Manobik Unnayan Kendra, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Mofazzel Hossain
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh

Mosaddeque Hossain
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh

Zakir Hossain
Proshika Manobik Unnayan Kendra, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Sumona Rani Das
Proshika Manobik Unnayan Kendra, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Mohibul Hasan
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh

Mainul Haq
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Collaborative efforts between the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Proshika Manobik Unnayan Kendra, the Natural Resources Institute (UK), and the International Rice Research Institute (Philippines) were made to compare the productivity of ecological/organic and conventional rice cropping in Bangladesh. Field plots of rice under ecological/organic and conventional management were closely monitored at two sites under boro – aman rice systems over five successive rice seasons. The sites were located at Koitta in Manikgonj district and at Gabtoli in Bogra district. Organic manures were only applied in the boro season, irrespective of the crop management treatment. Cow dung, quick compost and green manuring crops (kheshari and dhaincha) were used by Proshika in the ecological/organic plots at Koitta, whilst cow dung and oil cakes were used by farmers at Gabtoli. In the conventional plots at Koitta, farmers used much older rice seedlings (av. 79 days) in the boro season and transplanted about 16 days later than the recommended date. Most of these farmers used inorganic nitrogen and a small number applied phosphorus. None of the farmers used potassium fertilizer and manures, but most used granular insecticides once as a preventive measure. By contrast, farmers at Gabtoli used seedlings of an appropriate age but delayed transplanting beyond the recommended date. These farmers used cow dung and oil cake and some used phosphorus and potassium fertilizers along with nitrogen. However, these inorganic fertilizers were applied at reduced rates and none of the farmers used insecticide. In most cases, yields from rice plots managed with conventional practices were higher than those in ecological/organic plots by an average of 425 kg/ha in the boro season and 710 kg/ha in the aman season. The yield difference between conventional and ecological/organic practices was relatively low and this was mainly due to sub-optimal cultural practices being adopted by the farmers in respect of seedling age, time of transplanting and balanced use of fertilizers. The results showed that there is considerable potential to reduce the yield gap by practicing conventional agriculture through the adoption of appropriate cultural practices. Partial cost and return analysis indicated that conventional cropping was more profitable than ecological/organic practices in most seasons. However, the use of organic inputs is important in order to maintain soil health and secure the future sustainability of rice production systems. Consequently, an appropriate mix of ecological and conventional practices is needed in order to ensure both food security and sustainable production. In densely populated developing countries organic cropping of main staple food such as rice will remain as a subject of debate with limited experimentation for some time but large scale adoption is highly unlikely and dangerous for food security.

Keywords: Rice, Yield, Profit, Sustainability, Food security

Location: Koitta in Manikgonj district and at Gabtoli in Bogra district

Start Date: 00-01-1999

End Date: 00-12-2004

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Rice

Objectives:

1. To compare the productivity of ecological or organic and conventional rice farming systems.

Methodology:

The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Proshika Manobik Unnayan Kendra of Bangladesh, the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) of United Kingdom and the Philippine based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) worked together in a collaborative project to compare the productivity of ecological/organic and conventional rice cropping. Field studies were conducted in boro and aman systems over five successive rice seasons from 1999 at two sites. These sites were located at Koitta in Manikgonj district and at Gabtoli in Bogra district. At each of the sites, ecological/organic rice farming had been practiced in some fields or plots since 1993. Ecological/organic farming at Koitta was practiced at Proshika’s experimental farm. In Gabtoli, several farmers followed the ecological/organic system under the supervision of Proshika field staff. The ecological/organic plots at Koitta were planted more or less contiguously, but were separated by distances of up to several hundred metres at Gabtoli. Four ecological/organic plots and five closely adjacent conventional farmers plots were randomly selected at the sites. Site staff of Proshika monitored the cultural practices in both ecological/organic and conventional plots. Researchers observed the crop and collected necessary data through field visits at three-week intervals. Grain yield was estimated by harvesting 10 square metre areas per plot. Grain yields were adjusted to 14% moisture content. Partial cost and return analysis was performed based on variables such as costs of organic nutrients and inorganic nutrients, insecticides and additional grain yield. No agronomic or cultural interventions, other than sampling and data collection, were made for the conventional plots. However, Proshika staff managed the ecological/organic plots at Koitta and provided guidance and supervision to farmers for ecological/ organic cropping at Gabtoli.

Source of Information: J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 3(2): 39-49, 2010; ISSN 1999-7361

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The results showed that there is considerable potential to reduce the yield gap by practicing conventional agriculture through the adoption of appropriate cultural practices. Partial cost and return analysis indicated that conventional cropping was more profitable than ecological/organic practices in most seasons.

Knowledge Management: Journal