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Alternate Wetting and Drying (awd) Technology: a Way to Reduce Irrigation Cost and Ensure Higher Yields of Boro Rice

Mrinmoy Guha Neogi
IRRI, Banani, Dhaka

A. K. M. Salah Uddin
FAO, Dhanmondi, Dhaka

M. Taj Uddin
Department of Agricultural Economics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Muhammad Abdul Hamid Miah
IRRI, Banani, Dhaka

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Massive extraction of groundwater for boro rice is the main cause of declining groundwater tables, especially in Rangpur Division, which is now a burning issue at the national level. It is now scientifically proven that rice is not a water-loving plant, but rather a water-tolerant plant. AWD can save water and energy, where both farmers and pump-owners can save around 30% of their irrigation water requirements. In Bangladesh around 4.8 million hectares of land are brought under irrigated boro rice where AWD technology can be utilized. With introduction of AWD technology, a savings of electricity costs equivalent to 5 billion Tk. or fuel cost equivalent to 7 billion Tk. will be incurred at the national level. Hence, the implementation of AWD technology will have major impacts at the farm and national levels, which can reduce irrigation cost significantly, thus saving foreign currency, as well as reducing excessive use of ground water.

Keywords: Irrigation, Groundwater, Pump owner, STW, Herbicide

Location: Rangpur Division

Start Date: 00-00-2013

End Date: 00-00-2014

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Water management, Rice

Objectives:

To alternate wetting and drying (AWD) technology: a way to reduce irrigation cost and ensure higher yields of Boro rice

Methodology:

With the technical assistance of IRRI, RDRS Bangladesh (a NGO) implemented AWD technology in farmers’ field in all districts of Rangpur Division, during the boro rice season. This AWD technology piloted in 109 farmers’ field in 2013–14, where farmers cultivated boro rice with reduced number of irrigation (11 irrigation instead of 17) and produced almost the same yield as in the case without AWD system. This reduction in irrigation frequency saved 35% of the irrigation cost. However, it was observed that weed infestation was more serious in AWD plots, which increased the cost of hired laborer for weeding. Although the number of irrigation was reduced significantly (30%) and the corresponding irrigation cost was reduced by 35%, the benefits went to the pump owners due to the fixed-rate arrangement system between pump owner and farmers set at the beginning of the season. In this system, farmers pay a fixed cost per unit area regardless of the number of irrigation during the season. On the other hand, farmers faced more serious weed problems under AWD system, which resulted in increased laborer cost for weeding. Due to these excessive weed infestations under AWD system, farmers probably harvested less yields compared to non-AWD system. However, this method can even increase grain yield because of enhancement in grain-filling rate, root growth and remobilization of carbon reserves from vegetative tissues to grains. Based on what was learned from this first set of trials, the AWD technology was again piloted in 2014–15, but with herbicide use in AWD plots. Pump owners were also convinced to adopt the technology along with farmers. During the training period, the pump owner agreed to apply irrigation water as needed based on the guidelines of AWD technology. It was also agreed that if the irrigation frequency was reduced by 30%, the pump owners should charge 20% less than the conventional rate. Under these agreed condition, 36 blocks were involved, with 36 pump owners in Rangpur Division, with a total of 324 farmers in AWD and use of herbicides.

Source of Information: J Bangladesh Agril Univ 16(1): 1–4, 2018

Article Link (Online Journal): doi: 10.3329/jbau.v16i1.36471

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Knowledge Management: Journal