RANGPUR, Jan 29, 2019 (BSS) – Agriculture experts at a training course
have stressed on adoption of Alternate Drying and Wetting (AWD) irrigation
technology in Boro rice farming to save up to 30 percent irrigation water and
increase 15 percent rice output.
The Northwest Focal Area Network with funding of International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI) organised the training course on ‘ Participatory
AWD Technology Dissemination’ at RDRS Training Centre here on Monday, a press
release said today.
Twenty-one Sub-assistant Agriculture Officers as well as field level
staffs of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) from six northern
districts of Nilphamari, Rangpur, Lalmonirhat and Kurigram districts
participate in the training course.
Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur Dr Sarwarul Haque as the chef guest
attended the training course coordinated by Field Supervisor of IRRI-AWD
Project of RDRS Bangladesh Md Abdul Mazed Mian.
Consultant of IRRI at Dhaka office Dr Ahmad Salahuddin, Chairman of
Northbengal Institute of Development Studies Dr Syed Samsuzzaman and
Principal Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute(BRRI) at
Rangpur Regional Station Dr Abu Bakar Siddique Sarker conducted the training
as resource persons.
Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh
Mamunur Rashid narrated importance of adoption of the irrigation water
conserving AWD technology in farming Boro rice.
He said four local NGOs with Farmers’ Federations are disseminating AWD
irrigation technology among farmers of six northern districts this season.
“Some 800 farmers are adopting AWD technology with RDRS assistance in
farming Boro rice on 400 acres of land using 50 shallow tube wells in
Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur and Kurigram this
season,” he said.
“Adoption of AWD technology reduces 5 numbers of irrigation, saves up to
30 percent underground water, 30 litres diesel and electricity for irrigation
in addition to producing 500 kg more Boro rice per hectare,” Rashid added.
Dr Samsuzzaman said farmers generally use 3,000 to 4,000 litres irrigated
underground waters to produce one kg Boro rice, whereas it needs only 1,500
to 2,000 litres when the AWD used.
He suggested for crop zoning to cultivate more irrigation water consuming
crop in southern zones while less water consuming crops in drought-prone
northern zones as the agriculture sector is facing a threat due to climate
change.
The chief guest stressed on popularising AWD irrigation technology among
farmers while farming Boro rice to produce additional rice at reduced costs
saving underground water and improving environment, ecology and bio-
diversity.