BSS, Rangpur :
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 on Tuesday.
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 thisseason,” he said.
“Adoption of AWD technology reduces 5 numbers of irrigation, saves up to 30 percent underground water, 30 litres diesel and electricity for irrigationin 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.
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 on Tuesday.
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 thisseason,” he said.
“Adoption of AWD technology reduces 5 numbers of irrigation, saves up to 30 percent underground water, 30 litres diesel and electricity for irrigationin 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.
