RANGPUR, Jan 07, 2019 (BSS) – Agriculture experts have stressed on adoption of Alternate Drying and Wetting (AWD) irrigation technology in Boro rice farming to save huge underground water and enhance rice output.
“AWD irrigation technology saves up to 30 percent irrigation water while farming Boro rice increasing 10 to 15 percent rice output,” said Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) for Nilphamari Agriculturist Abul Kashem Azad.
Azad said this at the workshop styled “Participatory AWD technology dissemination” organised by RDRS Bangladesh at its Training Centre in Nilphamari under the Northwest Focal Area Network on Sunday as the chief guest.
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) assisted in arranging the event participated by owners of shallow tube wells, Agriculture Officers and staffs of RDRS Bangladesh from Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Nilphamari, Rangpur and Kurigram districts.
Consultant at Dhaka office of IRRI Agriculturist Dr Ahmad Salah Uddin and Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh Agriculturist Mamunur Rashid conducted the workshop as resource persons.
Mamunur Rashid said four local NGOs (Udayankur Seba Sangstha, SEED, Solidarity and Samajik Kallyan Sangstha) and RDRS Farmers’ Federations are disseminating AWD irrigation technology to five northern districts during this Boro season.
“Some 800 farmers will adopt AWD technology with RDRS assistance while cultivating Boro rice on 400 acres of land under irrigation facilities of 50 shallow tube wells in Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Nilphamari, Rangpur and Kurigram this season,” he said.
Dr Salah Uddin said adoption of AWD technology reduces at least 5 irrigations and 20 to 30 percent irrigation water compared to farmers’ general practice saving 30 litres of diesel for irrigation to produce 500 kg rice more per hectare.
“The farmers generally consume 3,000 to 5,000 litres irrigated underground water to produce one kilogram of rice, whereas 1,500 to 2,000 litres are required for producing the same if AWD is adopted,” he added.