Rajshahi: Expanded adoption of the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation method during Boro rice farming can save a minimum of 30 percent of irrigation water and increase rice output.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the adoption of AWD technology with proper agronomic management reduces the number of irrigations needed, saving 30 percent of water along with 30 liters of diesel and electricity for irrigation. This method can produce 500 kg more Boro paddy per hectare of land. These insights were shared by agricultural scientists and experts at a workshop titled 'Sustainable Rice Production: Pilot Test Water-Sensor-IOT Irrigation and Low Carbon Rice Using AWD' held at the Grand River View Hotel in Rajshahi city.
The workshop was organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and DASCOH Foundation, with technical support from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BARI), Nippon Koei, and Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST). Tarikul Alam, Executive Director of the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), served as the chief guest. Special guests included Dr. Farida Parveen, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, and Prof. Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan from the Department of Geology and Mining at Rajshahi University.
Dr. Takashi Yamano, Principal Economist of Bangladesh Resident Mission, ADB, presided over the meeting. The event also featured discussions from BMDA Additional Chief Engineer Dr. Abul Kashem, Country Director of Sustainable Agriculture Foundation Bangladesh Farhad Jamil, and Prof. Niamul Bari from the Department of Civil Engineering at Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology.
The technical session of the workshop included a presentation by IRRI Bangladesh Consultant Dr. Monoranjan Mondal on the results of a pilot test using IOT-based smart irrigation systems and a household survey on low-carbon rice farming using AWD. Dr. Mozammel Haque, Senior Scientific Officer at BRRI, focused on methane emission reduction by the AWD system in rice farming in Bangladesh.
Associate Professor Dr. Rahedul Islam from PUST discussed the results of multi-sensor-based measurements of irrigation water use and GHG emissions from AWD and non-AWD rice paddy fields. Shuta Sato from Nippon Koei highlighted the JCM mechanism and Nippon Koei's expertise in AWD implementation.
Workshop participants noted that the AWD method would result in a fivefold reduction in water requirements, save 30 liters of diesel used for irrigation, and produce an additional 500 kilograms of paddy per hectare. AWD is a water-saving technology that allows farmers to reduce irrigation water consumption in rice fields without decreasing yield. In AWD, irrigation water is applied a few days after pond water disappears, resulting in fields that alternate between flooded and non-flooded conditions.
Farmers are advised to cultivate wheat instead of only Irri-Boro paddy in drought-prone areas. Tarikul Alam stated that the BMDA will promote the AWD method in the Barind area to decrease the growing pressure on underground water, integrating efforts with ADB and DASCOH Foundation.