DFID Protection Programme 2002–2003

Rooting out the Enhancing lowland productivity in Bangladesh

Widespread adoption of -responsive The project explored the reasons for these modern rice varieties and the expansion of the management deficiencies. Although labour costs area under have driven up rice for weeding have risen sharply as a result of production in Bangladesh over the last 30 years, competition for labour from the rural non- more than doubling to 34 million tonnes. To keep sector, the prices farmers receive for rice have not pace with internal demand, rice production will increased significantly. The need to reduce need to increase to 50 million tonnes by 2020 production costs, to make rice a profitable crop requiring per hectare yields in the two growing for farmers, has triggered a growing demand for seasons – the rainfed aman and irrigated boro – , used in combination with hand-pushed to increase by 29% and 17% respectively. In mechanical weeders. It has been shown that considering how these increases can be achieved, effective use of herbicides can halve labour costs scientists have reviewed rice cropping systems. in addition to benefits in terms of crop production. Although breeding will continue to play a Poorer sharecroppers (farmers who rent land for key role, increases in rice production will depend a share of the ) have also been willing to heavily on improvements in farmers’ management adopt herbicides if these increase their take-home practices and on the efficiency with which inputs . are used.

Hand-weeding rice in Bangladesh

Collaboration between the Bangladesh Rice Timely weed control and use of herbicides, Research Institute, the Natural Resources Institute particularly the timing in relation to water and the International Rice Research Institute management, are knowledge intensive. If (Philippines) has been focusing on how to work improved weed control is to provide sustained with farmers to close the gap between average increases in yield and productivity, farmers will yields and those achieved by the best farmers. need more and better information about weed Initially project R7471 identified the areas in which management. In project R8234, the collaborating farm management changes could increase institutes are now working with the extension productivity. On-farm studies, in multiple, intensive service, NGOs, the private sector and farmers’ rice cropping systems in Comilla District, groups, in Comilla, to improve the range of demonstrated that a significant component (0.5– information on weed control options for the two 1.5 t/ha of rice grain) of the yield gap (the rice growing seasons and make this more readily difference between current on-farm yields and best available to farmers. practice attainable yields) can be explained by suboptimal weed control.

R7471: Developing weed management strategies for rice-based cropping systems in Bangladesh R8234: Promotion of cost-effective weed management practices for low land rice in Bangladesh Contact: Charlie Riches, Natural Resources Institute, UK

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