1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Decision Support for Mainstreaming and Scaling out Sustainable Land Management (GEF-FAO / DS-SLM)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

FAO Bangladesh (FAO Bangladesh) - Bangladesh

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) - Bangladesh

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) - Bangladesh

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Alternative Drying and Wetting (AWD) is a practice in rice cultivation which decrease water use, while having no impact on rice yield. It also decreases the amount of methane into the atmosphere and fuel consumption of water pumps.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The Rajshahi, Chapai Nawabganj and Naogaon regions of Bangladesh geographically belong to High Barind Tract (HBT) of Bangladesh under Agro Ecological Zone (AEZ) 26. This region is the hottest region of the country where water scarcity is a common problem. The annual precipitation is 1410 mm and the farmer is habituated to use deep tubewell underground water for their crops operated by Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA). Rice is the common crop in this region and in Boro season (from November to March) rice consumed the lion share of underground water through flood irrigation. And this flood irrigation system is very traditional cultivation method resulting the underground water table is consistently going down for heavy extraction by shallow or deep tube-well.

It is not always necessary to keep standing water in rice fields for its maximum production like aquatic plant. To address these problems ‘Alternate Wetting and Drying’ is a good choice, because it is not necessary to keep the water standing throughout the whole growing season of Boro rice (wet rice). In this method 20-25% less water is consumed, which may save approximately USD 30 per hectare.

After 10-15 days of transplanting of rice seedling shallow standing water can be allowed and then the field can be drained and wetted alternately. To implement this method, first a perforated plastic pipe is installed to examine the water level and irrigate the rice field when necessary. The 25 cm long and 7-10 cm diameter perforated pipe is installed vertically. Only the lower 15 cm of the pipe should be perforated so that water can enter and exit, and then the pipe should be installed so that the non-perforated portion remains above the ground to protect it from debris.

In a leveled rice field of one hectare, seven to eight pipes are enough to monitor water depth. 10-15 days after seedling transplanting the AWD method can start. In each irrigation, the water level should reach 5-7 cm from the above the soil in wetting regime, and when the water level goes down to the soil level in drying regime, then the field can be irrigated again. This can continue until the panicle initiation stage. Then from panicle initiation to the milking stage, the field should be irrigated with 2-4 cm of water (also wetting regime). After the milking stage, the AWD can be continued until two weeks before harvesting from April to May (depending on rice variety).

Promotion of AWD in Bangladesh has been piloted and tested by different organisations like Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) and Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) during 2008 to 2010. In HBT, the quantity of groundwater is continuously decreasing, so farmers applied AWD without installing the pipe. The farmers are experienced with this technology long-ago and know that the cracks appeared when the groundwater goes down to 18-20 cm below soil surface. When the farmers saw the "hair like crack" in their rice field, they irrigated. BMDA introduced the pre-paid card for irrigation, so the farmer irrigated his rice field several times when he saw the field cracks. The aim is to save money as well as to save groundwater.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation
• during experiments/ research
• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

- From long ago, farmer observed "hair like crack" in rice field that indicate water goes down in 18-20 com
- Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has set up a lot of research plot on AWD use
- Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) also has projects to install AWD in farmers field through demonstration

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• mitigate climate change and its impacts

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• No (Continue with question 3.4)

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)
• ground water management
• energy efficiency technologies

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Because the cultivation technology in rice cultivation remains the same as before, except of the new irrigation regime, only S7, M2 and M4 are actually part of the measures associated with the new technology.

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

Specify currency used for cost calculations:

• USD

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Plastic tube installation	March - April

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Labour for plastic tube installation	Person-day	1.0	5.0	5.0	100.0
Equipment	Plastic tube	Number	20.0	0.64	12.8	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					17.8
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					17.8

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Land preparation (cleaning land, repairing border, repairing canal etc. manual work)	January - February
2.	Plowing	January - February
3.	Seedling transplanting	January - February
4.	Irrigation in different vegetative and reproductive stages	January - May
5.	Fertilization	January - April
6.	Herbicide and pesticide application	January - March
7.	Harvesting	May - June
8.	Threshing	May - June

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Land preparation	Person-day	6.0	5.0	30.0	100.0
Labour	Seedling transplanting	Person-day	37.0	5.0	185.0	100.0
Labour	Herbicide and pesticide application	Person-day	8.0	5.0	40.0	100.0
Labour	Irrigation	Person-day	18.0	5.0	90.0	100.0
Equipment	Power tiller rent for plowing	Machine-hour	16.0	2.0	32.0	100.0
Equipment	Sprayer	Machine-hour	24.0	1.0	24.0	100.0
Equipment	Cost for irrigation	Machine-hour	22.0	2.5	55.0	100.0
Plant material	Seed	kg	15.0	1.3	19.5	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Chemical fertilizer	Kg	70.0	0.35	24.5	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Manure	Kg	1500.0	0.05	75.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Herbicide and pesticide	Kg	18.0	2.4	43.2	100.0
Other	Labour for harvesting	Person-day	24.0	5.0	120.0	100.0
Other	Labour for threshing	Person-day	10.0	5.0	50.0	100.0
Other	Labour for drying	Person-day	4.0	5.0	20.0	100.0
Other	Labour for repairing spray machine	Person-day	2.0	5.0	10.0	100.0
Other	Labour for cleaning plastic tube	Person-day	1.0	5.0	5.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					823.2
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					823.2

Comments:

For the sake of completeness, all recurring costs relating to rice growing have been listed here. However, the recurring costs for AWD technology are actually only those related to irrigation (work for irrigation, patching and cleaning). Irrigation pump installation and maintenance cost belongs to BMDA, the farmer have no responsibility on irrigation pump. They just purchase irrigation water through pre-paid card.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

- Irrigation according to wetting and drying regimes

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• convex situations

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• leased
• individual

Water use rights:

• individual

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

Specify:

In Chapai Nawabganj, there are two types of land viz. Government owned and (popularly known as Khas land) and public owned land. The public owned land has registered to a person and that person paid tax to Government in yearly basis, this is the way of traditional legal system.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well
seasonal temperature	dry season	increase	well
annual rainfall		decrease	well
seasonal rainfall	summer	decrease	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
tornado	moderately

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	very well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 11-50%

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 91-100%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Easy to monitor irrigation schedule in AWD method. Farmer able to understand about dry and wet regime of rice cultivation that reduce the irrigation cost.
This Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) system enhance the tillering of rice resulting yield would be higher than traditional continuous flooding cultivation system

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
AWD facilitate drying rice field for certain period. This practice inhibit the chemical reaction of nitrogen fertilizer that emit low greenhouse gas
Water is the most demandable input and in AWD system the requirement of irrigation water become low that reduces input cost
Potentials for scale-up of this AWD method, because the groundwater scarcity became increase that would be popular to all farmer

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Magic pipe is not available everywhere	Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) support them to use AWD
Technical knowledge	Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer (SAAO) and resource farmer provide technical support

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Technical knowledge of land user	Consultation with SAAO and resource farmer
Misunderstanding on yield to use AWD; Land user think yield is lower when using Alternative Wetting and Drying method	Show results by taking farmers to visit demonstration plots, field day, cross visit etc.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Bangladesh Rice Research institute (BRRI), Gazipur

Available from where? Costs?

Internet, free

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Use of irrigation water saving technology (AWD) in rice field

URL:

http://www.knowledgebank-brri.org/Rice_Production_Training_Manual/Day_2/Module_7/Factsheet%204%20-%20water%20saving%20technology%20(AWD).pdf

7.4 General comments

In the case of annual crop cultivation, the questionnaire should be revised.