A Climate Resilient Management Practice in Rice Farming: Adoption of alternate wetting and drying in Bangladesh

Abstract

Abstract

The aims of the study were to investigate the adoption status of alternate wetting and drying (AWD), finding out the reasons that affect in adoption of AWD and exploring the problems in practicing AWD at farm level. Data were collected from farmers of selected two villages named Noyanagar and Dhinagar of Jhilim union under Sadar upazila (sub-district) of Chapai Nawabganj district during August, 2016. Randomly chosen 80 (40 adopters and 40 non-adopters of AWD) rice farmers were the sample drawn from a population of 600 rice farmers. For collecting quantitative and qualitative data both structured questionnaire and checklists were used. In the study area the level of adoption was at satisfactory level due to the scarcity of water especially in Boro seasons although the technique of AWD was not practiced properly. Majority (80%) of the AWD adopters received preliminary information on this technology mainly from grassroots level extension officers of DAE. Yet, more than half (60%) of the respondents did not receive any training on AWD. This is why a good number of the AWD practicing farmers (45%) had low knowledge on the technology which lowered the rate of adoption. According to the majority of the adopter farmers (92%), main reason of adoption of this technology was for saving irrigation cost. On the other hand, mismatching of existing irrigation scheme with AWD was the major barrier for the adoption according to 98% of the farmers. The existing pattern of irrigation scheme created major problems for practicing AWD as perceived by the farmers (80%). Therefore, the policy maker may rethink on the irrigation policy to rearrange this irrigation scheme. Besides,proper motivational activities should be launched by the different GOs and NGOs in collaboration with DAE to increase the rate of adoption of this water saving technology.