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Definition: Conservation agriculture [CA] can be defined by a statement given by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations) as “a concept for resource-saving agricultural crop production that strives to achieve acceptable profits together with high and sustained production levels while concurrently conserving the environment” (FAO 2007)
What can Conservation Agriculture Achieve? 1. less machinery cost2. 70% fuel saving3. 50% labor saving4. 20-50 % input saving
5. less drudgery stable yields, food security = better livelihood/income ( FAO 2011
Introduction: Bangladesh is a role model for the United Nations to be showcased for its excellent development performance to developing nations (Rebecca, 2010, Haoliang, 2014). Agriculture value added (annual % growth) in Bangladesh was last measured at 3.11 of 6.32 of total growth in 2012 (World Bank 2012). The rural economy constitutes a significant component of the national GDP, with agriculture (including crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry) accounting for 21 percent and the non-farm sector, which is also driven primarily by agriculture, for another 33 percent (World Bank 2011). Therefore, a question has already been asked about the sustainability of the growth of agriculture sector with loosing 1% of arable land per year (Mahbub 2003) and continuous degradation of soil fertility (Karim and Iqbal 2000). Inadequate knowledge on Conservation Agriculture CA among the people, the issue of land degradations is avoided. This paper includes an initiative to provide basic knowledge on the CA to build awareness among the Bangladeshi people. Progress of global and Indo-Gangetic-Plain on CA based agriculture is discussed to compare the current status of Bangladesh. Benefits of CA outlined by FAO and other organizations are also mentioned. The paper also focused the progress of CA activities conducted by different organizations in Bangladesh. Possible constrains are depicted along with recommendations for the government interventions and policy for adoption of CA, legislation and institutional support to sustain the current growth of agriculture.
Conservation Agriculture CA is characterized by three linked principles:Continuous minimum mechanical soil disturbance: Minimum soil disturbance refers to low disturbance or no-tillage and direct seeding. The disturbed area must be less than 15 cm wide or less than 25% of the cropped area (whichever is lower). There should be no periodic tillage that disturbs a greater area than the aforementioned limits. Strip tillage is allowed if the disturbed area is less than the set limits. Minimizing soil disturbance by tillage and thus seeding directly into untilled soil, eliminating tillage altogether once the soil has been brought to good condition, and keeping soil disturbance from cultural operations to the minimum.
Australian Center for International Agriculture (ACIRA) has been pioneer in promoting CA and they are funding different organizations. International Development Enterprise iDE has been implementing a project supported by ACIAR, ‘Overcoming agronomic and mechanization constraints to development and adoption of CA technologies and practices to smallholders in Rajshahi; Mymensingh; Faridpur and Dinajpur.
CIMMYT developed CA equipment Versatile Multiple-Crop Planter VMP is a hope to mitigate drought with CA equipment. Initial results indicate that the VMP could be used in multiple modes for crop establishment of rice, i.e., strip tillage, minimum tillage, bed formation and conventional tillage. ( Islam et al 2010).
Sustainable and Resilient Farming Systems Intensification (SRFSI) for South-Asia, an ACIAR funded agricultural R4D project, focuses on farm management practices based on the principles of conservation agriculture (CA) and the efficient use of water resources. The four-year project activities are being implemented in partnership with national research and development institutions, NGOs and INGOs, CG Institutes, Australian universities and CSIRO. ( BSS 2014). Soon Bangladesh will harvest the benefit of the project. CSISA Mechanization and Irrigation Project: CSISA-MI is a sister initiative falling under the CSISA-Bangladesh program, connecting CIMMYT, IRRI, and WorldFish as partners in working on CA. The MI initiative aims to unlock agricultural productivity in southern Bangladesh also encouraging crop management practices based on conservation agriculture (CA).(Krupnik 2013).
Cereal Systems Intensification in South Asia CSISA: CSISA a BMGF and USAID funded project implemented jointly by IRRI and CIMMYT also worked on CA in central and northern Bangladesh ( Ali MA et al 2011).
The major reasons depicted for poor adaption of CA in Bangladesh:1. Limited knowledge on conservation agriculture: Inadequate knowledge on CA among the framers, extension agencies, scientists, policy makers and general mass.2. Technical constraints: Quality drill, training facility / capacity building and spare parts are not available locally, local manufacturers of machines are not available.3. Availability of suitable herbicides: Weed control is a major problem for CA rice culture. In Bangladesh proper herbicides and knowledge of application are limited among the farm community to control weed.4. Extension constrains: In Bangladesh Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) is responsible to transfer agri-technolgies equipped with efficient man power upto village level. However, it is not known to anybody that there is any work in the name of CA. 5. Lac of government polices: The Ministry of Environment and Forest has policies and legislation on pollution and destruction of natural resources water, air, soil etc. however, there are no legislation in the name of conservation of agriculture to save the soil from degradation.6. Financial constrain: To sustain current agriculture growth huge amount of money is required to initiate project on CA but it is absent in the government budget. In addition only a few donors came forward to invest for CA in Bangladesh.7. Attitude of the general mass: The attitude of farmers and common people is that good till good crop. Due to ignorance and knowledge gap the attitude about CA remains in the dark.
Recommendations to overcome constrains of adoption of conservation Agriculture:1. Awareness building: Awareness on CA be build up involving farmers, researchers, extension agencies, civil societies, professors, media etc. that Conservation Agriculture is conservation of environment to sustain growth of agriculture.
2. Government Policy making: There should be policy on conservation of agriculture, in this respect the Ministry of Environment and Forest and Ministry of Agriculture should create posts with particular assignment on CA.
3. Education on Conservation Agriculture: Curricula on CA should be introduced in the universities and the institutes engaged to provide education on agriculture and environment in addition training facilities should be developed.
4. Incorporation of CA in National Agriculture Research and Extension System NARES: DAE staffs should be educated and trained on specific CA technologies and packages be in there hand to transfer to the farmers. Similarly, in agriculture research organizations should conduct research according to farmers need on CA.
5. Legislation on Conservation Agriculture: There should be legislation for CA, to prevent activities by human or use of machines harmful for soil properties.
6. Availability of equipment and herbicides: Suitable CA equipment for seeding/planting crops, herbicides and service provider should be made available to the door step of the farmer.
7. Support from the international donor: Only a few donors realized the importance of extension of CA practice in Bangladesh. More donors should come forward for the expansion of CA in Bangladesh to sustain the growth of agriculture production.
8. Formation of Voluntary organization for CA: Voluntary organization should be formed for wide spread campaign along with media to build awareness on benefit and harm of CA like the campaign on environmental protection
References:Ali M. Akkas , Mondal N U and Mazid MA, Cereal Systems Initiative for south Asia (CSISA), IRRICIMMYT Project, Gazipur Hub, BSRI campus, Gazipur, Bangladesh. Recognizing farmers’ innovation of direct seeded Boro rice + Mustard mixed cropping systems and conservation agriculture based intervention for improvement. Poster for 5th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture, Brisbane, Australia 26-30 September 2011Bangladesh Sangbad Shangstha BSS ,2014 Rangpur.FAO 2007, http://www.fao.org/ag/caHarrington LW, Hopps PR 2009, The Rice-Wheat Consortium and the Asian Development Bank: a history. In: Ladha JK et al, editors. Integrated Crop and Resource Management in the Rice-Wheat System of South Asia, Book published by IRRI, ISBN 978-971-0247-6,38p.Haoliang Xu, Assistant Administrator and Director for the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Daily Star, T uesday, May 27, 2014 Islam AKMS, Haque ME, Hossain MM, MA Saleque MA and RW Bell RW Water and fuel saving technologies: Unpuddled bed and strip tillage for wet season rice cultivation in Bangladesh © 2010 19th World Congress of Soil Science, Soil Solutions for a Changing World1 – 6 August 2010, Brisbane, Australia. Published on DVDKarim, Z and Iqbal, M.A. (ed.) (2000) Impact of Land Degradation in Bangladesh: Changing Scenario in Agricultural Land Use, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Dhaka, Bangladesh, (in press). Krupnik,TJ,2013, http://blog.cimmyt.org/cereal-systems-initiatives-for-south-asia-mechanization-and-irrigation-project-launched/Kassam A H, Friedrich T, Derpsch R 2010 Conservation Agriculture in the 21st Century: A Paradigm of Sustainable Agriculture. Invited paper at the European Congress on Conservation Agriculture, October 2010, Madrid, Spain.Mahbub A. 2003. Agricultural land loss and food security: An assessment. IRRI, Manila, The Philippines.Rice-Wheat Consortium (RWC) 2004, web site -- http://www.rwc-prism.cgiar.org/rwc Rolf Derpsh, Consultant and Theodor Friedrich, FAO Global Overview of Conservation Agriculture, Adoption. [email protected];[email protected] http://www.fao.org/ag/ca/doc/derpsch-friedrich-global-overview-ca-adoption3.pdfRebecca Hansen Country Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bangladesh, Saturday, July 17, 2010, Bss, DhakaRoy KC, Farm Machinery and Postharvest Process Engineering Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur, Bangladesh, E-mail: [email protected] , Meisner CA CIMMYT Agronomist, House 18, Road 4, Sector 4, Uttara, Dhaka, Bangladesh, E-mail: [email protected]> Haque ME,Programme Manager, CIMMYT, House 18, Road 4, Sector 4, Uttara, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Status of Conservation Tillage for Small Farming of Bangladesh ,Written for presentation at the 2004 CIGR International Conference· Beijing Sponsored by CIGR, CSAM and CSAE,Beijing, China 11- 14 October 2004World Bank, Agriculture - value added (annual % growth) in Bangladesh International Standard IndustrialClassification(ISIC),revision3.,http://www.tradingeconomics.com/bangladesh/agriculture-value- added-annual-percent-growth-wb-data.htmlWorld Bank, Agriculture in South Asia, Bangladesh: Priorities for Agriculture and Rural Development, http://go.worldbank.org/770VR4DIU01.Thanks to Organizing Committee , Conference on Conservation Agriculture for Smallholders (CASH) in Asia and Africa for sponsoring
to participate the conference at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh.2.
Permanent organic soil cover: Three categories are distinguished: 30-60%, >60-90% and >90% ground cover, measured immediately after the direct seeding operation. (Area with less than 30% cover is not considered as CA.) Maintaining year-round organic matter cover over the soil, including specially introduced cover crops and intercrops and/or the mulch provided by retained residues from the previous crop;
Diversification of crop species grown in sequences and/or associations: Rotation/association should involve at least 3 different crops. Diversifying crop rotations, sequences and associations, adapted to local environmental conditions, and including appropriate nitrogen fixing legumes; such rotations contribute to maintaining biodiversity above and in the soil, contribute nitrogen to the soil/plant system, and help avoid build-up of pest populations
Global overview of the spread of Conservation Agriculture: The global empirical evidence shows that farmer-led transformation of agricultural production systems based on Conservation Agriculture (CA) is already occurring and gathering momentum globally as a new paradigm for the 21st century. (Table below). CA, comprising minimum mechanical soil disturbance, organic mulch cover, and crop species diversification, is now practiced globally on about 117 M ha in all continents and all agricultural ecologies, including in the various temperate environments. (Kassam et al 2010).
Expansion in Indo-Gangetic-Plains: In 2005 about 1.9 million ha were reported under No-tillage in this region (Rolf et al). As was found out later this refers only to the wheat crop in a double cropping system with rice.
Zero-tillage expansion: With the arrival of millennium in 2000, the adoption of wheat zero-tillage began to accelerate (Fig below). By 2006-07, the area under zero-till was escalated at around 3 million hectares (RWC) is was possible due to availability reasonably priced high quality
Status of CA adoption in Bangladesh: Data on coverage and current status of CA in Bangladesh is scarce. Possibly, research and development work on conservation tillage was started in the name of Resource Conserving Technology (RCT). Power tiller operated seeders were imported from China, for seeding wheat without tilling soil immediately after harvesting the monsoon rice. About 800 ha area has been brought under minimum tillage seeder in 2003-04. The performance of the bed former was very good and 50 ha area has been brought under this technology. In 2003-04, 10 ha area was brought under zero-till drill.( Roy et al 2004)
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International Conference on ConservationAgriculture for Smallholders (CASH) in Asia and Africa, at Bangladesh Agriculture University , 7-11 December 2014, Mymensingh,
Bangladesh.
Md. Nazim Uddin Mondal1
1 Former Deputy Director, Agriculture Extension . Department of Agriculture ExtensionGazipur, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected]
Conservation Agriculture-the light house to sail for sustainable agricultural growth in Bangladesh
Continent Area (‘000 ha)
Per cent of global total
Per cent of arable crop land
South America 55,630 47.6 57.5
North America 39,981 34.1 15.4
Australia and New Zealand
17,162 14.7 69.0
Asia 2630 2.2 0.5
Europe 1150 1.0 0.4
Africa 368 0.3 0.1
Global Total 116921 100 8.5
Estimated area growth of no-till wheat in the Indo-Gangetic Plains for the past 10 years (adapted from Rice–Wheat Consortium (RWC) for the Indo-Gangetic Plains (2006).
http://www.rwc.cgiar.org).
Hobbs P R et al. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 2008;363:543-555
©2008 by The Royal Society
Conservation AgricultureConservation Agriculture
Diversified crops Relay Crop
Cropping with Crop residue
No-till Seeder No-till Wheat
Power tiller Operated Seeder PTOS
Direct seeded Boro+Mustard mixed cropping
Source: Dr. T.J. Krupnik, CIMYT,BD
PTOS seeded Direct Seeded Rice
Two wheal Bed Former
Zero-till crop planter
Versatile Multiple Crop Planter, VMPZero-till seed drill ,2WT Bed planted Maize
International Development Enterprise iDE’s activities on Conservation Agriculture in Bangladesh
Multi-crop Planter Bed planted Soybean
Relay Crop
Bed planted wheat
