AAPI Bulletin Vol. 19 September 2012 (English)

AAPI NEWS BULLETIN Accelerating Agriculture Productivity Improvement (AAPI) Volume 19

A project supported by USAID in collaboration with DAE Notes from Chief of Party, AAPI

Inside this issue:

A New Initiative: Guti Urea in Dibbled-Seeded Aus in Bhola

2

Aus 2012 Season Block Survey

4

Guti Urea Use in Potato and 4 Maize Homestead Gardening Ushers in New Hope

6

Activity Achievements August 28 to September 26, 2012

8

AAPI Events in October 2012

8

The Aman crop is largely planted. As for Aus, the rainfall has not favored our farmers, although rains in the last couple of weeks have been very beneficial and the crops appear to be in good condition. Unfortunately, many farmers were required to irrigate in the early season and delays in planting resulted in older seedlings and more seedlings per hill being transplanted. These combined factors are pushing costs up; with rice prices as low as they are (Tk 400-500/ maund), it is hard to see how the

September 30, 2012

farmers will make a profit. Still, this crop remains the family food crop, and for subsistence reasons alone, it is most important that it does not fail.

Once again, the UDP technology is helping keep costs down and yields up.

At the end of last month (August 31), we were honored by a visit from the USAID assistant to the administrator for Food Security, Mr. Paul Weisenfeld, and senior deputy assistant administrator for USAIDAsia, Ms. Denise Rollins. Along with the mission director and others from

AAPI News Bulletin is a monthly publication of the AAPI project.

Subscriptions are free.

IFDC is a Public International Organization (PIO) based in Alabama, USA. IFDC focuses on increasing and sustaining food security and agricultural productivity in developing countries.

Managing Editor: Ishrat Jahan Resident Representative IFDC Bangladesh Eurasia Division and Project Coordinator, AAPI Design and Layout: Syed Afzal Hossain Data Management Unit, AAPI

Paul Weisenfeld, Assistant Administrator, Denise Rollins, Deputy Assistant Administrator of USAID and other officials visiting AAPI project sites at Churamankati, Jessore Sadar on August 31, 2012

The views expressed in this bulletin do not necessarily reflect views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government

AAPI NEWS BULLETIN AAPI News Bulletin Contact Persons: Ishrat Jahan Grahame D. Hunter Address: Dhaka Office: Road No. 62, House No. 4B, Apt-B2 Gulshan - 2, Dhaka -1212 Bangladesh Tel: 880-2-9894288 880-2-8817391 Fax: 880-2-8826109 Website: www.aapi-ifdc.org www.ifdc.org Barisal Office: “Zohora” 834 (New) Police Line Road, Barisal Tel: 0431-2176566 Jessore Office: 1351 Police Line Road Talikhola, Puraton Kasba Jessore Tel: 0421-60986 AAPI Management: Ishrat Jahan, Project Coordinator; Grahame D. Hunter, Chief of Party; Md. Mofizul Islam, Sr. Agriculture Specialist; Dr. Shaharuk Ahmed, Md. Fozlul Hoque, Md. Iqbal Hossain, Dr. Badirul Islam, Agriculture Specialists; Md. Shamsul Alam, Abul Hossain Mollah, Mahmood Hussain, Dr. AKM Farhad Training Specialists; Dr. Md. Abdul Mazid Mia, Mainul Ahsan, Soil Scientists; Md. Nurul Islam, Market/Business Development Specialist; Ram Proshad Ghosh, Mechanical Engineer; Dr. Abdul Wohab, Agriculture Engineer; Rubina Islam, Gender Specialist; Syed Afzal Mahmood Hossain, Senior Data Management Specialist; Farin Islam, M&E Specialist; AFM Saleh Chowdhury, Chief Accountant; Bishnu Rup Chowdhury, Administrative and Procurement Officer

Volume 19 USAID-Bangladesh, they visited a urea deep placement (UDP) block in Churamonkati Village within Jessore Sadar, where they observed the deep placement of urea briquettes (Guti) using the latest model of the AAPIIFDC UDP applicator. The dignitaries also participated in a group discussion with farmers (men and women) who were both UDP technology adopters and non-adopters, and visited a UDP briquetting shop where they saw the production of Guti urea and discussed the business with the woman shop owner.

In this newsletter, we have articles by two of our senior staff. Agriculture Specialist Dr. Shaharuk Ahmed has written about the results of field trials in Bhola, where farmers practice dibble seeding of rice. Farming Systems Specialist Dr. Badirul Islam has prepared recommendations for UDP application in potato and maize.

We also have an article on our model village in Bagherpara Upazila in the Jessore district. We also reported briefly on the Aus 2012 Block Survey. *** A New Initiative: Guti Urea in Dibble-Seeded Aus in Bhola Agriculture is the life-blood of Bhola’s farmers. Eighty-five percent of the district’s cultivated area is utilized for rice. Bhola is an isolated island surrounded by two mighty rivers, the Meghna and Tetulia. The island is comprised of young alluvial soils adjoining the Meghna estuary. It belongs to Agro-Ecological Zone (AEZ)-18. Its soils become saline in the dry season and general fertility is medium; these soils are also low in nitrogen (N) and organic matter.

2

In 2012, out of 26,200 hectares (ha) of high-yielding variety (HYV) Aus, about 12,600 ha were cultivated by dibble seeding. Under this method, seven to eight seeds are dropped into a small hole made in the dry ground; they germinate upon the first rain in April. The varieties used are BR-1 (known locally as China IRRI) and some HYV varieties, but overall productivity is very low (2.0-3.0 metric tons per hectare (mt/ha).

Sometimes prolonged drought or heavy rains just after dibbling will prohibit the application of fertilizer (particularly urea top-dressing). There is also a greater incidence of weeds with broadcast urea. Faced with such constraints, farmers and Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) officials of Bhola requested AAPI to conduct trials/research in dibbleseeded Aus combined with UDP technology. Considering the important

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need to find appropriate fertilizer solutions for dibbling, AAPI scale up activities to design a replicated field trial in farmers’ fields for the Aus crop in costal/saline soils of Bhola; the objective is to determine the effect of dibbling and the time of deep placement of urea briquettes [1.8 gram (g)].

(particularly prilled urea) under dibbling conditions. The opinions of the participating farmers and specialists are: Farmers’ Opinions  Before this trial, some of the farmers had used urea briquettes in dibbled Aus, but they did not know the proper methods and time of application.  The area for dibbling Aus each year depends on rainfall.  Total yield for dibbled Aus is similar to transplanted Aus, but the cost is less.  Moving forward, farmers will use urea briquettes after 30 days of seedling emergence to obtain better yields.  The use of UDP and dibbling requires less labor; they do not have to prepare a seedbed, care for it or uproot the seedlings.

The trial was seeded on May 8, 2012. The date of first emergence of seedlings was May 14, 2012.

Specialists’ Opinions  Farmers can use urea briquettes in dibbled Aus for higher yields.  Maximum yields from UDP are obtained by deep placement 30 days after seedling emergence.  UDP in combination with dibble-seeded rice will increase yields.  To confirm the data, more research/trials are needed.  Plants tend to lodge more because there are fewer root anchors.  In dibble seeding, more seeds are required (80-100 kg/ha) compared with transplanting method (40-50 kg/ha).

Deep placement of Guti urea in dibble Aus

A field day was held at the time of the crop cut with 135 farmers (27 women), DAE officials and local leaders attending.

The yield data indicated that the deep placement of 1.8 g urea briquette at 30 days after seedling emergence (T4) with recommended doses of other fertilizers gave the highest yield among the treatments. It was found that a 642 kg/ha-higher grain yield was obtained from treatment T4 over treatment T1.

Treatment

Replication R3 R4

R1

R2

T1

4,482

4,225

3,795

4,039

4,135

T2

3,980

4,776

4,325

3,840

4,230

T3

4,506

4,151

3,809

4,523

4,247

T4

5,150

5,090

4,924

3,945

4,777

There is a perception that Bhola farmers are locked into their rice cropping system – rice cultivation under the traditional practice (dibbling Aus) with a subsistence lifestyle. However, the use of UDP in dibbled Aus is paving the way for a more productive system. The cost and returns become part of the farmers’ decision to follow the technology. This new innovation is consistent with the AAPI goals and objectives and allows better yields with ecologically friendly practices.

Mean

It is also clear that the deep placement of urea briquettes helps farmers to use fertilizer

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Aus 2012 Season Block Survey

Guti Urea Use in Potato and Maize

AAPI runs a block survey every season. Every Sub Assistant Agriculture Officer (SAAO) of DAE completes a form to report number of farmers using Guti urea, area of coverage and application of both Guti urea and prilled urea within their blocks. This data, along with crop cuts in farmer fields, and special interest surveys, is used to measure our impact.

Accelerating productivity of rice and some non-rice crops by using UDP technology, popularly known as Guti urea is nothing new in Bangladesh. This is an effective, sustainable, urea-saving and environmentally friendly technology. Farmers in many areas of the AAPI districts already use Guti urea for vegetables and fruit crops. While applying the technology, farmers use 10-20 percent less urea than that of broadcast prilled urea in vegetables and other corps in the winter season, but harvest 10-20 percent higher yields. We have already discussed how to apply Guti urea in cabbage, cauliflower, tomato, eggplant and banana in the AAPI news bulletins published in November 2011 and April 2012. Those who are interested can also use this technology in potato and maize cropping.

The table shows areas for UDP coverage and urea savings in each of our districts. As you will recall, Aus season was affected by drought. However, we still managed to get a good percentage of the crop using UDP. The most southern districts that started with us under Improved Livelihood for Sidr-Affected Rice Farmers (ILSAFARM), such as Bagerhat, Barguna, Barisal, Patuakhali and Pirojpur have shown UDP in 70-80 percent of the cropped area. This is a great result. The districts in the north and south–west were badly hampered by lack of rain. Across the board, urea savings are 29 percent.

Total UDP Area (Ha)

Urea Saving Kg/ % Ha

3,243 33,378 8,482 3,705 4,632 112 105 8,571 10,042 7,616 233 54 2,130 1,822 453 28,166 14,029 80 3,512 58 130,423

56 35 40 47 52 39 34 39 48 46 38 48 41 88 35 41 44 39 48 41 47

34 24 27 29 32 26 24 26 30 29 25 30 27 44 24 27 28 26 30 27 30

4,135 746 4,881

33 27 31

22 19 21

Grand Total 254,859 135,304 46 Source: Aus 2012 Block Survey, AAPI-IFDC

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Total HYV/ Hybrid Area District Aus 2012 (Ha) A. FtF Districts Zone Bagerhat 4,532 Barguna 39,960 Barisal 12,682 Bhola 22,777 Chuadanga 17,785 Faridpur 310 Gopalganj 489 Jessore 28,018 Jhalokati 14,535 Jhenaidah 19,404 Khulna 451 Madaripur 220 Magura 6,495 Meherpur 5,965 Narail 911 Patuakhali 37,297 Pirojpur 19,845 Rajbari 176 Satkhira 10,011 Shariatpur 103 FtF Total: 241,965 B. M&S Zone Mymensingh 10,176 Sherpur 2,718 M&S Total 12,894

Potato Plow and level the field at the appropriate time.

During the last tilling, mix the recommended amounts of well-decomposed cowdung, triple superphosphate (TSP), muriate of potash (MOP), gypsum, zinc sulfate, and boric acid with the soil. Remember that in the coastal areas (southern districts) of the country, it is not necessary to apply boron in potato and maize.

Appropriate period for planting: November Varieties: Cardinal, Diamant, Granula, Asterix and other suitable modern varieties Seed rate: 1,500 kg/ha Tuber weight: 40-50 g/tuber (size 28-45 mm) Spacing (for whole tuber): Line to line - 60 cm (24 inches) Tuber to tuber - 25 cm (10 inches) Amounts of Fertilizers (Except Urea) to be Applied Fertilizers/Manure TSP MOP Gypsum Zinc Sulfate (Hepta) Boric Acid Cowdung

*** 4

Amounts kg/ha 150 270 100 17 5 5,000

g/decimal 600 1,100 400 70 20 20 kg

AAPI NEWS BULLETIN

Volume 19 virus-infected plants must be removed and consciously destroyed immediately upon their appearance. Care must be taken not to spread disease by hand, ooze or instrument. Keep clean around the crop.

Disease Management 

Late Blight: It is the most prolific and destructive disease around the world. Every part of the plant can be infected by this disease. Within a short period (2-3 days), it may break out. The disease can be found by the presence of watery lesion grey spots on the leaf and/or white powdery mycelium under the leaf. Deep brown spots are seen on the skin of the infected potato.



Control: Contact fungicide Dithane M 45/ Hemancogeb/Indofil 2g/L of water sprayed after seven-day intervals. Systemic fungicide: Secure 2g/L; Acrobat MZ 2 g/L of water sprayed after seven-day intervals.



Bacterial Wilt: This can be controlled by incorporating stable bleaching powder into the soil at the final land preparation at 15 kg/ha.

This disease is very sensitive to irrigation and irrigation should be stopped in the infected field. The potato tubers of the infected field should not be kept as seed for cultivation the following year.



Scab: Scab can be reduced with a 3.0 percent boric acid treatment before planting and by standard irrigation.



Virus Diseases: More than 30 viruses are the main cause of degeneration of the potato.

Among the viruses, PLRV, PVX and PVY are conspicuous in the field. Infected plants can be eradicated by uprooting the plant and then burning. Secondary control can be undertaken by controlling aphid infestation.

The picture shows Guti urea applied in diamant variety of Potato

How Do You Apply Guti Urea?

For each potato tuber, two urea briquettes of 2.70 g weight will be applied at a depth of 5-8 cm (2-3 inches) by making a furrow 5-8 cm (2-3 inches) from both sides of the potato row, then covering the furrow with soil after briquette placement.

Intercultural Operation  Earthen Up: In general, the first earthen up is to be done at 15-20 days after planting. The second earthen up will be done at 35-40 days after planting. At this time, the stolon is formed, and it is very important for watering and earthen up. If the soil in the inter row is compact, then spading will be required for easy growth of the stolon.  Irrigation: Generally, irrigation depends on the basis of moisture in the soil. However, irrigation will be necessary at 30-35 days after planting or immediately after the second earthen up. Additional irrigation can be done as required, but before 65 days after planting.

After this time, irrigation should not be used, because it makes the field favorable for scab and hallow heart disease; consequently, the quality of the potato will deteriorate.

Insect Pest Management

 Rouging: To get better quality potatoes, any off-type plants, alien plants and/or obsolete plants should be eradicated and laid under the soil. Those types of plants may harbor diseases and insects. Disease-affected and



5

Cutworm is the major insect pest of the potato. It can be controlled by hand picking and/or using 5.0 kg Furadan per ha.

AAPI NEWS BULLETIN 

Volume 19 furrow at 5-8 cm (2-3 inches) depth by making 8-10 cm (3-4 inches) furrow on both sides of the maize row, then covering with soil.

The Aphid is the carrier of viruses. It can be controlled by Admire 0.5 ml/L of water at seven-day intervals after 20-25 days of planting.

Haulm-Pulling 

The upper part of the plant is separated off at 75-80 days after planting to reduce diseases and gain better quality of potato/seed potato tuber. In 8-12 days after haulm-pulling, harvesting can begin.

Maize Guti urea applied in Maize

The land should be well ploughed and leveled at the appropriate time. During the last tilling, recommended amounts of fertilizers, except urea, must be mixed with soil.

Appropriate period for planting:

Intercultural Operation  Earthen Up: After seed sowing, the seed should be covered by earthen up.

November to mid-December

 Irrigation: Generally, irrigation depends on the basis of moisture in the soil. However, irrigation will be necessary at 30-35 days after planting. Additional irrigation can be applied as required, but before flowering (55-60 days after planting). If needed, a third irrigation should be given at grain formation (85-90 days after planting).

Varieties: Pacific 11, Pacific 60, NK-40, NK-46, 900 M, 900 super M, BARI hybrid maize-5, BARI hybrid maize-7, BARI hybrid maize-9 Seed rate: 20 kg/ha Spacing: Line to line - 75 cm (30 inches) Seed to seed - 25 cm (10 inches)

 Weeding: Upto 40-45 days of seed sowing, the field should be kept weed-free.

Amounts of Fertilizers (except Urea) to be Applied Fertilizers/Manure TSP MOP Gypsum Zinc Sulfate (Hepta) Boric Acid Cowdung

Amounts kg/ha g/decimal 280 1,134 180 730 220 890 10 40 7 28 4,500 18 kg

*** Homestead Gardening Ushers in New Hope A small piece of land has now become Marzina Khatun’s source of inspiration and dreams. The 16 -square meter piece of land at a corner of her homestead, which traditionally remained fallow, is now full of vegetables. The garden is producing brinjal (eggplant) and green chili that not only meet a portion of Marzina’s daily needs, but also provide her with income through commercial sales.

How Do You Apply Guti Urea?  For each maize plant, 30-35 days after seedling emergence, four urea briquettes of 2.7 g weight, or six urea briquettes of 1.8 g weight, will be placed on both sides of the

“We did not need to buy vegetables and chili in the last couple of months. Other than these, we 6

AAPI NEWS BULLETIN

Volume 19 She planted a total of 27 brinjal plants and a few chili plants in mid-April. Of the 27, Marzina used a total of 292 grams of Guti urea on 18 plants – the first application was 12 days after planting and the second was after 60 days. For the remaining nine plants, on the other hand, she applied 162 g of prilled urea to compare the difference.

also produced bottle gourds in another corner of our yard,” Marzina, 25, said at Sadullahpur village of Bagharpara, an AAPI model village in Jessore, a southwestern district of Bangladesh.

Marzina is one of 16 women who were trained in homestead gardening by AAPI and the DAE following a participatory rural appraisal (PRA) conducted in February 2012. Twelve male farmers were also trained in modern farming technologies, and began cropping pattern demonstrations in the Aus season this year.

By September 12, Marzina harvested 21 kg of eggplants from the 18 plants that used Guti urea, and only 8.5 kg from the nine plants that used broadcast urea. This clearly demonstrated the 23 percent greater yield from deep-placing the urea briquettes. Of the total yield, she sold 10 kg at Tk 20 per kg and bought some utensils.

AAPI’s objective is to assist farmers to diversify crops based on comparative advantages, ensure quality fertilizer and seeds and improve market linkages that allow fair prices for farm produce.

The project is bringing farmers of the village out of subsistence, where most of the 155 households are farmers with small- and medium-size farms.

According to recommendations during the orientation training provided by AAPI, Marzina said that she would begin planting cauliflower, cabbage and tomatoes in the same garden in early October. After harvesting those winter crops, she will again plant brinjals, and thus grow vegetables all year round.

The use of urea briquettes, or Guti urea, and the implementation of better cropping patterns are two crucial aspects of AAPI that are helping the farmers within the village. Farmers are already benefiting from the interventions, and Marzina is a prime example.

Marzina’s husband Nasir Haider, a small farmer and seasonal rice trader, is also happy with his wife’s entrepreneurship that is bringing extra benefits to the family.

“While I produce enough paddy for our family and earn from the seasonal business, my wife takes care of the chickens that provide eggs, and the homestead garden is producing vegetables,” says Nasiruddin, 33, father of a daughter, Nadia Sultana.

Such happiness is evident in many of the families practicing the modern farming technologies, including the use of Guti urea, in the model village of Sadullahpur.

Sabina Yasmeen, another female farmer, said she bought four chicks with the money she earned from the sales of brinjals produced in her homestead garden.

Marzina Khatun is working in her homestead garden

“I am extremely pleased that I planted the brinjal and chili and took every care. They are giving fruits,” she said with emotion. To prepare the land, she applied 162 grams of TSP, 194 grams of gypsum, 324 grams of potash, 12 grams of zinc and 14 grams of boron fertilizers.

“I also bought some notebooks and pencils for my kids,” she said, adding that she wants to enhance her earnings by producing vegetables and rearing chickens in addition to her regular work as a tailor.

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“I dream of buying another piece of land and growing increased amounts of vegetables,” said Sabina, expressing her conviction and empowerment in a traditionally male-dominated society.

AAPI Events in October 2012 In the month of October 2012, AAPI is concentrating its activities for Aman and Boro paddy. In this month, the following activities will be carried out.  265 batches of training for Boro rice farmers

Selina Begum said, “We also grew vegetables in the past, but we were not so organized. Yields are far better now than before.”

 15 batches of training for vegetable farmers  2 batches of training for briquette producers

She emphasized a crucial aspect of their homestead gardening, saying, “We don’t have to buy vegetables from the market place, which are often grown by using pesticides.”

 3 small business management trainings  92 motivational meeting with old farmers  Sale of 25 urea briquette machines  15 motivational field trips

***

 16 stakeholders workshops for Boro  3 promotional shows Activity Achievements August 28 to September 26, 2012 From August 28 to September 26, 2012, AAPI successfully completed activities as shown in the following table.

Indicator Aman season UDP coverage for Aman Farmer training

Unit

ha

Season Target

Achievement in September 2012

Season Total

% of Target

503,275

207,142

563,501

112%

2,752

162

2,954

107%

Batches

Extension staff meeting

No.

10

12

24

240%

Orientation Training

No.

26

-

26

100%

Rice field demonstration

No.

422

55

552

131%

Rice Trials

No.

36

1

28

78%

Motivational field trips

Batches

10

2

10

100%

Stakeholder workshops

Batches

8

4

35

438%

Sale of briquette machines

Batches

90

43

125

139%

Briquette owner training

Batches

7

4

11

157%

-

-

Aus crop cut Rice demonstration harvest

No.

129

89

182

141%

Rice trials cut

No.

14

5

12

86%

Field days

No.

15

14

22

147%

Crop cuts in farmers field

No.

167

284

416

249%

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