AAPI Newsletter Volume 21, November 2012 (English)

AAPI NEWS BULLETIN Accelerating Agriculture Productivity Improvement (AAPI) Volume 21

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

Inside this issue:

UDP Demonstration Impacts Eggplant Yields at Tazumuddin

2

Progress in Developing a More Efficient UDP Applicator

3

Motivating SAAOs – Key to Guti Fertilizer Expansion

4

A Passionate Farmer

5

Activity Achievements October 25 to November 21, 2012

7

AAPI Events in December 2012

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

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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

This month was spent mobilizing activities for the massive adoption of urea deep placement (UDP) fertilizer technology in Boro season. This is the last season for scale-up; the target is 759,000 hectares (ha). We are confident we will achieve this target with the full support of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE). However, the news is not only about rice. We are also seeing significant adoption of UDP technology in other crops. Our vegetable farmers have their crops in the ground,and we are looking for a sizeable benefit for those who have applied UDP technology. In this bulletin, we have a report written by Mr Iqbal Hoque, our agriculture specialist, on the benefits for an eggplant farmer in Bhola.

Our work on the development of a UDP applicator is progressing on a number of fronts. Dr. Wohab, our agricultural engineer, has been running a number of trials comparing different applicator types. We now have a push type (double row and single row) and an injector type. The injector type has been improved in recent months and we are now close to manufacture of a self-loading injector type that we hope will go onto the market in time for Boro season. Dr. Wohab’s article presents some results on the performance of the different applicator types during Aus season.

November 30, 2012

I have always said that we cannot achieve our targets without the support from the DAE and the agriculturefocusednon-government organizations (NGOs) located in our project Upazilas. Mr Shamsul Alam, one of our training specialists, has described how we are engaging with the Subassistant Agriculture Officers (SAAOs). As he says, these people are the frontline officials of the DAE, living and working very close to their client farmers.

Recently, two USAID officials, Mr Aniruddha H. Roy, the USAID AAPI Agreement Officer’s Technical Representative (AOTR) and Ms. Munira Begum from the USAID Financial Management Office visited Jessore, Barisal and Patuakhali districts to review AAPI project activities. Their visit was most welcomed.

The USAID team is discussing with one of the AAPI beneficiaries -- Mr Kabir in Jessore Sadar Upazila whose success story is published in this bulletin.

***

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 21 UDP Demonstration Impacts Eggplant Yields at Tazumuddin Urea deep placement (UDP) technology in rice is well known within the AAPI project area. Most of the farmers in the AAPI area are getting better yields while using less urea with UDP (known locally as Guti urea). In the last Boro season, more than 600,000 hectares (ha) of rice came under Guti urea. While the technology is primarily used in rice cultivation, farmers in many AAPI districts are applying this technology on vegetables and fruits, often following AAPI recommendations, but sometimes experimenting with the technology themselves. To increase awareness of the benefits of the cost-saving technology with different vegetables, AAPI is conducting a number of demonstrations in different locations across the project area. Ms. Kulsum Bibi of the village Keamullah, Tazumuddin of Bhola, is one of those selected to conduct a Guti urea demonstration in her eggplant field in Boro season 2011-2012. Very keen to maximize production, Bibi and her husband, Mr Harun, work together in their small vegetable field. In the winter season, they grow eggplant, cabbage and tomato, while in Aman season they grow Transplanted (T) Aman rice in their fields. AAPI selected them as demonstration farmers because of their willingness to share their results and knowledge with neighbors. The purpose of the demonstration was to motivate others to adopt UDP technology and to show the reduction in the cost of production and the increase in the yield and quality of the eggplant.

Before establishment of the demonstration, Bibi attended a project demonstration orientation and 2

training program at Barisal. There, she learned proper cultivation procedures for eggplant and methods of using Guti urea and balanced fertilizer, as well as the objectives and importance of the demonstration.

Kulsum Bibi picking eggplant from her demo plot.

Kulsum Bibi happily looking at the harvested eggplant from her demo plot.

The yield in Bibi’s Guti urea plot was 762 kg (38 mt/ha), while in the prilled urea plot, on other hand, was only 579 kg (29 mt/ha). The yield increase using Guti urea was 183 kg (9 mt/ha), or 31 percent.

Farmers’ Opinions: The project canvassed the opinions of neighboring farmers and found the following:

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 Before this demonstration, none of the farmers of the locality had used urea briquettes in eggplant. They did not know about UDP methods or the time of application. Now, 60 percent of vegetable farmers are planning to use Guti urea in cabbage, tomato, chili, watermelon and eggplant.

2012.While the success of the technology continues, there remains an obstacle. Most farmers apply Guti urea manually, which is laborious and time consuming. Recognizing this issue, IFDC has developed several types of Guti urea applicators appropriate for the farmers of the country. Single row and double row applicators were trialled with Transplanted (T) Aus. The results showed that the use of an applicator reduces Guti urea application time by 50-70 percent compared with hand placement. The yield difference between hand placement and applicator placement was about 100-112 kg/ha (precision hand placement showed slightly higher yields). Calculations show that the financial benefits of using single row applicators, double row applicators and hand placement over the broadcasting of prilled urea are Tk.5,088, Tk. 5,429 and Tk. 5,577 per ha, respectively. The benefit of hand placement over the broadcasting of prilled urea is highest (Tk. 5,577 per ha), while hand placement also provides a benefit over the applicator of Tk.148-459 per ha. With experience and skill development, grain yield differences between the applicators and hand placement could be reduced to zero, or might even be higher compared with hand placement. In this trial, applicator placement reduces time and drudgery, which are the most important factors to most farmers. Minimizing the drudgery in Guti urea application is a very important achievement. The use of well-designed applicators will accelerate the adoption of Guti urea use in paddy cultivation in the future.

 Yield from the Guti urea plot was 31 percent higher than that of the prilled urea plot.  The size, shape and color were better in the Guti urea plot; market demand was high compared with fruit from the prilled urea plot.  Women can easily deep-place Guti urea to fertilize the vegetable with the participation of other family members.

In Boro rice season 2011-2012, of the total 115 ha of high yielding varieties (HYV) of Boro rice in the Keamullah block,75 ha (or more than 65 percent) were under Guti urea coverage. Farmers of the locality now have plans to use Guti urea on vegetables like eggplant, cabbage, watermelon and tomato on about five hectare (ha) of vegetable area. This is about 60 percent of the total vegetable-growing area in this agricultural block.

The use of Guti urea on vegetables is paving the way for a more productive system. The benefits from reduced costs and higher returns are becoming part of the farmers’ decisions to apply the technology. This is consistent with AAPI goals and objectives and allows better yields under ecologically-friendly practices.

Table 1: Test Results of Guti Urea Applicator for T Aus 2012 Method of GutiUrea Application

*** Single Row Applicator Double Row Applicator Hand Placement

Progress in Developing a More Efficient UDP Applicator In rice production, more than one million farmers in the AAPI project area have adopted urea deep placement (UDP, or Guti urea) technology. About 600,000 ha of land in AAPI districts came under Guti urea in the Boro season

Broadcast of Prilled Urea

GutiUrea Application Rate (kg/ha) 99

Time Required for Guti Urea Placement (hr/ha) 14.28

Grain Yield (kg/ha)

101

9.0

4,097

116

33.33

4,197

157*

-

3,758**

4,085

Source: * Block Survey, Aus 2012, AAPI-IFDC ** Farmers’ field crop cuts, Aus 2012, AAPI-IFDC

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Table 2: Cost/Benefit Calculation for Different Methods of Guti Urea Application Compared With Broadcast Prilled Urea in T Aus 2012 Method of Guti application

Single Row Applicator Double Row Applicator Hand Placement

Benefit from Saving of Urea (Tk/ha) 948

Benefit from Guti Urea Placement (Tk/ha) -438

Benefit from Higher Yield (Tk/ha) 4578

of Agricultural Extension (DAE), implementing the policies and decisions made by the government. They serve to deliver the technical information required for agricultural development, provide advice to farmers, address agricultural issues, contain crop pests and diseases and inform their superiors on the state of agriculture in the field.

Benefit over Broadcast of Prilled urea (Tk/ha) 5088

895

-212

4746

5429

558

-1,127

6146

5577

Considering such a potent resource close to the farmer, AAPI-IFDC decided to train and motivate the SAAOs in extending Guti fertilizer to enhance farm productivity, reduce costs and to preserve the environment. The SAAOs are in daily contact with their farmers to discuss new technology transfer, farm activities, achievements and failures. They also share the needs and problems of the farmers and report the findings to superiors for further action. Therefore, AAPI, a project funded by USAID, considered training of the SAAOs to deliver fertilizer deep placement (FDP) technology to be a crucial task.

Source: Quarterly Report, July-September 2012, AAPI-IFDC

In the first year, AAPI trained almost all of the SAAOs within the project areas that now cover 22 districts. Training from AAPI senior staff helped the SAAOs upgrade their knowledge on UDP technology. They were trained as trainers and became resource personnel in AAPI farmer training activities in their respective blocks. They work closely with the AAPI Field Monitoring Officers who are responsible for implementing the AAPI activities (including training) within each upazila.

IFDC single row applicator under field trial.

Motivating SAAOs – Key to Guti Fertilizer Expansion

To maintain this momentum, as part of the AAPI scale-up program that began in October 2011, AAPI has held motivational meetings with these key grassroots officials and continues to do so each season since Boro 2012. It has become a dynamic way of refreshing their attitudes and the knowledge that they gained during their initial training. During motivational meetings, AAPI shares with them the ongoing plans and strategic and promotional activities in their respective areas or blocks.

The Sub-assistant Agriculture Officials (SAAOs) live and work very close to their client farmers.

They are the frontline officials of the Department

The SAAOs who attend motivational meetings have observed that such meetings at the beginning of every season are very effective, and are like

IFDC double row applicator under field trial.

***

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“warm-up sessions before a game.” Such meetings inspire the SAAOs to conduct farmers’ training effectively as per the guideline on FDP technology. SAAOs freely express their views and ideas during the motivational meetings and strongly commit to the expansion of Guti urea technology. They also develop a sense of ownership of the technology, which is one of the key goals of the project for its sustainability.

In that context, Kabir, who is from Tapashidanga in Jessore Sadar, closed his timber business and planned to begin farming in 2009. Initially, he leased 132 decimals of land and bought two calves. That is the beginning of his farming enterprise.

Today, his annual paddy production is 240 maunds [one maund equals 37 kilograms (kgs)] while the two cows that gave birth seven months ago produce plenty of milk. “When I was a businessman, I had money, but not food that was produced by my own hands. Now food for my family is ensured. I also can earn from it,” says Kabir, 46, father of three daughters and a son.

Account of Motivational Meetings with SAAOs Season Boro 2012

Batches 38

Male 1,043

Female 114

Total 1,157

Aus 2012 Aman 2012

17 24

456 659

33 84

489 743

Total

79

2,158

231

2,389

As a routine function of the DAE, SAAOs hold meetings at the Upazila Agriculture Office (UAO) every week. There, they review the activities, progress and problems of their respective blocks and upazilas. They also submit reports to their superiors in the meeting. Upon consultation with the UAOs concerned, AAPI senior staff and/or Field Monitoring Officers regularly attend these meetings. They get feedback from the meeting about the strengths and weaknesses of the AAPI activities. This feedback is used to design strategies to achieve the expected targets each season. The meetings allow the coordination of the AAPI extension effort as well as its monitoring and reporting.

A fertilizer briquetting machine and the use of urea deep placement (UDP) briquettes, known locally as Guti urea, added new dimension to his venture. He has become an icon to many farmers by applying this fertilizer technology, which cuts production costs and increases yields.

Guti urea technology has already earned a reputation for its impacts on urea savings and increased yields. Anything that stimulates the DAE to expand the technology will contribute to its sustainability. Regular motivational meetings are one such stimulator.

Kabir says his net profit from sales of Guti urea is around Tk. 1,000 (US $13) per ton, but far more important are the multiple benefits of the technology.

***

Before using Guti urea, he produced less than 200 maunds of paddy from four bighas (33 decimals) of land per year. But now the amount has increased to over 240 maunds. In addition, the straw that he produces yearly is worth Tk.25,000 (US $313).

Kabir, who always thinks of optimizing production and minimizing costs, received training on Guti urea use through the local agriculture office and AAPI, and subsequently bought a briquetting machine in 2011. He manufactured 30 tons of Guti urea during Boro 2011-2012, nine tons in Aus and 14 tons during Aman this year.

Kabir is expecting production of 50 tons of urea briquettes in the upcoming Boro.

Increased Income

A Passionate Farmer Humayun Kabir had long been a timber trader until 2008. His profit from the business was not bad, but he was not enjoying it much. He thought the job offered him no scope in demonstrating his creativity and contribution to the people’s wellbeing. He believed that doing something that

“As paddy plants have more tillers, which are stronger and taller, I get more straw. It is at least 20 percent more than usual,” Kabir said.

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Considering Tk. 500 (US $6.25) per maund (a low rate), the price of an extra 40 maunds of paddy is Tk. 20,000 (US $250), while extra income from straw is Tk.5,000 (US $ 63). Interestingly, Kabir says, this happens when he spends less by using Guti urea, which contributes to the reduction in weeds and thereby labor cost. He spends at least Tk. 1,000-1,500 (US $13-$19) less due to the reduced use of urea on four bighas of land.

adding that firewood shortage is a real problem for the women, and it would be great for them when gas is generated.

Value Chain Benefits “I get quality feed for my cows. This was one of my objectives when I started growing rice,” says Kabir, who now gets 15-20 kgs of milk from two cows everyday. This means his monthly income from sales of milk is Tk. 15,000-20,000 (US $188$250) while average monthly expenditures for two cows are nearly Tk.10,000 (US $125).

Mr Kabir feeding his calves with the new feed of semipowdered rice produced with UDP.

This cost seems quite high because, Kabir says, he provides the best feed for the cows. Apart from grass and straw, he mixes six types of bran, including those of maize, wheat and pulses.

Recently, he discovered a new feed for the cows: semi-powdered rice. The thought came to him as he found rice prices low, while other cattle feed items were much more expensive.

Kabir applies all the cow dung in the field. He says rice cultivation three times each year extracts huge amount of nutrients from the soil, and this organic manure fills up the gap. Otherwise, the soil will be unable to grow plants in the long run, he said, adding, “We have to care for everybody and everything around us.”

Marketing by Practice Kabir took lease of another 132 decimals of land in Malanchi and established a Guti urea demonstration field in this Aman season, mainly to create a market for Guti urea. As farmers there found paddy plants stronger and higher than those of any other fields nearby, with less weeds requiring less labor costs, dozens of farmers in that area have shown interest in using the technology during Boro season.

“Dried paddy is powdered in the flour mill. Of the 6.0 kgs of feed, I mix 4.5 kgs of powdered paddy and 1.5 kgs of other bran and cook them for the cows,” the innovative Kabir said. Due to the greater use of paddy powder, the cost of cattle feed came down by over Tk.3,000 (US $38) per month.

Both cows are now pregnant, yet they are producing good amounts of milk and are very healthy, he boasts.

“I am now looking for another piece of field somewhere else to prepare a Guti urea demonstration plot. This will not only increase rice production, but also sales of Guti urea,” he said.

No Wastage Cow dung is of great value these days. It is used either as organic manure or cooking fuel. Kabir, however, is in the process of value-adding to both uses. He is installing a bio-gas plant through which he can get gas for household cooking, while the decomposed dung is better manure.

Kabir does not sell milk to the milk traders, but directly to the customers. His logic is: “My cows give quality milk. If I sell this to traders, they will mix it with other lower quality milk or water.

Because I sell my milk to the individual consumers, they get the real taste of milk.

Therefore, if the market price of milk is Tk. 40 per kg, I sell it at Tk. 50.”

“Now there are two cows and two calves, and their numbers will continue to increase. More cows mean more milk, more compost and gas,” he said, 6

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New Thoughts Kabir is planning to add a wheat hauler to the briquetting machine so he can make paddy powder for himself and others aimed at cutting cattle feed prices. Milling of wheat can also earn him profits, he noted.

AAPI Events in December 2012 In the month of December 2012, AAPI is concentrating its activities for Aman and Boro paddy. In this month, the following activities will be carried out.  1,040 batches of training for Boro rice farmers  3 batches of training for briquette producers  3 small business management trainings  1 local mechanic training  130 field demo establish  7 field trial establish  319 motivational meetings with old farmers  Sale of 25 urea briquette machines  6 motivational field trips  21 promotional shows  18 extension staff meeting  17 field days (Demo and Trial) for Aman  267 Aman demo and 9 trial crop cut  514 Aman farmers field crop cut

“If I produce milk at a low cost, people can benefit more. Why should we depend on imported powdered milk? We ourselves can produce more than enough and become self-sufficient,”says Kabir, who always tries to find cost-effective options in farming.

He says his whole family is involved with the farming activities, which means all are employed.

“If everybody thought this way, there would be no unemployment or food shortage in Bangladesh.

We would not be a poor nation,” Kabir said. ***

*** Activity Achievements October 25 to November 21, 2012 From October 25 to November 21, 2012, AAPI successfully completed activities as shown in the following table.

Indicator Boro season Farmer training Extension staff meeting Orientation Training Field demonstration (Total) Trials (Total) Motivational field trips Stakeholder workshops Sale of briquette machines Briquette owner training

Unit

Season Target

Batches No. No. No. No. Batches Batches No. Batches

Achievement in November 2012

Season Total

% of Target

2,244 39 19 447 36 45 12 155 8

505 8 14 23 6 16 14 25 4

582 19 14 42 9 22 26 70 7

26% 49% 74% 9% 25% 49% 217% 45% 88%

422 36 50 503

233 9 31 210

243 11 31 210

58% 31% 62% 42%

Aman crop cut Rice demonstration harvest Rice trials cut Field days Crop cut in farmers field

No. No. No. No. *** 7

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