Location: Bangladesh

Many of us in the CIMMYT community are familiar with “Patronato”—the group of private farmers in northern Mexico who  have collaborated with the center since the 1950s. These farmers support the center and partners’ research activities, and in turn have benefited from new and improved agricultural technologies.

Now, a similar partnership between CIMMYT and farmers seems to be developing in Bangladesh. About 70 farmers recently talked about forming a farmers’ association of 200-300 members and a farmers’ federation of 25,000 members. Enamul Haque, CIMMYT-Bangladesh cropping systems agronomist and facilitator of the farmers’ federation initiatives, was present for the 18 May 2009 discussions which took place at a farmers’ union meeting in Nababpur, Baliakandi, Rajbari. Abdul Wohab, principal scientific officer, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur also attended the meeting. Farmers’ federation initiatives are also starting in Rajshahi, Lalmonirhat, and Dinajpur districts, according to Haque.

“A farmers’ association and federation would facilitate CIMMYT’s work to spread conservation agriculture, as well as new crop varieties and technologies,” said Haque. CIMMYT and BARI have worked in the region since 2003, assisting with quality seed and facilitating the development and dissemination of conservation agriculture technology. However, the small-scale farmers who benefit from this technology can benefit even further by working together and becoming part of larger associations. This could give farmers better bargaining power and link them to product marketing and seed and input companies.

Farmers and Kamal Fakir, chairman of the Nababpur union, are enthusiastic about farmers working together. Fakir generously agreed to let CIMMYT use three rooms in the union building rent-free, which can serve as office space or as a sleeping room for CIMMYT researchers while they are working in  Baliakandi. Several farmers also offered to spare land for CIMMYT for research purposes. “I’m happy to provide these rooms and facilities to CIMMYT. This building is a center for rural people and CIMMYT works to improve agriculture which ultimately benefits farmers and their families,” said Fakir. Haque also acknowledged this valuable contribution. “Farmers’ commitment and willingness to extend their resources to CIMMYT is proof of our strong partnership,” he said.

More than 110 farmers attended a field day in Alipur village, Durgapur, Rajshahi district, Bangladesh on 16 May 2009. Enamul Haque, cropping systems agronomist, Conservation Agricultural Program, CIMMYT-Bangladesh, organized the field day along with CIMMYT partners Ilias Hossain, senior scientific officer, Bangladesh Regional Wheat Research Center (WRC); and Mohammad Abdur Rahman, principal scientific officer, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI).

The farmers’ day was set up to assess the first field trial for transplanted boro rice in unpuddled soil using strip-tillage, a minimal form of land preparation, and raised beds. Boro rice is high-yielding irrigated rice that is grown during the winter season and covers more than five million hectares in Bangladesh, where rice is grown year-round and is vital to food security. Almost all boro rice farmers in Bangladesh have been transplanting boro rice to puddled fields despite the fact that puddling destroys soil structure, is more costly, and requires more water and labor, according to Haque.

“I’m very grateful that a few skeptical farmers stepped forward before transplanting this year’s crop, and agreed to try the new practice,” said Haque. “They have healthy, vigorous plants in their fields and I believe this technology will spread.”

Farmers said they needed to weed only twice, instead of the three times typical for conventional tillage, and reported savings of 75% on land preparation, 30% on irrigation water, and 5-6% on fertilizer. Finally, from the look of the fields, farmers were expecting 12-15% more rice at harvest. At the end of the day, a quick show of hands indicated that all farmers present would continue to transplant boro rice using these resource-conservingpractices.

“My ambition is not only for this area,” said Hossain. “We can extend this technology to other wheat- and rice-growing areas. We have done a lot of work here so we can go to other areas and demonstrate it to farmers.”