Adoption of Water Saving Irrigation Techniques for Sustainable Rice Production in Bangladesh

Abstract

This study explore socio-economic characters' which leads farmers to adoption of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) in the farmers' field of two major drought prone areas of Bangladesh for rice cultivation. AWD is an irrigation regime where the producer allows the rice field to dry intermittently during the rice life cycle rather than having the field continuously submerged. In previous studies AWD has been found to reduce water usage by from 20-70% and to reduce methane emissions by over 50% as compared to rice produced under continuous flooding. In 2012, a survey of 60 farmers was conducted in four rice-producing areas in Bangladesh to investigate farmer implementation of AWD and NF irrigation. Thirty sample farmers from the Capasia union of Gazipur district were selected in the site where the AWD irrigation techniques are being practiced. Similarly, 30 other sample farmers were selected from the same Union of Gazipur district where AWD is not practiced but where continuous irrigation is practiced. Similarly thirty sample farmers from Godagary union of Rajshahi district were selected in the site where the AWD irrigation techniques are being practiced and 30 other sample farmers were selected from the same Union Rajshahi district where AWD is not practiced but where continuous irrigation is practiced. The data were collected through direct interview with the help of pre-designed questionnaire in 2012. A brief introduction regarding the nature and objectives of the study was given to each respondent before interview. All the collected qualitative and quantities data were analyzed in accordance with the objectives of the study so as to answer the issues involved in the study. As the dependent variables are dichotomous (zero, one), a logit regression model can be applied. The study shows that significant issues were identified that need to be considered generally to improve adoption at the farmers' level and that would eventually enable mass adoption. The study revealed that farm size, education of household head, and contact with extension agents, water scarcity and dissemination through demonstration were the variables that had significant impact on the adoption of AWD. So if contact with extension workers could be increased and the farmers could be shown the use of AWD techniques through field demonstration then the adoption rates can be increased.