Dhaka-Cultivation of Boro rice to the puddle field using the saplings from seedbed is widely introduced in our country. According to soil types, a total of 3 to 5 liter water is used to produce one kg of paddy in this method. And this huge amount of water is lifted from underground which demands a large some amount of diesel or electricity.
On the other hand, continuous uses of ground water are causing the drawdown of water level and in some cases no water could be lifted even setting up submersible pump. As a result, Boro rice cultivation is in threat in many areas specially the northern region of the country.
To make the Boro rice cultivation profitable and sustainable, a research team led by Dr. Md. Moshiur Rahman, Professor of Agronomy department of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) in Mymensingh has developed the dry method of Boro rice cultivation after conducting a research of one decade.
In this method, about 50% water and electricity could be saved in comparison with the traditional method of Boro rice cultivation. As a result, the farmers will be benefitted as production cost would be reduced than before.
About the technique, Dr. Moshiur Rahman told, “Without preparing seedbed, little sprouted seed (Jo condition) is directly sown in line to the field in the middle of February. As a result, farmers could be benefitted by cultivating mustard, potato or robi crops after harvesting the Aman rice.”
In this method, 4 to 8 times irrigation is needed to cultivate Boro rice whereas 15 to 30 times irrigation is need in the tradition method and the life time is also reduced by 15 days.
Production in this method is also higher and even the greenhouse gas emission rate is very low compared to the puddle method of Boro rice cultivation. But, this method requires 10% more urea, added the researcher.
Meanwhile, this method has been proved profitable technique of Boro rice cultivation to the farmers of Dinajpur, Rangpur, Netrokona, Mymensingh and Rajshahi as much profit is obtained by less investment. -BAU CORRESPONDENT
