By Md Aynal Haque
 
RAJSHAHI, Feb 26, 2025 (BSS) - Shimul Islam, a farmer of Godagari in the 
district, said the bed-planting technology has already started transforming 
conventional agriculture into climate-resilient in the-region, particularly 
in its vast Barind tract.

Terming the method as very demand-driven, he said by adding one simple and 
inexpensive piece of equipment, they can cultivate their land in a single 
pass instead of three to four separate cultivation processes in the 
conventional system. 
 
Since seeding and fertilizing are completed in one round through the machine, 
the fertilizer is placed closely and systematically beside the seeds, 
resulting in good crop yields. 

Due to the bed system, wind can pass nicely and water cannot stay for long 
and the process prevents damage to crops like wheat.

In their areas, farmers face challenges due to the high cost of cultivation 
as three to four rounds of soil works are needed in conventional methods and 
the cost of fertilizer and insect control materials is high. But, now the 
sufferings have gone away amid promotion of the new technology.

Talking to BSS here Tuesday, Shimul mentioned that the bed planting 
technology contributes to the timely and efficient growth of crops with fewer 
rounds of soil work, reducing the vulnerability to natural calamities.
 
The bed formation also acts as a barrier, protecting crops from vertebrate 
pests and weeds.

It safeguards crops from damage, making it an ideal choice for marginal 
farmers.
 
Shimul said the farmers will be benefited enormously in terms of alleviating 
the shortage of labor and enhancing food security if modern technologies are 
expanded widely.

Managing irrigation in the undulating terrain of this region is challenging 
due to the varying elevation of the soil, leading to issues related to 
climate variability and a lack of surface water availability.

 
Traditionally, farmers in the region cultivate land using tractors and power 
tillers. But, space needed for three to four rounds of traditional 
cultivation results in additional labor and time.

The transformative technology is mitigating the unique challenges faced by 
farmers due to climate change and setting a new standard for sustainable and 
eco-friendly farming practices, officials said.

Apart from Shimul many farmers are adopting bed planting techniques during 
this Rabi season which helped the farmers reduce irrigation water usage by 25 
to 30 percent.

In order to manage the workload efficiently, the local service providers are 
seen distributing some of the workloads to their assistant bed planters.

The technology not only ensures a more sustainable approach to agriculture 
but also lights up the faces of those resilient farmers who persevere against 
the odds.

Its success has sparked a growing interest among the local community, 
highlighting its potential as a solution to longstanding agricultural 
challenges.

With this breakthrough, farmers in this region are not only adapting to 
climate change but also enhancing crop yield and sustainability.

Senior Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute 
(BARI) Dr Shakhawat Hossain told BSS that a groundbreaking agricultural 
revolution is underway in the region through the innovative bed planting 
technology.
 
On behalf of its 'Consortium for Scaling-up Climate-Smart Agriculture in 
South Asia (C-SUCSeS) project', BARI has been promoting the technology 
supported by the SAARC Agriculture Centre. 

Dr Hossain said the project promoted a bed planter attached to a power tiller 
for efficient soil tillage, bed formation, fertilizer application and seed 
sowing in a single pass.

It's a smart method as it doesn't require any separate equipment meaning that 
a single round of bed planting is sufficient curtailing the need for separate 
seeding and fertilizing.

In this method, the machine featuring two types of furrow opener at the rear-
- one for seeds and the other for fertilizer-- is maintaining specific 
distances for optimal growth.

Basically, the technology significantly reduces the workload and time 
required for cultivation. Seeding cost is also much less than the 
conventional seeding method.

 
Dr Hossain said they have generated local service providers by giving bed 
planters for bed planting operations with the project interventions.

They are also enhancing the skills, marketing expertise and behavioral 
changes of the local service providers.

"Some of them have gained expertise even from outside the country. As a 
result, the service initiatives have positively inspired the local 
entrepreneurs," the official said.

This year, they have given technological support to 200 small farmers, 
including 60 females as demand for the service providers are gradually 
increasing in the region, he added.