Photo: BSS

RAJSHAHI, Sept 29, 2025 (BSS) - Expanded adoption of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation method during Boro rice farming can save minimum 30 percent irrigation water along with increasing the rice output.

Adoption of AWD technology with proper agronomic management reduces the number of irrigation saving 30 percent water and 30 litres diesel and electricity for irrigation to produce 500 kg more Boro paddy per hectare of land.

The views were disseminated by agricultural scientists and experts in a result sharing workshop titled “Sustainable Rice Production: Pilot test water-sensor-IOT irrigation and low carbon rice using AWD” held at Grand River View Hotel in Rajshahi city today.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) and DASCOH Foundation jointly organized the workshop technically supported by International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BARI), Nippon Koei and Pabna University of Science and technology (PUST).

Executive Director of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) Tarikul Alam addressed the workshop as chief guest, while Deputy Director of Department of Agricultural Extension Dr Farida Parveen and Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan from the Department of Geology and Mining at Rajshahi University spoke as special guests.

Dr Takashi Yamano, Principal Economist of Bangladesh Resident Mission, ADB, presided over the meeting.

BMDA Additional Chief Engineer Dr Abul Kashem, Country Director of Sustainable Agriculture Foundation Bangladesh Farhad Jamil and Prof Niamul Bari from the Department of Civil Engineering at Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology also spoke, disseminating their expertise on the issue.

Chief Executive Officer of DASCOH Foundation Akramul Haque moderated the event.

In the technical session of the workshop, IRRI Bangladesh Consultant Dr Monoranjan Mondal illustrated the result of pilot test IOT-based smart irrigation systems and household survey on low-carbon rice farming using AWD, while BRRI Senior Scientific Officer Dr Mozammel Haque focused on the methane emission reduction by AWD system in rice farming in Bangladesh.

Associate Professor Dr Rahedul Islam from PUST talked about the result on multi-sensors based measurement of irrigation water use and GHG emission from AWD and non-AWD practices rice paddy field, while Shuta Sato from Nippon Koei highlighted the JCM mechanism and Nippon Koei’s expertise and experience in AWD implementation.

They told the meeting that the AWD method would result in a fivefold reduction in requirement for water and save 30 litres of diesel used for irrigation and produce an additional 500 kilograms of paddy per hectare.
 
AWD is a water-saving technology that farmers can apply to reduce their irrigation water consumption in rice fields without decreasing its yield.

In AWD, irrigation water is applied a few days after the disappearance of the pond water. Hence, the field gets alternately flooded and non-flooded.

In AWD, a paddy field is made wet and dried intermittently, meaning watering only when necessary.

The number of days of non-flooded soil between irrigations can vary from one to more than 10 days depending on the number of factors such as soil type, weather and crop growth stage.

The farmers are suggested to cultivate wheat instead of only Irri-Boro paddy in the drought-prone dry areas.

Tarikul Alam told the meeting that the BMDA will work to promote the AWD method in the Barind area to decrease its gradually mounting pressure on underground water with integration of ADB and DASCOH foundation.