RT Vol. 4, No. 2 Drumming up success

7/31/2019 RT Vol. 4, No. 2 Drumming up success

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Rice TodaySeptember 2005 Rice TodaySeptember 2005

Almost 90% of the 11 millionhectares of rice that areplanted each season inBangladesh is transplanted

seedlings are grown in nurseriesthen moved to the field. It is aheavily labor-intensive process,requiring nearly half-a-billionperson-days across the country. In

the past, rural laborers abounded,but increasing labor out-migrationto city areas and a shift towardsalternative rural employment hasseen a severe shortage of hands

available for transplanting rice.This scarcity of farm workers

is hurting Bangladeshi rice farmerson several fronts. The most obvious

impact is an increase in labor costs.Also, the optimal planti ng periodsfor the boro (dry) and aman (wet)

seasons are relatively short.A lack of workers

means not allfarmers can

plant theirrice on time.

Delayedplantingleads to late-maturing rice,

increasing

the risk of croplosses at the tail

end of both seasons due to hailstorms or

flooding from rain during

the boro season and due to drought

during the aman season. Thesefactors, combined with increasing

costs of other inputs and a falling orstagnant market price for rice, arediminishing the economic viabilityof rice production in Bangladesh.

But a simple, inexpensive piece of

equipment has the potential to changethe face of rice farming across thecountry. The drum seeder (see photo,opposite) is a lightweight devicemade from high-density plastic with

a cost of around US$40 and a life of

6-8 years. Originally designeInternational Rice Research

(IRRI), improvements by resand manufacturers in Vietnasubstantially reduced the weand usability of the device. Itof six to eight cylindrical dru

along a central axis. Each drustudded with holes through wpre-germinated seeds drop nrows on puddled soils as the seeder is pulled along. The d

supported by a large plastic weach end, allowing the wholeto be easily pulled along by auser at walking pace. Drum

has already had success in Vas a seed-saving strategy, bucapacity to save labor is profo

while it may take up to 50 pedays to transplant 1 hectare o

direct wet seeding with a druseeder takes barely 2 person

Bangladeshs first drum-trial, conducted during the 2

aman season a collaborati

between IRRI a nd the BanglRice Research Institute (BRRfunded by the International F

Agricultural De velopment (I

was a comprehensive succthe trial, led by M. Zainul AbFarming Systems Specialist

succes

sDrummingup


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Rice TodaySeptember 2005 Rice TodaySeptember 2005

FARMER Jamal Sheikh (opposite)discusses his drum-seeding expewith Channel idirector Shykh Sethe Pabna field day. Looking on aMinister Mirza Fakhrul Islam A

(in white), BRRI Director of ResNiloofar Karim (right of ministerDr. Abedin (left of Seraj).

RRIs Social Sciences Division,d implemented by BRRI Chiefientific Officer Musherraf Husaind participating farmers, drum

eding resulted in an average% higher yields and 6% reducedsts compared with transplanting,d drum-seeded crops maturedaverage 10 days earlier. Whats

ore, drum-seeded rice gave anerage gross return 21% higheran for transplanted rice. Thisanslates to more than double theerage profit a boost of around

20-150 per hectare per crop.All those involved saw the

chnology as cheaper, requiringss labor, producing higher yields

d resulting in better plant growth.he only areas of concern weree potential cost of acquiring a

um seeder, uncertainty overailability, and weed management.

ore recently, though, a follow-p IFAD-funded project, aiming

accelerate the adoption of thechnology, has given IRRI and

RRI, with the assistance of

the Bangladesh Department ofAgricultural E xtension (DAE),the chance to solve some inherentproblems and lead the spread of

drum seeding in Bangladesh.Dr. Abedin developed guidelines

for technology adoption using acommunity participatory approachto research and extension. One key

to the approach is a pre-adoptionanalysis that takes into considerationinstitutional, technical, policy,social and economic factors thatmay help or hinder adoption. This

means understanding an entirefarming community, not justindividual farmers. Many farmersgrow other crops in addition to

rice, so the approach must considerhow drum seeding will affect their

whole farming system. The product

of a Bangladeshi farm familyhimself, Dr. Abedin emphasizes

the value of allowing farmingcommunities to make their owndecisions, and to recognize theyhave the ability to experiment, take

calculated risks and innovate.

Fifty-six groups across thecountry decided to try drum seedingduring the 2004 boro season, in thehope the technology would spread

out from these points. Establishinga drum-seeded crop requires earlierirrigation than does transplanting,so owners of tube wells eachof which usually irrigates several

rice farms were the first peoplecontacted in each location.

Its useless, says Dr. Abedin, toget the farmers involved if they cantirrigate their crop at the right time,

so it was crucial that we includedthe well owners. Understanding,and working within, the existingcommunity structures is essential.

Extraordinary paceNow, after just three growing seasons,

the popularity of drum seeding isspreading at an extraordinary pace.

Some 4,000 Bangladeshi farmers inmore than 300 groups are alreadyusing the technology, with hundredsmore seeking access to drum seeders.

Dr. Abedin attributes thesuccessful adoption of drumseeding in large part to theprojects community participatoryapproach and, critically, the early

establishment of research linkageswith development and policymakers, entrepreneurs and themedia. Ultimately, though, it comes

down to the farmers themselves.It was the farmers who

experimented with the technologyand were confident of success, evenin the face of skepticism, he says.

The researchers were continuouslylearning from farmers and integratingthese lessons into the work plan.Farmers also trained other farmers.

Working with groups of farmers

helps establish ongoing, community-level monitoring and evaluation, andensures that drum-seeding successstories spread rapidly to neighbors.

The project abounds with storiesabout farmers like Abdul Aziz, fromGazipur district northeast of the

capital, Dhaka. Aziz soldiered on evenwhile neighboring farmers scoffed,

believing he wouldnt harvest anyrice from his drum-seeded crop. At55 bigha, or just under 8 hectares (7

bighas equal 1 hectare), Azi zs farmis large by Bangladeshi standards.He started growing drum-seededrice during the 2004-05 boro season.

Previously, his entire crop wastransplanted, requiring 25 laborersper 5 bigha. For the same area, drumseeding required just a single laborer.

Aziz expla ins that on top of

the labor savings, he increased hisyield by 0.5-0.8 tons per hectare,and he harvested 10 days earlierthan previously with transplantedrice. He has more money in his

pocket and he intends to invest itoutside of rice farming, to increasehis earning capacity and diversifyhis income. Many of Azizs fellow

Gazipur farmers are now eager to

try drum seeding for themseand he is only too happy to sknowledge and experience his drum seeder with them

Its a common theme: skneighbors become true believMohammad Ghiasuddin, wha very small farm in Mymensdistrict north of Dhaka, has

harvested three drum-seedeAfter just one season, both hneighbors, who had originallhim mad, were convinced of

virtues of drum seeding, and

has shared the technology wIn this way, from farmer

farmer, the technology is spr


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26 Rice TodaySeptember 2005

Field days, often attended byhundreds of farmers, give drum-seeding converts the chance toinspire others to try the technology.At a field day in April 2005, threefarmers shared their experiences ofdrum seeding with a crowd of nearly400 farmers and extension workersfrom around Pabna, 240 km west ofDhaka. One of the speakers, JamalSheikh, described the experiment heand some fellow farmers performedto try and reduce both the needfor irrigation and the cost of landpreparation by adopting a zero-tillagetechnique that made use of residualmoisture in his field from recedingfloodwaters and which, in concertwith drum seeding, gained themyields at least 20% higher than for

transplanted rice. It is this spiritof innovation and determination

that has stirred pride in thosealready drum seeding and

inspired their counterparts.

Involving Bangladeshi policymakers in the adoption processprovided a major boost. From anearly stage, Dr. Abedin realizedgovernment support would becritical (see Grain of truth on page38). The team fostered relationswith the Bangladesh Ministry ofAgriculture and subsequently securedgovernment funding of 10 millionBangladeshi taka (US$156,000),which was mainly used to buyan extra 2,500 drum seeders.The government also pledged tosubsidize the cost of drum seeders forfarmers. The media have also beeninstrumental in increasing awarenessof drum seeding. Many people notonly rice farmers approachedBRRI and DAE for information ontrying drum seeding after seeingstories about the technology ontelevision or in the newspapers.

But there is still work to bedone. Research is still identifying

the varieties and areasmost suited to drumseeding, particularlytaking into accountland, soil and existing

cropping systems. Weedmanagement is also an issue,

as is the availability of the drumseeders, and the possible need

for adaptations. And althoughscarcity of labor is the primary

basis for using drum

seeding, in some areas the technologyhas the potential to displace jobs.

Researchers need to be awareof their social responsibility to seethat there is no serious effect on ruralemployment, cautions Dr. Abedin.However, the economic boost causedby drum seeding should create jobselsewhere to absorb displaced labor.

IRRI, BRRI and the DAEare currently in discussions withBangladeshi entrepreneurs interestedin manufacturing drum seederslocally, and two companies havealready manufactured prototypes.This sort of enterprise can helpthe availability of drum seedersmeet the rising demand.

Major shift

Drum seeding represents a majorshift from transplanting, and thereis a need to manage the changeand create an environment thatallows change nationally. Training

farmers and both government andnongovernment extension workersis of paramount importance. AnIRRI-led meeting in June 2005,attended by senior governmentofficials and high-level research,extension, nongovernmental,media and business personnel,established a 5-year plan fortransferring drum-seedingtechnology. Following this, thegovernment has given the go ahead

TOWEL BUSINESSMAN Haji Shahabuddin (above) approached BRRI, eager to try drum seeding on his land, after seeing the technology showcased on the localtelevision programSoil and man. Farmer Mohammad Ghiasuddin (above right) stands in front of his drum-seeded crop. Filling drum seeders is easy for Filipino farmerHernando Bambo (below) simply open the hatch in each drum and pour in the pregerminated seeds.


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27Rice TodaySeptember 2005

to the project team for an additionalinvestment of around 100 milliontaka ($1.56 million) to continuethe work to spread drum-seedingtechnology across Bangladesh.

Originally, the only plannedbenefit of drum seeding was thecost saving from reduced laborrequirements. It was expected,however, that this would be offsetslightly by an increased need forweed management. As it turnsout, farmers have also experiencedimproved plant growth, increasedyields and earlier plant maturity,and they have used fewer seeds.

The latest results of drumseeding across the country showyield increases of up to 20% inboth boro and aman seasons,

and up to double the net profit,translating to additional income,over transplanted rice, of 7,000-10,000 taka ($110-160) per hectareper season, a significant boost formost Bangladeshi rice farmers. Drumseeding also frees family labor, whichhas wide-ranging social benefits.

Even with modest projections,Dr. Abedin believes drum seedingcan have a profound impact. Ifdrum seeding works on only 4

million hectares, he explains,a 15% yield increase equates to3 million tons of extra rice withvery little extra investment. Ibelieve drum seeding has thepotential to change the landscapeof rice farming in Bangladesh.

Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service,a participating nongovernmentalorganization, sees early harvest andincreased yield as more than just away to reduce monga (starvation)during the pre-harvest period inOctober and November. First, earlyharvesting generates employmentfor landless laborers, providing themincome to buy food. Second, the earlyharvest and increased productionmake food available to vulnerablefarmers during the monga period.

The farmers themselves areoverjoyed by the results and areeagerly sharing the technology withother farmers. Dr. Abedin has alsowitnessed benefits of the technologythat run deeper than this the spiritof innovation and entrepreneurshipamong farmers and the strengtheningof communities through workingtogether are just as significant.

Drum seeding is helping toadvance rice farming in Bangladesh.

In his own words, Ayub Husain is a father of

farmers. Husain was part of the first group

of farmers to receive drum-seeding training

from BRRI. He then trained others, beginning

with five farmers in two locations during the

2003-04 boro (dry) season. In the following

aman (monsoon) season, just two farmers used

the drum seeder. The next boro season, though,more than 60 farmers sowed 15 hectares by drum

seeding, including almost a hectare of Husains

own land. Wanting to spread the word, he joined

forces with IRRI and BRRI to hold a farmer field

day, which was attended by the State Minister

for Agriculture.

Inspired by the results in his own area,

Husain set out 500 km across Bangladesh, where

he led trials in the hometown of the Finance

Minister to raise government awareness of the

technology. The trials were not as successful as

hoped because of unsuitable conditions, but

neither he nor the farmers were discouraged;

these same farmers are now testing the seeder

in the aus (pre-monsoon) season.What motivates a farmer to go to such

lengths? Husain claims his mission is simply

to help his fellow Bangladeshi farmers, as most

grow enough rice merely to feed themselves and

their families, and many struggle to produce

even that. By instilling farmers with a spirit of

innovation, he believes Bangladeshi society as

a whole can move forward. Husain has seen that

partnerships between farmers, scientists and

researchers can increase productivity, and he

wants scientists to help farmers realize that they

can take a technological approach to solving

problems and improving their farming.

While Husain travels around the country

spreading the news about drum seeding andother technologies, his family looks after the

farm. It is more important, he feels, to dedicate

his time to benefit the entire country. This self-

professed father of farmers doesnt expect any

payment for his work: parents dont expect to be

paid for being parents, he says, For Husain, it is

a reward in itself to watch his children the

farmers he has mentored growing up.

The father of farmers

Its success so far confirms thatsimple and relatively inexpensive

technologies can be effective. Itgoes much further, too. The drum-seeding experience is proving thatworking with communities in thetesting, adaptation and adoption ofappropriate technologies, and linkingpolicy makers, entrepreneurs andother stakeholders early on in otherwords, engaging from the beginningthose who stand to benefit and thosewho have the power to help canhave a profound and lasting impact.

RICE FARMER Abdul Ahad stands beside ashallow tube well, which irrigates crops onseveral farms during the boro (dry) season.Because they control irrigation, tube wellowners are crucial to the success of drumseeding, which requires earlier irrigationthan does transplanting.

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RT Vol. 4, No. 2 Drumming up success