Dry Seedbed: Newly evolved technology (Manikganj Model)

Md. Mizanur Rahman son of late Abdul Zalil is a small farmer of the village Maluchi under Kanchanpur Union in Horirampur Upazilla of Manikgonj district. He is an owner of about 200 decimals of land and received orientation training under Disaster and Climate Risk Management in Agriculture (DCRMA) Project on dry Boro seedbed preparation to protect seedlings from cold spell. Following the orientation training he decided to grow seedlings in dry seedbed preparation using poythin cover and other related technologies. Seeds are to be collected from reliable source and with the support of Upazila Agriculture office he successfully produced health, disease free greenish and vigorous seedlings as he followed the whole recommended package of technologies and became successful.

Mr. Rahman who is 45 years of old explains the benefit of dry seedbed; (a) Healthy and cold injury free seedling could be produced easily; (b) Only 10 kg seeds are needed for 100 decimal, that is about half of the traditional method and about 2530% more yield could be harvested; (c) No need of irrigation water/ rain water for seedling raise and one seedling/hill is enough for transplanting; (e) It reduces labour cost near about one-fourth when seedlings are uprooted; (f) Recovery stage is short as root zone of seedling is less damaged. As a result vegetative stage gets enough time for maximum tillering. This technology is cost effective, time saving and congenial for more yields. Mr. Rahman then transplanted seedlings from dry seedbed in a plot measuring 33 decimals. Finally he gained better yield (9 t/ha) from that land in comparison to farmers normal practice (6-7t/ha). The mean production cost of Main land was less than the farmers practice. The variety was BRRI Dhan 29 and the total cost for 10 decimals dry seedbed was 6,000 (six thousands). On the other hand, all the neighbors of Mr. Rahman have seen dry boro seedbed demonstration plot covered with polythin and hard about the benefits of seedling from dry seedbed. Neighbors were in competition to purchase 100 % effective, strong and stout seedlings of 20 to 25 days of old. Finally he sold rest of the seedlings. On 15/12/2012 two project personnel of DCRMA Project visited the Demonstration plot and discussed with the farmer. Both of them expressed their satisfaction as Mr. Rahman followed the technology successfully.

In addition, Mr. Rahman has informed other farmers about the benefits of dry seed bed and motivated them m to grow seedlings in dry condition. They hey have a good communication among the farmers. farmers Also there is a good marketing facility and seedlings from dry bed have a good market demand in Manikganj district. Regarding his future plan Mr. Rahman answered, I have a plan to organize the farmers of area to grow seedling following the dry seedbed method to have healthy, strong and stout rice seedlings. In this regard DCRMA project could support farmers both technically and financially. financially He has also plan an to empower the poor farmers and make them solvent from side to side more income generating activities.

Mr. Rahman has earned a gross income of taka 20, 000/-(Twenty 000/ (Twenty thousands) by selling seedlings from 10 decimal dry dry seedbed. Now he is very happy for minimum cost of production as he transplanted disease free and healthy seedlings, seedlings gained better yield as well as better income. income Actually the dry seedbed technology is a newly evolved Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) ( technology which protect rotects seedlings from cold injury in winter season and the technology t is spontaneously spontaneous adaptable in climate vulnerable areas.