IRRI Rice Seminar Series May 26, 2011

Noel Magor
Current position: Program 6 Leader (Growth of the Rice Sector) and Head Training Center Education and training: PhD 1996 Adelaide University Department Politics M Agr 1983 Sydney University Graduate Diploma Teaching 1976 Adelaide CAE B Ag Sc 1974 Adelaide University 1974: Ethiopia Agriculture Development Volunteer 1976: Australia Agriculture Teacher (Secondary) 1977-1984: Bangladesh NGO HEED Agriculture Extension and Agriculture Sector Head 1985-1991: Bangladesh IRRI Farming Systems Agronomist with BRRI 1996-1999: Postdoctoral fellow Politics Department Adelaide 1999-2006: Bangladesh IRRI PETRRA Project Manager, FoSHoL Project Manager and IRRI Representative 2006: Philippines IRRI Head of Training A journey across disciplines a story in development
PETRRA Poverty Elimination through Rice Research Assistance; FoSHoL Food Security for Sustainable Household Livelihoods

Work experience:

Research highlights:

A journey across disciplines for greater impact at the farm household level

Presented Noel Magor at IRRI Thursday seminar, May 26th, 2011

Kamalganj Upazila
North East Bangladesh

NGO HEED Bangladesh with Health, Education and Economic Development Programs Agriculture program agronomy, livestock, fisheries and engineering and micro-credit with groups By 1983 work across 55 villages Responsibility Agriculture Extension Coordinator and then overall agriculture program 1977-1984

KAMALGANJ upazila
Soil Association Map

Rainfed lowland favourable; 6 months rainfall greater than 200 mm Subject to flash floods, dissected by Doloi river and streams from bordering hills. - Rice plain approx 20,000 ha two rice crop system of early monsoon aus rice followed by aman rice. - 30 percent single aman rice only due to flash flood pattern.

Percent area transplanted 100 80 Aus x 40 x 20 x x x

x x x Aman x x x

x x
End of monsoon rain

60

Onset of Cool nights (flowering must be completed)

20 30 10 20 30 10 20 30 10 20 30 10 20 30 10 20 30 10 20 30 10 20 30 10 20 30 10 20 30 Jun May Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Mar Apr

x x x

Transplanting Date Mean cumulative area transplanted (%) for rainfed aus and aman over time for 8 transects in Kamalganj Thana NE Bangladesh, 1981 season.

Observation: Total production across two seasons varied from 2225 t/ha to 6595 t/ha

Aus transplanted field duration critical and expected transplanting date BR3, IR8 110 days Chandina, Purbachi 90 days Arai 60 days Chengri 75 days

Aman date of transplanting in relation to onset of cool nights and landtype Early season (July 1-Jul 30) BR3, BR4 Mid season (July 20 August 20) Pajam Late (August 15 Sept 15) Latisail, Nizersail, Biroin, Balam, Choitedhora, Khaisail

Challenge understanding farmers choice of varieties in each season what newly released varieties to recommend?
Determinants: Landtype (water flood pattern in each field unique depending on position in landscape) and Timing

Research for understanding for BR11 and BR10 (newly released) for Kamalganj
Toposequence observations across landscape; daily water status and crop cut and management and cumulative transplanting:
Fi - standing water where i is depth No - pockets of standing water but not completely flooded N1 - no standing water but soil not dry and cracked N2 surface cracking (Wickam IRRI)

Date of aman transplanting across toposequence along transect (inserted BR10 and BR11 so that range of transplanting dates and water stress) and managed experiment Rainfall analysis, topographic index and water stress estimates
Topographic index (TI) is defined as number of days after last rain to the first day including that day that there is no standing water in the paddy. Usually in late September or very early October; For range of transplanting dates for Aman estimated water stress for BR4, BR10, and BR11, Pajam and Nizersail and estimated expected yield

Recommendations for landtype on which water stands for 10-12 days after heavy rain in September or early October
Cropping pattern model at 0.75 probability predicted aman water stress the pattern Chandina followed by BR10 or BR11 should yield over 7000 kg/ha, if transplanted before 20 May; The critical cut off date for transplanting BR10 or BR11 in aman was August 31 after which local varieties should be transplanted

Based on this (findings presented and published by BRRI) BEST BET; Multi location testing and pilot production program with micro-credit (based on Grameen Bank practice) and targeted to small farmers. (Age 25-32 as extension agronomist)

Need for practically grounded agronomists Confident to work with farmers with a clear understanding of the rice based cropping systems; Develop skills early in career

Farming Systems Research

Recognition that farmers operate multi enterprise systems Sub-systems crop, livestock, fisheries, homestead and social studies: Extensive descriptive studies; Cost and returns Cropping pattern experiments Component studies

Frustration failure to deliver and yet such potential for small farmers

Options for small and marginal farm families intervening with understanding (FARMACTION) FARMACTION focused on: - the flow of cash/ kind with time - labour availability with time - the production of each enterprise

An enterprise is defined as a unit of economic activity (farm and non farm activities and consumption credit) Examples: - draft cattle - homestead poultry - a plot of local rice - winter rice with irrigation - daily labour for another farmer - women husking paddy for income

Keep in mind Basic building block the s enterprise a will co me b ac k to

example

So far - Confidence to recommend improved rice- based cropping patterns across ecosystems - Confidence to design best-bets for multi enterprise options for small farmers (FARMACTION) - Confidence of tremendous opportunity for improving livelihoods of

small and marginal farmers (an intuitiveness of 12 years of village R&D)

BUT: A GAP - The small farmer dilemma

NGOs moving away from small farmers emphasis functionally landless Public research system larger farmers Political science dialogue of all is woe for small farmers in Bangladesh International centers not an issue There was a perception and institutional gap

Target Groups in Kamalganj Upazila (snap shot)

Percent 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 0-2
Population

3-5

6-8
Cooperatives (KSS)

9-11

12 months

Contact Farmers

Percent of families, by Rice Provision Ability for population sample, BRDB KSS Cooperatives, and DAE Contact farmers, Kamalganj Upazila, 1991

Rice Provision Ability number of months family can feed themselves from their own production

The political rhetoric by social science

Jannuzi and Peach on agrarian structure: the agrarian structure of Bangladesh is an obstacle to economic progress, . . . and that change in the agrarian structure is essential to rural economic development; The in-depth anthropological research by Jansen noted with despair that: the present system of agricultural production in rural Bangladesh is not a 'viable system; The comparative study by Boyce comparing the two Bengals reached the conclusion that: an alternative pathway was: a redistribution of property rights in land so as to remove the barriers posed by the vested interests of the rural lite; Who was going to take the small farmer dilemma up? Magor and Orr

Eight sites representing five major ecosystems and both remote and accessible locations, for the vulnerability study, Bangladesh, 1989-91. 3-5 villages in each site; Complete village census Sample 180-200 households per site Apart from Sariatpur (deepwater remote site) each site had existing technology development research KEY Landholding at inheritance and now and reasons for each land transactions For each site developed understanding of all enterprises (with timing) and potential interventions

Major ecosystems for vulnerability study

Characterisation of major household groupings identified by cluster analysis for eight sites across five ecosystem in Bangladesh, 1991.
Description Weighted percent RPA months Landholding (owned) inherited (ha) 0.19 0.56 0.29 0.59 0.72 1.56 now (ha) 0.17 0.25 0.36 0.75 0.95 2.34 percent change - 10.5 - 55.4 + 24.1 + 27.1 + 31.9 + 50.0

landless dependent on labour income with low debt levels most vulnerable marginal farm families with high level of impoverishing loans stable marginal farm families with significant labour income and low debt levels active small farm families small farm families with balance of agriculture and service income medium landholders with dominance of agriculture income

30.3 10.5 9.0 29.6 5.7 5.7

1.7 4.3 3.3 7.7 9.6 10.9

Percent of Net Returns 160% 140% 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0%
n u nj ur ur ur ua ao nd at tp ga ep ap rg e M ia al ku rz m ar Sr ku ar ita Mi a S S Ka Ch Th da Bo

existing potential

Net returns for existing and potential farm systems of marginal farm families with an RPA of 3-5 months as a percent of net returns of families with an RPA of 6-8 months for five major ecosystems and eight sites, Bangladesh, 1990-91.

Institutional Enabling Entrepreneurialism Continual Innovation

diminished vulnerability

Capital Formation

Credit Discipline

Enhanced Resilience
Marginal Farm Families

Targeting

Plurality

Empowerment

Themes in tailoring institutions/ organisations for the enhanced resilience of the marginal farm families.

Production

Technology potential

Actual production

Time
Each technological innovation develops a production-income gap that is potentially available for marginal and small farm families depending on the presence of a targeted institution.

10

Capability rating targeted institutional delivery, capital formation and marketing; eg BRAC, Grameen Bank

no targeted institution; inactive IRDP, banking difficulty and market bias.

landless

vulnerable farm family with RPA 3-5 months

surplus farmer

A shift in capability of the landless to take advantage of innovative technology due to the presence of a targeted institutional intervention. However, the marginal farm families lack such institutional targeting.

agricultural growth non-farm opportunity safety net & disaster management credit and savings

reduced vulnerability

1v most vulnerable marginal farm families 3v increased vulnerability stable marginal farm families with significant labour income

5v active small farm families 4m small farmers with balance of agriculture and service income

agricultural stagnation limited non-farm opportunity no safety net & poor disaster management poor credit and savings population growth

t1

t2

Alternative scenarios for the composition of small and marginal farm families

A further discovery for building effective technology delivery for targeted rural development
In a post-doc delved further into an idea that had started to articulate in PhD - the enterprise web Question why were some technologies effectively taken up by marginal farmers (yet rating of technology would say not suitable and others appearing suitable not taken up) - Organisations and institutions and business literature

(a) The Enterprise Web illustrating high transaction costs as a barrier for marginal families operating independently for poultry rearing
Day old chicks from government farms Vaccine from government Feed suppliers Collection and marketing of eggs

Rearing from day-old chicks to layers by individual village families (access to services dependent on individual family approaching respective supplier) Barrier for marginal village families due to high transaction costs

Provision of credit

(b) The BRAC poultry model effectively lowers transaction costs by adjusting the efficiency boundary
Day old chicks from BRAC poultry farms Day old chicks from government poultry farms Vaccine from government

Rearers of day-old chicks Group formation and associated group training

Vaccinators

Feed sellers

Key rearers

Egg collectors

Identification of vulnerable women

Training cadre of poultry workers

Provision of credit

Efficiency boundary for BRAC poultry activities; reduced transaction costs; VERY POOR WOMEN

The impact of transaction costs of contracting for state services may weaken core competencies of the participating NGO; whereas the organisational structure of joint venture business enterprises may strengthen core competencies. NGO Core Competencies
Training Advocacy Micro-enterprise Development Credit and savings Human and social capital development
negotiation

Partnerships

Joint venture business enterprises: With private sector

complex bidding

Contracting services: With public sector

A repeat model for expanding the income base for marginal families beyond the homestead through joint ventures with private business that are both partnered and facilitated by NGOs
Micro-enterprise (eg. poultry rearing)

Distribution and types of income Marginal families 1. micro-enterprise income for families directly participating in poultry activity 2. Dividend income from joint venture shares 3. Venture capital savings for increasing equity ownership of existing joint venture or new venture Engine for rural wealth creation Non-government Organisation

Client composite price Non-government Organisation in partnership with client: marginal farm families or landless women or landless men

Joint venture business enterprise (eg. commercial poultry farm supplies day-old chicks)

Business partner

Open market price

Open market selling Note: Client composite price = Volume + NGO + Client (equivalent to market discount fee savings price or even higher price for future venture capital

1. NGO fee for service provided for for marginal families 2. Dividend income from joint venture Joint Venture Partner 1. Dividend income from normal marketing profits 2. Dividend income from expanded market opportunity from volume discount sales to NGO groups

P OVERTY E LIMINATION T HROUGH R ICE R ESEARCH A SSISTANCE

Funded by DFID(UK)
Managed by in partnership with BRRI through Project Steering Committee (PSC) and Technical Committee (TEC)

Picture: RDRS, Rangpur

PETRRA - Challenge and outcome

How to work with many organisations with different cultures and move forward with a common purpose?

Nurtured a guiding set of values

Poverty focus Demand-led Gender inclusive Participation Scientist Partnerships Linkages and networks Communication and others

Farmer Men and Women

Farmer Service Provider

Project successful (DFID) and it had exceeded expectations; Looking for understanding of success PhD by Ahmed Salahuddin

Research and dissemination partners

Agricultural Advisory Society (AAS), APEX, Association for the Integrated Development-Comilla (AID-Comilla), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD), Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Bangladesh Development Society (BDS), Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Building Resources Across Communities (BRAC), Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), CABI Bioscience, CARE Bangladesh, Coastal Development Partnership (CDP), Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Debi Chowdhurani Palli Unnayan Kendra (DCPUK), Bangladesh Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Dhaka University (DU), Environment and Population Research Centre (EPRC), Friends in Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB), Grameen Krishi Foundation (GKF), HEED (Health, Education and Economic Development) Bangladesh, Integrated Action Research and Development (IARD) and Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK), International Development Enterprises - Bangladesh (IDE-B), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Mukti Nari-O-Shishu Unnayan Sangstha, Natural Resourses Institute (NRI), UK, Proshika, RDRS Bangladesh, Rural Development Academy (RDA) Bogra, SAFE Development Group, Shushilan, Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS), UTTARAN, WAVE Foundation

Technology Development
T. W. Mew, M. A. Taher Mia, Paul Van Mele, Mark Holderness, A. K. M. Zakaria, A. H. M. Mahfuzul Haque, M. Rezaunnabi, Mofizur Rahman, Golam Ali Fakir, A. S. M. Nazrul Islam, Eusuf Harun, M. Saidur Rahman and Mahabub Hossain, M. Akhter Hossain Khan, M. Harunur Rashid, M. Murshedul Alam, Roland J. Buresh, J. K. Ladha, Glenn B. Gregorio, M. A. Salam, Nilufer Hye Karim, Zeba I. Seraj, A. W. Julfiquar, M. Wazuddin, M. A. Khaleque Mian, Zahiruddin, Talukder, Mozammel H. Howlader, F. A. M. Nurul Islam, Azizul Haque, M. G. Neogi, M. Harun-Ar-Rashid, S. S. Virmani, M. A. Saleque, M. Harun-Ar-Rashid, M. Abdul Latif Shah, Mostafa Nuruzzaman, Gazi Jashim U. Ahmed, Shaik Tanveer, Malik Anwar Khan, James P. Biswas, Manoranjan K. Mondal, Abdul Mannan Chashi, Mobarak H.K. Chowdhury, M. Manirul Islam, M. A. Mazid Miah, M. Badrul Alam, M. K. Bashar, Ashraf-Ul-Alam Tutu, Sukanta Sen, M. A. Sattar, Syed Samsuzzaman, Ramzan Ali, Gary C. Jahn , Nazira Quraishi Kamal, Rokeya Begum Shafali, M. Nurul Islam Dulu, Abdul Mannan Chashi, M. Harun-Ar-Rashid, Manjur e Aziz, M. Abdus Salam, M. Hasanullah, Ravi Prasad Ghosh and Joe Rickman, Steven Belmain, Ken Aplin, Nazira Quraishi Kamal, Grant Singleton, Abul Kalam Azad, M. Nurul Alam, Ashis Kumar Saha, M. Abdul Quddus, M. Matiur Rahman, M. Sirajul Islam, M. Shafiqul Islam, A. F. M. Fazlur Rahman, M. A. Quayyum, A. T. M. Salehuddin Choudhury, M. A. B. Siddique Sarker, Anjuman Ara Akter, M. A. Latif , M. Harun-Ar-Rashid, A. M. Muazzam Husain, Gopal Chowhan, A. F. M. Razibuddin, Aminul Haque; M. Musherraf Husain, M. Jahirul Islam, M. K. Bashar and M. Khalequzzaman, M. Azizul Haque, M. Abdul Jabbar, M. Harun-Ar-Rashid, A. H. M. Mahfuzul Haque, M. G. Neogi, K. M. Fashiur Rahman, Mostafa Nuruzzaman, Tapash Ranjan Bose, Abul Kalam Azad, Newaz Ahmed Chowdhury, Momtaz Roomy, M. Syedul Islam, A. K. M. Saiful Islam, M. A. Musa, Paul Van Mele, A. K. M. Zakaria, Josephine Rodgers, Hosne-Ara Begum, M. Badrul Alam, Latifun Nessa Helen, Gopal Chowhan, M. Mahbubur Rahman, Syed Samsuzzaman, M. G. Neogi, Bilqis Amin Hoque, M. Harunur Rashid, M. Akhter Hossain Khan, M. Murshedul Alam, Roland J. Buresh, J. K. Ladha, M. Harun-Ar-Rashid; Andrew Goodland, W. M. H. Jaim and M. A. Jabber, Nandini Dasgupta, M.A. Latif Shah, M. Jahiruddin and M. S. Rahman, Mahabub Hossain, Uttam Kumar Deb, Alamgir Chowdhury, Binayak Sen, Rita Afsar and B. A. A. Mustafi, Alastair W. Orr, Barbara Adolph, M. Rafiqul Islam, Bijoy Kumar Barua, Habibur Rahman

Uptake methods

Policy

A.K.M Zakaria, Rural Development Academy, Bogra, Government Md Musherraf, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Government K Bashar BRRI government Neogi, RDRS, NGO

Partners used to feel the PETRRA office as their home In everything (such as workshop, meeting, etc) that was done there was something to learn; What PETRRA did was they helped to expand my ideas and implement and materialise my own thoughts; PETRRA successfully established the norm of success and failure of an R&D project it would be measured not on the basis of a quality publication in scientific journals but number of poor families directly benefited We had to know the problem faced in one season to avoid the problem in the next

Genuine mutual respect Partnership in learning

Trust in the ideas of others A dynamic goal oriented process

Shaik Tanveer, BRRI, government

Critical reflection

Facilitating local champions to learn and innovate

Building the skill to enable others to innovate

Learning by doing Someone needed to do it

Rice science and Development

Vision: systematic moving forward 5 years

Agronomy extension leadership one year program (100 globally) Technically sound In field placement extension practice, facilitation skills, targeting, participation, action learning Structuring multi agency extension Use latest extension communication tools (mobile phone, RKB, video and so on) Capacity to deliver practical rice production training through GRiSP partners (practical technical capacity) (5000 trained by IRRI and through partners) 25-50 civil society organisations with rice sector development as integral part of their rural development programs (Shushilan, RDRS, CRS, IDE, Digital Green ) 4-5 strategic alliances with the private sector in rice production technology delivery Advocacy for agriculture development and its role in poverty reduction (wide influence)

Building capacity to deliver hands on technical competency

Organisation synergy (partnership) and the contract

PRAXIS Action and Reflection