Annual Meeting Global Conservation Agriculture Program March 28, 2011

1. Annual Meeting Global Conservation Agriculture ProgramMarch 28, 2011 CIMMYT-Bangladesh

2. Collaborative Projects • Addressing constraints to pulses in cereals based cropping systems in North West BD (March, 2011) • Expanding the area for Rabi-season cropping in southern BD (April, 2011) • Abiotic stress tolerant in maize (June, 2011) • Accelerating seed multiplication to combat the threat of stem rust in wheat(2011) • Sustainable intensification of R-M production systems (2013) • CSISA - a mega project– Objectives 1, 2 (2.1, 2.2), • New CSISA Expansion – (September, 2015).

3. Addressing constraints to pulses in cereals based cropping systems in North West BD • Successfully demonstrated the cultivation of lentil and chickpea in high barind track • Awareness creation about multi-crop planters (VMP) • Low cost strip and zero till planters improved and tested for a range of crops and soils • Mini-mill prototype designed and demonstrated • Operators training on the use of multi-crop planters and mini-mill prototype conducted successfully

5. Expanding the area for Rabi-season cropping in southern BD • About 200,000 ha of land in SB lie fallow in winter • Government support for wheat was not encouraging • Salinity and terminal heat – major constraints • Varieties identified – relatively tolerant to salinity and higher temperature during grain filling stage (e.g. BARI Gom 25) through PVS • Wheat in southern BD with acceptable yield (2.5 t/yield even planted under late condition i.e. up to 15 December) • Learning from this project are integrated into the CSISA expansion in BD

7. Abiotic stress tolerant maize for increasing income and food • Evaluation of Maize Cultivars under different tillage systems • two factors (Tillage method= A; Variety = B) • Strip Tillage • Bed planting • Establishment study of hybrids under different moisture regimes – using planter • Publications

8. Accelerating seed multiplication to combat the threat of stem rust in wheatObjectives To ensure fast replacement of existing commercial varieties that are vulnerable to new races of stem rust (Ug99) through accelerated seed multiplication and dissemination of new rust resistant varieties working with NARS, national seed programs and farmers

9. USAID Seed Project

10. Progress • Bangladesh - BARI Gom 26 (BAW 1120 i.e. Francolin, V01078) • Nepal – Vijaya (Francolin) • Afghanistan – Chonte, Misr 1 (Misr 2, and 3) - massive scale • Egypt – Misr 1, Misr 2. • Pakistan – (V04178 – Released?) • Ethiopia – Danda a (Picaflor#1) -Middle elevation, Kakaba (Danphe#1) -higher elevation • Government is very supportive to multiply these varieties in a massive scale.

11. Activities - Decentralized • PVS and Adaptive trials – Both varietal and CA based CM • Seed production – marketing and distribution Map of Bangladesh showing the districts/locations of USAID FF activities

12. Expected seed production of Ug99 resistant lines by 2010/11 Source: Arun K Joshi, 2011

13. A. CA based demonstrations using Ug99 resistant lines/varieties • Possible combinations for CA demonstrations (few examples): • Raised bed vs flat sowing (30% residue) • Strip till vs flat sowing (30% residue) • Machine Operators’ training • CA based adaptive diamond trials - Wheat -rice - maize/mungbean pattern.

14. B. Variety cum CM trials Treatments • Factor A = Variety (V) • Improved (Ug99 Resistant) (V1) • Adapted Local (V2) • Factor B = Crop Management (M) • CA Based Technology (M1) • Farmers management (M2)

15. Summary Increased awareness among R &D leaders Stem Rust (race Ug99) is a devastating disease Significant progress have made to mitigate the threat Release better varieties - urgently needed There are still some challenges. Sustainability of large scale seed multiplication and seed marketing Buy back of pre-release seed by private companies Affected multiplication of pipeline varieties Varieties resistant to Ug99 are not always outperforming established varieties

16. Sustainable intensification of R-M production systemsObjectives • Assess and prioritize constraints to, and opportunities for, uptake of improved management options in R-M systems • Evaluate and identify elite maize germplasm tolerant of excess moisture • Develop locally adapted management solutions for high-yielding, profitable, resource-efficient, and sustainable R-M systems (CA & nutrient management) • Build capacity and disseminate key technologies for R-M systems

17. Progress • Capacity building of researchers and field/scientific assistants on all aspects of the experiments • Increased awareness about CA among researchers and field/scientific assistants, farmers, govt. and non-govt. officials, and media persons • Introduced seeding machinery and CA practices in farmers’ fields in completely new areas (e.g. Comilla, Rangpur, Paba-Rajshahi) • Improved understanding of crop responses to N, P, and K through NM evaluation and omission plot trials across project sites • Variability among maize hybrids on water logging tolerance

18. Future focus • Analysis, synthesis and interpretations of those data and write-up, including economic analysis • Continue emphasis on CA based Crop Management and NM evaluation trials for maize • Refine the NM software for Rice and Maize • Focus on dissemination activities (improved seeds, large-scale delivery of maize and DSR with PTOS and zero/strip tillage, etc.) -> inclined plate device • Focus on communication activities (brochures, etc.)

19. New CSISA Expansion in B/Desh • CIMMYT, IRRI, WorldFish • 5-year investment from USAID – Bangladesh (FtF- $24.4 m) • Enterprise-based diversified strategy • Emphasis on technology delivery, capacity building, and adaptive research (no upstream research, breeding, or policy) • Formation of four new hubs in the South BD • Strengthening of existing hubs in Central and Northwest (3X more resources at hubs)

20. CSISA Hubs in Bangladesh • Existing hubs : • Dinajpur (Rajshahi satellite) • Central BD • (Gazipur → Mymensingh) • New hubs for 2011 : • Jessore • Khulna • Barisal • New hubs for 2012 : • Noakhali

21. What has worked • Strip till – maize, wheat and legumes • Bed planting – wheat, maize • Training • Machine operators training • Whole family training

22. What hasn’t worked well • Service provider concept • Encouraging local manufacturers • Residue management

23. Thanks!