M. Murshedul Alam International Rice Research Institute, Bangladesh Office e-ag workshop Dhaka, 03 Dec BAB Project, IRRI Rice Crop Manager (RCM)

What is Rice Crop Manager? A decision-making tool accessible on computers and smartphones Can be used by extension workers to interview a farmer and provide advice to a farmer Aims to provide management advice able to increase a farmer’s income by Taka 8000 per hectare per rice crop

Why we need Rice Crop Manager

Rice in Bangladesh is typically produced in small landholdings Farming practices vary among farmers and fields ‘Best bet’ management practices can vary among nearby fields Rice farmers often do not properly apply fertilizer Wrong times Wrong amounts Wrong sources

Factors affecting crop needs for nutrients vary among fields: Field-specific nutrient management practices are needed for rice farmers Farmers need an actionable management guideline matching their field and rice-growing conditions Yield of the crop Management of crop residue Nutrients in irrigation water Past crop Past fertilizer use Nutrients in soil

The challenge: The best practices for growing rice differ among fields and farmers Farmers vary in access to financial resources, inputs, and technologies Farmers need information to increase income for their specific rice-farming situation Fields vary in rice-growing conditions

RCM can provide a farmer with ‘field-specific rice production guidelines’ as recommended by BRRI

Our approach: Use Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to deploy information to farmers on optimal rice farming practices Effectively use results from research Increase income of farmer Use computers, Tabs, and smartphones

Operation of Rice Crop Manager Actionable advice Printed guidelines Image on Smartphone User interface: Obtain information from farmer Cloud based server Databases, spatial information and models Variety traits Variety- and management- adjusted yield targets Soil information Smartphone Personal computer

How to use Rice Crop Manager (RCM) Personal computer Tab or Smartphone Bangladesh: located on a cloud- based server SMS Printout

Used scientific principles from years of research Aimed to increase income of farmer by US$100 per hectare per crop Provided customized recommendation for a farmer’s field through mobile phone or computer IRRI with NARES partners developed Nutrient Manager for Rice to provide farmers with ‘precise’ fertilizer management

Collaboration with BRRI started from 2000 TNAU GBPUAT PDCSR PAU BRRI MAS SFRI HUAF CLRRI ASISOV ICRR ICFORD PhilRice WVSU NAU YU HZAU HAU GAAS ZU CCAP CAU AFC VAAS ICATAD ICALRD 2005: Collaboration led to site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) for ‘precise’ management of N, P, and K

Used recent advances in ICT Incorporated recent developments in science Recommended by BRRI in October 2012 BRRI and IRRI developed Nutrient Manager for Rice (NM Rice)

Users requested a tool providing more than nutrient management. Nutrient Manager for Rice was upgraded to Rice Crop Manager Rice Crop Manager was tested, recommended and released nationwide in the Philippines and Bangladesh in November

Content of Rice Crop Manager Rice variety characteristics Cropping patterns BRRI best management practices Soil information Variety x climate x region interactions  Adjustment in N timing for sowing date, seedling age, location, and variety  Adjustments in target yield for sowing date, seedling age, and variety

Printed output page

Farmers received RCM guidelines SeasonTotal farmer (no.) Boro Aus Aman

Approaches tested for RCM dissemination  Approach 1: DAE – UIC: DAE staff interviewed farmers with NM questionnaire and submitted the completed questionnaire to a UIC operator. The UIC operator entered information on the questionnaire into NM and developed NM recommendations, which were distributed by DAE staff to the farmers.  Approach 2: DAE – PE: Same as approach 1 but PE – computer operator instead of UIC operator made the NM recommendations.  Approach 3: Farmer – UIC: Farmers encouraged went directly to UIC operator. UIC operator interviewed them, made NM recommendation, and provided a printout.  Approach 4: Farmer – PE: Same as approach 3 but PE – computer operator instead of UIC operator interviewed farmers and made NM recommendations.  Approach 1: BRRI – DAE: BRRI scientists with their own laptop and printer interviewed farmers, made the NM recommendations, printed and provided to the farmers. In all cases DAE, UISC personnel were provided with training on RCM by BRRI and IRRI scientists

Boro Same variety type, RCM = raised bed; FP = flat bed, RCM = use pre-emergence herbicide; FP = non-use of pre- emergence herbicide, n=39 TreatYield, t/ha Total N (kg/ha ) Total P (kg/ha) Total K (kg/ha) Total Zn (kg/ha) Total S (kg/ha) % N applied, first 20 days %N applied, first 40 days %N applied between days RCM %67%32% FFP %74%25%

Boro season Summary table for average yield, average fertilizer use, and added net benefit in fertilizer use LocationN=Yield (t/ha)Total N (kg/ha) Total P (kg/ha) Total K (kg/ha) Total Zn (kg/ha) Total S (kg/ha) Added net benefit, USD RCMFFPRCMFFPRCMFFPRCMFFPRCMFFPRCMFFP All Dinajpur Gazipur Kishoreganj

Treatmen t Yield, t/ha Total N (kg/ha) Total P (kg/ha) Total K (kg/ha) Total Zn (kg/ha) Total S (kg/ha) RCM3.5 ±0.394 ±1410 ±212 ±200 FFP3.1 ±0.384 ±1714 ±330 ±1305 ±4 Treatment Total fertilizer cost ($/ha) Gross return ($/ha) Gross return - Total fertilizer cost ($/ha) Added net benefit ($/ha) RCM 61 ±9680 ±62620 ±6197 ±58 FFP 74 ±16596 ±64522 ±57 Aus season (n=30)

Treatmen t Yield, t/ha Total N (kg/ha) Total P2O5 (kg/ha) Total K2O (kg/ha) Total Zn (kg/ha) Total S (kg/ha) RCM3.5 ±0.394 ±1423 ±514 ±300 FFP3.1 ±0.384 ±1733 ±736 ±160 ±15 ±4 Treatment Total fertilizer cost ($/ha) Gross return ($/ha) Gross return - Total fertilizer cost ($/ha) Added net benefit ($/ha) RCM 61 ±9680 ±62620 ±6197 ±58 FFP 74 ±16596 ±64522 ±57

Potential partners in RCM dissemination through DAE Union Information and Service Centre (UISC) Persons skilled in ICT and ICT facilities (computers, printers, internet) available at about 4500 UISC Private entrepreneurs Individuals with ICT facilities and skills could be engaged for RCM dissemination Agriculture Information and Communication Centre (AICC) Project with a mandate matching the goal of disseminating RCM Farmers Information and Advisory Centre (FIAC) Project of DAE which might be considered for disseminating RCM Any NGO working on agriculture having ICT support

What is needed to disseminate RCM Strengthening the existing collaboration among BRRI, DAE, and IRRI Ability to reach large numbers of farmers through ICT. Contact with farmers, expertise in extension, and access to ICT facilities –Local extension workers in good communication with farmers - DAE block level officers –ICT facilities (mobiles devices, computers, printers, internet connectivity) at the union or village

What is needed to disseminate RCM Field test, verify, and provide RCM recommendations to farmers for use through DAE and NGO personnel in pilot sites leading to large scale dissemination Logistic support for DAE and potential NGOs Training for DAE and NGO personnel Update RCM content Fund source

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