Alternate wetting, drying irrigation yet to gain farmer acceptance: Experts

Despite its proven ability to save water, reduce methane emissions, and increase yields, the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation method for rice cultivation has failed to gain widespread acceptance among farmers in Bangladesh even after nearly two decades, experts said today (29 January).

The slow uptake is mainly attributed to the country's traditional irrigation water pricing system, uneven land topography, and significant knowledge and awareness gaps among farmers, they said at a roundtable discussion at The Business Standard conference room.

Titled "Beyond the Field: Forging a Shared Responsibility Model for Scaling Climate-Smart Rice Production in Bangladesh," the event was jointly organised by the Sustainable Agriculture Foundation (SAF) and The Business Standard.

Experts emphasised that AWD should not be promoted as a standalone solution, but rather as a complete package combining high-yield rice varieties, appropriate tools, and financial incentives. 

With effective communication, strong government and donor support, and robust public–private collaboration, AWD can be scaled profitably and sustainably across the country, they said.

Rice production and groundwater pressure

Moderated by Md Abdur Rouf, director of SAF Bangladesh, the session featured a keynote presentation by Syeda Sitwat Shahed, agriculture water workstream lead at World Bank 2030 Water Resources Group. 

She noted that Bangladesh is the world's third-largest rice producer, with rice forming the backbone of food security and the rural economy.

"However, this success comes with a dual challenge – heavy dependence on groundwater irrigation and systemic inefficiencies that constrain sustainable growth," she said.

While AWD is a proven technology that conserves water without compromising yield, its adoption remains below 10% of the country's nearly five million hectares of irrigated rice land, she added.

Researchers explained that under the AWD method, rice fields are alternately flooded and dried, with irrigation applied only when necessary. A perforated plastic pipe is installed vertically in the field to monitor the groundwater level, allowing farmers to determine the optimal time for irrigation.

Pilot results and adoption barriers

Between 2018 and 2025, SAF implemented the Introducing Water Efficient Technologies (IWET) project in the Barind Tract in Rajshahi, Chapai Nawabganj, and Naogaon. 

Findings presented at the roundtable showed that AWD led to up to 26% water savings, 34-48% reductions in methane emissions, and a 5-6% increase in rice productivity. 

As a result, farmers' incomes rose by as much as 13%. In the fiscal year 2024-25 alone, AWD was practiced on nearly 3,000 hectares of land under the project.

Abu Sayed Md Kamruzzaman, executive director of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), said AWD is essential for sustainable rice cultivation, but adoption is constrained by limited farmer training, uneven land levelling, and resistance from private irrigation pump operators. 

He stressed the need for extensive training, location-specific guidelines, and incentive mechanisms to encourage farmers.

Carbon credits and policy incentives

Roksana Akter, deputy secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, said AWD can cut methane emissions from rice cultivation by up to 48%. 

"If scaled across 4.8 million hectares, it could generate more than six million carbon credits, valued at approximately $125 million," she said. 

To support this, the government is developing the Agricultural Carbon Credit Framework of Bangladesh, aimed at regulation, monitoring, and private sector engagement, she added. 

Md Farhad Zamil, executive director of SAF Bangladesh, said rice remains central to Bangladesh's food security, yet traditional cultivation practices are depleting water resources and increasing climate risks. 

"Although climate-smart solutions like AWD are well established, weak incentives and policy gaps continue to discourage adoption," he said.

He noted that carbon credit mechanisms could help bridge this gap by providing financial motivation while reducing emissions.

Targets, constraints and market views

Faruk Ahmed, additional director at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), said Bangladesh has committed under its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to expand AWD to at least 30% of rice fields. "However, challenges such as uneven land preparation, unreliable electricity supply, and poor coordination among farmers, pump owners, and institutions continue to hinder large-scale adoption," he said. 

From the private sector perspective, Mohammad Mizanur Rahaman, director (R&D and Operations) at ACI Seed, said the primary goal is to ensure farmer profitability by increasing yields and reducing production costs. 

"AWD does both," he said. "But adoption remains low due to limited awareness and lack of trust. Farmers need clear, credible data on how much money they can save per hectare. Without trust, even proven technologies fail."

The discussion was attended by Takashi Yamano, principal economist, ADB, Philippine; The Coca-Cola Foundation Country Head Momshad Khan; Associate Water Resources Officer of ADB Sohel Rana; Senior Agriculture Specialist of World Bank N Son Thanh Vo; BADC Executive Engineer AKM Apel Mahmud; BRRI Senior Scientific Officer Md Mozammel Haque; PKSF Environment and Climate Change Director Fazle Rabbi Sadeque Hossain; HSBC Bangladesh Head of Corporate Sustainability Syeda Afzalun Nessa; Pran Deputy General Manager and Head of Contract Farming Kamruzzaman Tito and Proprietor and Member of Bangladesh Auto Rice Mill Association Dewan Md Tanvir.