The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

A three-day training on 'Integrated field water management' began yesterday at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) in Gazipur.

The BRRI organised the training in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), said a BRRI press release.

BRRI Director General Dr Md Nur-e-Elahi atended the inaugural session of the training as the chief guest, while IRRI representative in Bangladesh Dr. M Zainul Abedin and IRRI liaison scientist Dr M A Hamid Miah were the special guests.

BRRI Director (Admin) Dr BAA Mustafi and heads of research divisions, including senior scientists and officials, of the IRRI took part in the session.

Some 30 participants from government and non-government organisations, including IRRI, BRRI, BADC, BARD, DAE, BMDA, BRAC, CEGIS and FoSHol, participated in the training.

While contacted, Head of the Irrigation and Water Management Division of the BRRI Dr M A Satar said Bangladesh can cut almost half of its irrigation cost by adopting integrated field water management technologies, including the alternative weting and drying method, in the rice cultivation.

A good number of countries, including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and India, have successfully applied the method that has been saving a sufficient amount of fuel and water, besides labour other than the operation cost, Dr Satar added.