Accelerating Agriculture Productivity Improvement in Bangladesh: Mitigation co-benefits of nutrient and water use efficiency

The project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Feed the Future (FTF) initiative, began in 2010 and was carried out by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) in collaboration with the Bangladesh Ministry of Agriculture. The project worked with 1.3 million farmers in 22 districts, employing strategies around technology diffusion, capacity building, policy reform, and micro-enterprise development. The AAPI project focused on increasing farmer adoption of urea deep placement (UDP), a fertilization practice known to increase nitrogen uptake efficiency. UDP adoption was anticipated on 1.1 million ha of aman rice and 700,000 ha of boro rice. The project also promoted alternate wetting and drying (AWD), an irrigation practice for rice that reduces the amount of water used and results in decreased emissions. AWD was tested on a pilot scale (21,000 ha). Climate change mitigation benefits would increase dramatically if adoption of AWD were more widespread. The project's impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon sequestration was analyzed using the FAO Ex-Ante Carbon Balance Tool (EX-ACT). The results showed a 2% reduction in GHG emissions, driven by UDP and AWD in flooded rice systems. This represents a substantial reduction in emissions, given the high emissions associated with conventional irrigated rice production. The project also showed a 10-48% reduction in emission intensity (CO2e emitted per kg production) from rice production due to increased rice yields. Bangladesh is a nation of 148,460 km2 with one of the greatest population densities in the world. Agriculture occupies 70% of the country's territory, and the average farm size is about 0.5 ha per household. More than half of rural households are classified as landless, as they own less than 0.2 ha, and 45% of rural households are classified as marginal, small, or medium landowners. Agriculture is the main source of rural livelihoods, and rice is the dominant crop and food, covering three-fourths of all cropland area and contributing 70% of calories consumed. The AAPI project's focus on rice management interventions has been a key aspect of food security activities in Bangladesh. The project's emphasis on UDP and AWD has the potential to reduce GHG emissions and improve food security, while also contributing to the country's development goals. The project's results demonstrate the importance of incorporating climate change considerations into agricultural development initiatives, and highlight the potential for low emission development (LED) to achieve meaningful reductions in GHG emissions while continuing to meet economic development and food security objectives. The project's methodology involved the use of the FAO Ex-Ante Carbon Balance Tool (EX-ACT) to estimate the impact of agricultural practices on GHG emissions and carbon sequestration. The results were expressed in metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e), and showed a 2% reduction in GHG emissions due to the adoption of UDP and AWD. The project's findings have implications for the design of agricultural development initiatives that aim to achieve mitigation co-benefits, and highlight the importance of considering the potential impacts of agricultural practices on GHG emissions and carbon sequestration.