Assessment of drought of 2006 and its management by the farmers in Rajshahi district

Abstract

Althou!;h lhe drou!;hl~are common in the north-west region of the eounlry, e'pecially in the lJarind Tracl, not much is known about thc miligation measures adopted hy lhe farmers. This study wa, accomplished with a view to assess the drought ofT. Aman season of 2006 and farmers' managemenl practice, of drought alleviation at Godagari Upazila in Rajshahi di,tricl. The time amj c"t~nt of drought was calculated by using thc watcr balance alld relative waler supply mdhod" Thc probability analysis of rainfall alld crop ""ter rcquirement was carricd out by Gamma distribution. Drollghl alTceted yield was estimated by using crup production function. A farmer~: su,,'co' "as condudcd to gain information on drought aITcctcdyields, 1ilrmers' management praeliee, of drought alleviation and related ,ncio-cconomic issues. From the water balance analy~is, it is found lhal three droughts occurred during the T. Aman sea,oll of 2006. During vegetative stage one drought of six days duration, during rcproductive stage one drought of four days duration and in ripening stage one drought of~ixlccn days duration occurred, 'rhe averagc valucs of RWS were O,GOin vegetative stage, 0.66 in rcproductive slage and 0 in ripening "tage. The average value of RWS was 0.45 in 2006 T, Aman sea~on, Both lhe analy,e, ,howed thaI ~evere droughl occurred during the ripening stage ofT. Arnan in 2006. From probobility analy,i", il was obser~ed that the probabi lity n f min rail tbat occurred during the T. Aman sca~on of 2006 is about 20% (onee in abom fivc years), Probability of meeting the crop water rcquircment from rainfall is 67% (aboul ~evCll times in I0 years), From the farmers' survey, il wa, revealed lhat during 200G, 75% uftbe Janners used supplementary irrigation lor T. Aman production. The average yield was 4,05 M. ton!ha for lhe farmcr> who provided supplementary irrigation and drought affected yield was 1.64 M. ton/ha. The drought affected yicld ealeulaled f,om crop prociueli@ fUlletion waS 1,65 M. IOn/ha. Actual drought affected area dUl'ing 2006 T. Aman season was estimated as 4272 hcctares which was about 13% o[ lhe Arnan cultivated arca, 'rhe beneti!-cost mtio (EeR) of ;upp1ememary Lrrigalionfrom surface woler and ground water were 4.10 anu 5.88, respectively, The farmers' survey showed lhat supplementary irrigation was the only socialiy acceptabl~ managcment practice of drought alleviatian ill the study area. The study rev~kd lhal due to the application of supplementary irrigation, droughts do not s~'erely aflCetlhc T. Aman yield.