World Bank, DAE and IRRI delegation visits rice farming project

A delegation from the World Bank, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) visited activities under the TARAPS Project in Tangail on Friday to observe climate-resilient rice farming technologies and community-based seed production.

The delegation visited field demonstrations and spoke with farmers about their experiences, benefits and challenges in adopting improved agricultural practices.

The World Bank team was led by TARAPS Task Team Leader Ashoka Okumura and Co-Task Team Leader Samina Yasmin. Representatives from DAE and IRRI Bangladesh also took part in the visit.

The delegation observed demonstrations of several agricultural technologies, including Triadic Comparison of Technologies (TRICOT), Urea Deep Placement (UDP), Wet Direct-Seeded Rice (Wet DSR) and Dealer-Customer Demonstrations.

The technologies are designed to improve resource use, reduce production costs and support climate-resilient rice cultivation. TRICOT enables farmers to compare rice varieties and production methods based on field experience. UDP focuses on more efficient fertiliser application, while Wet DSR offers an alternative to conventional rice transplantation.

Farmers shared their experiences with the technologies, discussing their benefits, implementation challenges and prospects for wider adoption.

The delegation also met women members of community-based seed production groups supported by IRRI Bangladesh. Discussions focused on their training, seed production activities and challenges in supplying quality seeds to local farmers.

The visit also highlighted women's participation in community-based seed production and efforts to improve farmers' access to quality rice seeds.

The TARAPS Project is being implemented by the government with support from the World Bank and technical assistance from IRRI. It aims to improve agricultural practices, resource management, rice production and seed systems in Bangladesh.

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