Sustainable Soil Management Component (SSMC) of OCP ......implementation of the Sustainable Soil Management Component (SSMC) of OCP Foundation’s Agricultural Development Project

INTERNATIONAL FERTILIZER DEVELOPMENT CENTER PO BOX 2040 | MUSCLE SHOALS, AL 35662 | USA

Sustainable Soil Management Component (SSMC) of OCP Foundation’s Agricultural

Development Project in Bangladesh – Stage 1

FOURTH HALF-YEARLY REPORT | JULY-DECEMBER 2018 AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT | 2018

This report by IFDC was made possible through funding support from the OCP Foundation.

SSMC Fourth Half-Yearly Report | July-December 2018 and Second Annual Report | 2018 i

Table of Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1

Project Goal and Objectives ............................................................................................................ 2

Project Location .............................................................................................................................. 3

Deliverables .................................................................................................................................... 4

Results ............................................................................................................................................. 4

Number of Farmers Directly Reached by the Project ................................................................. 9

Results of Demonstrations .......................................................................................................... 9

T. Aman 2018 .......................................................................................................................... 9

Total Incremental Production ................................................................................................... 10

Incremental Production per Hectare ......................................................................................... 11

Total Value of Incremental Production..................................................................................... 11

Value of Incremental Production per Hectare .......................................................................... 12

Activities ....................................................................................................................................... 12

Field Trials ................................................................................................................................ 15

Establishment of Trial Plots for Rice and Non-Rice Crops .................................................. 15

On-Farm and On-Station Trials on Non-Rice Crops ............................................................ 15

Field Demonstrations ................................................................................................................ 18

Status of Rice Demonstrations .............................................................................................. 18

Results of T. Aman Demonstrations ...................................................................................... 20

Influence of OCP Compound Fertilizers on Yield and Fertilizer Cost on T. Aman 2018 .... 20

Status of Non-Rice Crop Demonstrations ............................................................................. 22

Upazila Agriculture Officers and Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officers of DAE Orientation

Program ..................................................................................................................................... 24

Demonstration Crop Cut and Field Days .................................................................................. 24

Farmer Training ........................................................................................................................ 25

Farmers’ Selection ................................................................................................................ 25

Training Program .................................................................................................................. 25

Fourth Steering Committee Meeting of SSMC Project ............................................................ 28

Media Coverage ........................................................................................................................ 28

Estimated Budget and Actual Expenditure ................................................................................... 28

SSMC Fourth Half-Yearly Report | July-December 2018 and Second Annual Report | 2018 ii

Tables

Table 1. List of Deliverables Through December 2018........................................................ 4

Table 2. Results Achieved Against Targets for the Period Through December 2018 .......... 5

Table 3. Number of Farmers Directly Reached by the Project Through December 2018 .... 9

Table 4. Increased Yield of Paddy from Demonstrations – T. Aman 2018 ........................ 10

Table 5. Weighted Average Gross Margin for T. Aman 2018 ............................................ 10

Table 6. Incremental Production from Demonstration Plots .............................................. 11

Table 7. Incremental Production per Hectare ..................................................................... 11

Table 8. Total Value of Incremental Production................................................................. 12

Table 9. Value of Incremental Production per Hectare ...................................................... 12

Table 10. Activities Accomplished Against Targets Through December 2018 ................... 13

Table 11. Status of On-Farm and On-Station Field Trials Established on Non-Rice Crops 16

Table 12. Status of Rice Demonstrations 2018 ..................................................................... 18

Table 13. Nutrients Used Under Various Treatments in T. Aman Demonstration Plots 2018

............................................................................................................................... 20

Table 14. Influence of OCP Compound Fertilizer on T. Aman Yield and Fertilizer Cost,

SSMC Demonstration Plots 2018 ......................................................................... 20

Table 15. Yield Performance of OCP Compound Fertilizer and Straight Fertilizer over

Farmers’ Practice .................................................................................................. 21

Table 16. Status of Non-Rice Crop Demonstrations Through December 2018 ................... 22

Table 17. Orientation Training of Upazila Agriculture Officers and Sub-Assistant

Agriculture Officers Through December 2018 ..................................................... 24

Table 18. Participation in Demonstration Field Days Through December 2018.................. 25

Table 19. Farmers’ Training Conducted Through December 2018 ...................................... 26

Table 20. Financial Achievement Against Estimated Budget in U.S. $ Through December

2018....................................................................................................................... 29

SSMC Fourth Half-Yearly Report | July-December 2018 and Second Annual Report | 2018 iii

Figures

Figure 1. SSMC Project Locations in Bangladesh ................................................................. 3

Figure 2. Location of Established On-Farm and On-Station Trials on Non-Rice Crops

Through December 2018 ...................................................................................... 17

Figure 3. Location of Established Rice Demonstration Plots Through December 2018 ..... 19

Figure 4. Average Incremental Yield Increase in T. Aman 2018 in OCP Compound

Fertilizer NPSZn and Straight Fertilizer With Lime ............................................. 21

Figure 5. Location of Established Non-Rice Crop Demonstrations Through December 2018

............................................................................................................................... 23

Figure 6. Location of Farmers’ Training Venue Through December 2018 ......................... 27

Appendices

Appendix 1. Gross Margin Per Hectare for Different Treatments Applied in T. Aman 2018

SSMC Demonstration Plots .................................................................................. 30

Appendix 2. On-Farm and On-Station Trials Established for Rice and Non-Rice Crops

Through December 2018 ...................................................................................... 31

Appendix 3. Demonstration Established for Rice and Non-Rice Crops Through December

2018....................................................................................................................... 34

Appendix 4. Detailed Data by Upazila for SSMC Demonstrations in T. Aman 2018 ............... 36

Appendix 5. Number of Participants by Gender in the Orientation Program ........................... 36

Appendix 6. Field Days Organized Through December 2018 .................................................. 37

Appendix 7. Farmers Trained Through December 2018 ........................................................... 38

Appendix 8. Minutes of Third Steering Committee Meeting .................................................... 39

Appendix 9. Media Coverage of SSMC Activities from July-December 2018 ........................ 43

SSMC Fourth Half-Yearly Report | July-December 2018 and Second Annual Report | 2018 iv

Acronyms and Abbreviations

B Boron

BADC Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation

BARC Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council

BARI Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute

BCR Benefit-Cost Ratio

BRRI Bangladesh Rice Research Institute

CSO Chief Scientific Officer

DAE Department of Agricultural Extension

FC Field Coordinator

GAP Good Agricultural Practice

GOB Government of Bangladesh

GPS Global Positioning System

ha hectare

HYV High-Yielding Variety

ICARDA International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas

IFDC International Fertilizer Development Center

IPM Integrated Pest Management

ISFM Integrated Soil Fertility Management

K Potassium

M&E Monitoring and Evaluation

mt metric ton

N Nitrogen

OFRD On-Farm Research Division

P Phosphorus

S Sulfur

SAAO Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer

SRDI Soil Resource Development Institute

SSMC Sustainable Soil Management Component

Tk Bangladeshi Taka

TSP Triple Superphosphate

UAO Upazila Agriculture Officer

Zn Zinc

SSMC Fourth Half-Yearly Report | July-December 2018 and Second Annual Report | 2018 1

Sustainable Soil Management Component (SSMC) of

OCP Foundation’s Agricultural Development Project in

Bangladesh – Stage 1

Fourth Half-Yearly Report July – December 2018 and Second Annual Report 2018

Introduction

OCP Foundation signed an agreement with the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) for

implementation of the Sustainable Soil Management Component (SSMC) of OCP Foundation’s

Agricultural Development Project in Bangladesh – Stage1 for a period of three years from January 2017

through December 2019. The project commenced as scheduled in January 2017. SSMC is expected to

address many of the increasing, serious soil fertility concerns of the northern districts of Bangladesh

while also helping farmers enhance crop productivity and profitability through the implementation of

improved soil management methods in the overall context of market-sensitive good agricultural practices

(GAPs).1

The OCP Foundation’s overall project also includes inputs from OCP Foundation and the International

Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). The objective of this overall Agricultural

Development Project is “sustainable management of soil to enhance yields and farmers’ incomes under

resilient production systems in Bangladesh, resulting in food and nutrition security, improved health and

livelihoods.” The project includes the SSMC in addition to monitoring and capacity-building inputs from

OCP Foundation and works related to the promotion of GAPs, entrepreneurship, and farmer

organizations by ICARDA. The project targets six crops – rice (T. Aman and Boro), maize, potato, lentil,

and, to a lesser extent, wheat.

Approximately 7 million hectares (ha) of farmland in Bangladesh is estimated to be degraded in some

form. In terms of soil resources, Bangladesh faces a series of interrelated threats, such as increasingly

saline soils in southern coastal areas, increasingly acidic soils in northern areas, and several belts of

problematic soils damaged by industrial waste, where delineation and customized soil management

practices are required. Balanced fertilizer use – particularly for primary macronutrients – has been

promoted widely and encouraged by subsidy adjustments and is increasingly being adopted by farmers

in some areas of the country. However, low availability and use of some secondary nutrient and

micronutrient fertilizers and compounds in input markets have meant that secondary and micronutrient

1 GAPs include using good quality seeds, using balanced doses of fertilizers, including secondary and micronutrients,

maintaining spacing requirements from line to line and plant to plant, raising beds, efficiently using water for cultivation,

integrated pest management (IPM), weeding, and regular monitoring of the field in terms of insect management, etc.


availability are becoming limiting factors in crop production, even where sufficient major macronutrient

fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium [NPK]) are used.

A lack of awareness of GAPs continues to limit productivity. While knowledge of improved seed

varieties is on the rise, hybrid seed usage is still relatively low, and the public and private sectors produce

new high-yielding varieties (HYV) at a slow pace. Plant spacing, input application, and other practices

continue to constrain yields. Pesticides are overused, primarily as a preventive measure, and low

mechanization penetration means that seed and fertilizer are often used inefficiently while harvest losses

are unnecessarily high. At the same time, post-harvest losses in crops are unacceptably high – ranging

up to 19% in rice and 40% in vegetables.

SSMC is being implemented together with Government of Bangladesh (GOB) counterparts –

Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI),

Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation

(BADC), and Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI). Additionally, agro-input retailers are

involved to promote balanced plant nutrient and GAP solutions for improving crop productivity, crop

profitability, and soil fertility. The primary approach of the project for IFDC is to conduct trials with

BRRI and BARI and field extension activities with DAE.

The activities of SSMC are directly built on the issues mentioned above. This is the fourth half-yearly

report and provides an overview of the six months of SSMC’s progress from July 1 to December 31,

2018. The report also contains annual information for 2018, the project’s second year. The report

provides cumulative information through December 31, 2018. The report has been prepared as a stand-

alone report to provide the specific information required by the OCP Foundation.

The information presented comes primarily from IFDC internal weekly reports, monthly reports

submitted by IFDC to OCP Foundation, crop cuts of trial and demonstration plots, sample household

surveys of trained farmers after harvesting of crops in each season, and village monitoring surveys in

areas where SSMC staff worked during the second year of the project.

Project Goal and Objectives

The goal of SSMC Stage1 is sustainable management of soil to enhance yields and farmers’ incomes

under resilient production systems, which contributes to the overall goal of OCP Foundation’s

Agricultural Development Project in Bangladesh.

The objectives of the project are to:

1. Evaluate the role of secondary and micronutrients, including the application of different compound

fertilizers, on crop productivity as affected by soil acidity.

2. Promote balanced plant nutrient and GAP solutions for improving crop productivity, crop

profitability, and soil fertility through extension workers and agro-input retailers.

In order to facilitate the analysis of progress toward the entire collection of SSMC goals and objectives,

these goals and objectives have been arranged in an impact pathway that shows how activities link to

objectives, which in turn contribute to the major and strategic goals of the project.


Project Location

SSMC is being implemented in 12 upazilas (sub-districts) of the targeted districts of Kurigram,

Nilphamari, and Dinajpur in the Rangpur Division and the districts of Bogra, Chapai Nawabganj, and

Natore in the Rajshahi Division (Figure 1).2

Figure 1. SSMC Project Locations in Bangladesh

2 The upazilas were selected based on certain criteria: (1) a higher percentage of cultivable land; (2) at least two of the six

major targeted crops grown; (3) a relatively low soil pH level; (4) presence of more progressive farmers; and (5) ease of

access to the upazilas for project activity implementation.


Deliverables

As indicated in Table 1, all deliverables were submitted as planned. In addition, the project prepared 27

weekly reports on project performance during the period (July-December 2018) and, in total, 95 weekly

reports were produced in Year 1 and Year 2 of the project in order to facilitate project oversight. In

addition, the project organized four steering committee meetings as planned jointly by IFDC and OCP

Foundation.

Table 1. List of Deliverables Through December 2018

Deliverable Year

1

Year 2

Total Year 2 Cumulative

Balance Remaining

First Half

Second Half

Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Work Plan 1 1 1 2 3

Monthly Progress

Reports 10 5 1 1 1 1 1 10 20 9

Semi-Annual Report 1 1 1 2 3 3

Semi-Annual Financial

Reports 1 1 1 2 3 3

Minutes of Steering

Committee Meetings 2 1 1 2 4 2

Source: SSMC Database.

Results

The results are reported against indicators and their targets specified in the contract between IFDC and

OCP Foundation with interpretations via the annual work plan. To align with reporting requirements,

the results against indicators are presented in Table 2, covering the period July-December 2018, Second

Year 2018, and cumulative for Year 1 and 2 through December 2018.

The project’s field activities started with the baseline survey during the first half of Year 1 and crop-

related activities of the rice crop (T. Aman 2017), and harvesting was completed in the second half of

Year 1 (i.e., 2017). Planting of non-rice crops (wheat, maize, potato, and lentil) also started at the same

time. However, harvesting of non-rice crops was completed in the first half of Year 2. Planting of Boro

2018 crops also took place in the first half of Year 2 (2018). The results of all crops are presented in

subsequent half-yearly reports.

In the current report, the results of only T. Aman 2018 have been reported. Harvesting of non-rice crops

and Boro 2019 will be completed and reported in the first half of Year 3 (2019). Results are presented

in Table 2. Of the 17 indicators, only two were active during the second half of 2018. The gross margin

targets are the benchmark survey conducted at the beginning of the project. Progress of the two results

during the second half of the reporting period is impressive. The number of farmers directly reached by

the project exceeded the Year 2 target at 131%. From the demonstration plot, the yield increase was

116%, with a gross margin of 85% over the baseline, which is mainly due to higher input cost and

differences in the U.S. dollar exchange rate.


Table 2. Results Achieved Against Targets for the Period Through December 2018

Sl. # Activities Unit

Total Project Target

Achievement

% Achieved

Balance Remaining Year 1

Year 2 Cumulative Target through Year 2

Cumulative Achievemen

t through Year 2

First Half

Second Half Total

1. Number of farmers directly

reached by the project No. 4,000 987 808 808 1,616 1,980 2,603 131% 1,397

2. Area under improved technologies or management practices (ha) *

T. Aman ha 508 508 508

Boro ha 304 304 304

Wheat ha 52 52 52

Potato ha 114 114 114

Maize ha 54 54 54

Lentil ha 23 23 23

Total area ha 2,430 1,055 1,055 810 1,055 130% 1,375

3. Number of farmers who have adopted improved technologies or practices

T. Aman No. 810 810 810

Boro No. 656 656 656

Wheat No. 213 213 213

Potato No. 396 396 396

Maize No. 253 253 253

Lentil No. 111 111 111

Total unique number of

farmers No. 4,000 1,350 1,350 1,980 1,350 68% 2,650

A. Results of Trials

4 a. Increased paddy yield of

T. Aman 2017 in NPSZn mt/ha 0.50 0.39 0.39 0.39 78%

% and gross margin change BDT/ha 61,467 151,436 151,436 151,436 246%

U.S. $/ha 768 1,893 1,893 1,893 246%




Achievement

% Achieved




t through Year 2

First Half

Second Half Total

4 b. Increased paddy yield of

Boro 2017-18 in NPSZn mt/ha 0.50 0.58 0.58 0.58 116%

% and gross margin change** BDT/ha

U.S. $/ha

5. Increased yield of Wheat

2017-18 in NPSZn mt/ha 0.80 0.52 0.52 0.52 65%


U.S. $/ha

6. Increased yield of Potato

2017-18 in NPSB mt/ha 5.00 2.49 2.49 2.49 50%

% and gross margin change ** BDT/ha

U.S. $/ha

7. Increased yield of Maize

2017-18 in NPSB mt/ha 1.00 2.77 2.77 2.77 277%


U.S. $/ha

8. Increased yield of Lentil

2017-18 in NPSZn mt/ha 0.40 0.2 0.2 0.2 50%


U.S. $/ha 604 807 807 807 134%




Achievement

% Achieved




t through Year 2

First Half

Second Half Total

B. Results of Demonstrations

9 a. Increased paddy yield of



U.S. $/ha 768 651 651 651 85%

9 b. Increased paddy yield of



U.S. $/ha 768 1,006 1,006 1,006 131%

9 c. Increased paddy yield of

Boro 2017-18 in NPSZn mt/ha 0.50 1.31 1.31 1.31 262%


U.S. $/ha 622 1,057 1,057 1,057 170%

10. Increased yield of Wheat

2017-18 in NPSB mt/ha 0.80 1.12 1.12 1.12 140%


U.S. $/ha 343 425 425 425 124%

11. Increased yield of Potato

2017-18 in NPSB mt/ha 5.00 5.54 5.54 5.54 111%


U.S. $/ha 920 1,731 1,731 1,731 188%

12. Increased yield of Maize

2017-18 in NPSB mt/ha 1.00 3.58 3.58 3.58 358%


U.S. $/ha 760 1,887 1,887 1,887 248%




Achievement

% Achieved




t through Year 2

First Half

Second Half Total

13. Increased yield of Lentil

2017-18 in NPSB mt/ha 0.40 0.29 0.29 0.29 73%


U.S. $/ha 604 587 587 587 97%

14. Total incremental

production** mt 1,710 1,710 1,710

15. Incremental production per

ha** mt 1.62 1.62 1.62

16. Total value of incremental

production** U.S. $ 340,120 340,120 340,120

17. Value of incremental

production per ha** U.S. $ 322 322 322

Source: SSMC database and Village Monitoring Survey 2018.

Notes: * This area is shown through June 2018. Further progress will be shown after harvest of all crops in the fifth half-yearly report, i.e., January-June 2019.

** Total incremental production, incremental production per hectare, total value of incremental production, and value of incremental production of all six crops, shown in

earlier reports, have been modified deleting the TSPZn treatment as per suggestions of OCP Foundation. For Aman 2018, this will be reported in the fifth half-yearly report

in July 2019. Further details on these are provided in Table 6, Table 7, Table 8, and Table 9, respectively.


Number of Farmers Directly Reached by the Project

The number of farmers directly reached by the project has been calculated from the number of farmers

and retailers participating in farmers’ training.3 In the reporting period (July-December 2018), SSMC

conducted 27 batches of farmers’ training on GAPs and balanced use of fertilizers with 808 participants.

Table 3 provides information on the number of farmers directly reached by the project through December

2018; 2,603 participants attended the training programs, of which 335 (12%) were women farmers. In

addition, 393 were fertilizer retailers who also own farmland.

Table 3. Number of Farmers Directly Reached by the Project Through December 2018

Reporting Year Batches

Farmers

Fertilizer Retailers

Total Participants Male Female

Total Farmers

First Half (Jan-June 2017) 5 119 21 140 9 149

Second Half (Jul-Dec 2017) 28 590 110 700 138 838

Year 1 33 709 131 840 147 987

First Half (Jan-Jun 2018) 27 580 109 689 119 808


Year 2 54 1,166 204 1,370 246 1,616

Year 1 and 2 87 1,875 335 2,210 393 2,603 Source: SSMC database.

Results of Demonstrations

T. Aman 2018

The incremental yield is calculated from the demonstration plot crop cut. In the reporting period, there

were 10 crop cuts from 10 demonstrations. There were two treatments: (T1) farmers’ practice and (T2)

OCP compound fertilizer (NPSZn) with other recommended fertilizers with liming. Paddy was threshed,

cleaned, and weighed with grain moisture measured in the field. Yield is calculated as kilogram of paddy

per hectare, which is adjusted to a moisture content of 14%.

The incremental yield is shown in Table 4. The target of incremental paddy yield was set at 0.50 metric

tons per hectare (mt/ha) for all rice seasons. The incremental yield data from demonstrations have been

reported from NPSZn, which was 0.58 mt/ha. Yield increments are a reflection of many factors,

including fertilizer, seed, water, and other farm management practices. Table 4 shows an 11% yield

increment achieved over farmers’ practice.

3 The retailers also own farmland and therefore are treated as farmers.


Table 4. Increased Yield of Paddy from Demonstrations – T. Aman 2018

OCP Products Farmers’ Practice

OCP Compound +

Straight Fertilizer With

Lime

Yield Increase (mt/ha)

Yield Increase

Percentage

NPSZn 5.41 5.99 0.58 11% Source: SSMC database.

Percentage and Gross Margin Change from Demonstrations

SSMC has calculated gross margins from data collected from demonstration plots following the T. Aman

harvest. The results of T. Aman 2018 are presented in Table 5. The calculation also includes the price of

straw taken from the sales value of the same reported by the farmers. Appendix 1 provides details on

gross margin per hectare.

Table 5. Weighted Average Gross Margin for T. Aman 2018

Item

NPSZn

Farmer Practice

OCP Compound + Straight Fertilizer with Lime

Total Revenue 103,872 115,008

Total Cost 57,784 62,901

Gross Margin 46,088 52,107

Gross Margin (U.S. $/ha) 576 651

Gross Margin (%) 80% 83%

Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) 1.80 1.83 Source: 10 SSMC demonstration plots, Aman 2018.

Notes: (a) U.S. $1 = Tk 80. (b) The gross margin is the difference between total return and total cost. (c) The benefit-

cost ratio is total return divided by total cost.

The financial realized gross margin per hectare is estimated at U.S. $651 from OCP compound fertilizer

NPSZn. This result shows the substantial financial benefit obtained from OCP fertilizer. In the gross

margin calculation, all costs are shown against purchased inputs, such as seed, fertilizer, labor, and

irrigation. Non-cash inputs, such as family labor, have not been included in the calculation.

Total Incremental Production

The incremental production has been calculated as the area multiplied by incremental yield observed

from demonstration plots. Details by crop are provided in Table 6.


Table 6. Incremental Production from Demonstration Plots

Crop Area (ha) Incremental Yield (mt)

Total Incremental Production (mt)

T. Aman 508 0.83 422

Boro 304 1.31 398

Wheat 52 1.12 58

Potato 114 5.54 632

Maize 54 3.58 193

Lentil 23 0.29 7

Total 1,055

1,710

Incremental Production per Hectare

The incremental production per hectare is estimated by dividing the total incremental production by total

area. Details by crop are provided in Table 7.

Table 7. Incremental Production per Hectare

Crop Area (ha)

Total Incremental

Production (mt)

Incremental Production per

Hectare

T. Aman 508 422 0.83

Boro 304 398 1.31

Wheat 52 58 1.12

Potato 114 632 5.54

Maize 54 193 3.58

Lentil 23 7 0.29

Total 1,055 1,710 1.62 Source: SSMC database.

Total Value of Incremental Production

The increased value of crop production by SSMC farmers is calculated from the incremental crop

production multiplied by the price at which the crop was sold. All the crop prices are converted to

U.S. dollar at an exchange rate of U.S. $1 to Tk 80. Details by crop are provided in Table 8.


Table 8. Total Value of Incremental Production

Crop

Total Incremental

Production (mt) Price (U.S.$) Total Value of Incremental

Production (U.S. $)

T. Aman 422 250 105,410

Boro 398 250 99,560

Wheat 58 257 14,985

Potato 632 119 75,258

Maize 193 211 40,846

Lentil 7 609 4,060

Total 1,710 340,120 Source: SSMC database.

Value of Incremental Production per Hectare

The value of incremental production per hectare is estimated by dividing the total incremental value by

the total area. Details by crop are provided in Table 9.

Table 9. Value of Incremental Production per Hectare

Crop Area (ha)

Total Value of Incremental Production

(U.S.$)

Value of Incremental Production per

Hectare

T. Aman 508 105,410 208

Boro 304 99,560 328

Wheat 52 14,985 288

Potato 114 75,258 660

Maize 54 40,846 756

Lentil 23 4,060 177

Total 1,055 340,120 322 Source: SSMC database.

Activities

The SSMC program focused on: (i) evaluating the role of secondary and micronutrients, including the

application of different compound fertilizers, on crop productivity as affected by soil acidity, and

(ii) working through extension workers to promote balanced plant nutrient management solutions for

improving crop productivity, crop profitability, and soil fertility. The number of activities and the

intensity of engagement is set as the total project target. Table 10 highlights the progress of project

technical activities. Of the 17 activities, five activities met or exceeded the target, and the remaining 12

could not since the achievement against the target is shown against the end-of-project target. In fact, all

activities achieved or exceeded the target when compared through the December 2018 target.


Table 10. Activities Accomplished Against Targets Through December 2018

Sl. # Deliverables

Project Target

Achievement


Year 2

Cumulative %

Achieved First Half

Second Half Total

1. Baseline survey

a. Current farm management practices

b. Fertilizer subsidy

2 2 2 100%

2. Formulate ISFM, farm demonstration

protocol, and farmer training modules 2 2 2 100%

3. Orientation training 4 2 2 2 4 100%

4. Conduct on-station and on-farm trials

Lentil 6 3 3 3 6 100%

Harvesting will be done in

Year 3

Maize (winter) 7 3 4 4 7 100%


Year 3

Potato 7 3 4 4 7 100%


Year 3

Wheat 4 2 2 2 4 100%


Year 3

Conduct on-station, and on-farm trials with

BRRI (T. Aman and Boro) 6 2 4 4 6 100%

Total 30 13 17 17 30 100%

5. Establish demonstration plots

T. Aman 20 10 10 10 20 100%

Boro 20 10 10 10 50% 10

Lentil 20 10 10 10 20 100%


Year 3

Maize (winter) 20 10 10 10 20 100%

Potato 20 10 10 10 20 100%

Wheat 20 10 10 10 20 100%

Total 120 50 20 40 60 110 92% 10


Sl. # Deliverables

Project Target

Achievement


Year 2

Cumulative %

Achieved First Half

Second Half Total

6. Farmers’ Training

Rice 40 10 10 7 17 27 68% 13

Non-rice 80 23 17 20 37 60 75% 20

Total 120 33 27 27 54 87 73% 33

7. Field days 60 5 25 4 29 34 57% 26

8.

Follow-up with trained and non-trained

farmers, encouraging a 2:1 diffusion rate of

improved practices to neighboring farmers

This is a continuous process, and field staff is continuing this activity regularly.

9.

Monitoring and evaluation by Project

Steering Committee involving

OCP Foundation/IFDC/ICARDA

representatives, Bangladesh partners,

farmers’ representatives at field level

6 2 1 1 2 4 66% 2

10. Crop cut 120 10 49 10 59 69* 58% 50

11. Sample household survey 3 1 1 33% 2

12. Village survey 3 1 1 33% 2

13. Monthly report 29 10 10 20 69% 9

14. Semi-annual report 6 2 1 3 50% 3

15. Conduct project mid-term assessment

(External) 1

1

16. Final impact assessment (External) 1 1

17. Start processing of inclusion of three OCP fertilizers (NPSZn and NPSB) * One wheat demonstration was damaged after establishment.

Source: SSMC database.

Note: The mid-term and final assessment will be conducted by the OCP Foundation.


Field Trials

Establishment of Trial Plots for Rice and Non-Rice Crops

SSMC/IFDC prepared research protocols on macronutrient and micronutrient omission trials and the

establishment of balanced fertilization trial plots for rice (T. Aman and Boro) and other non-rice selected

crops (maize, potato, lentil, and wheat). The project consulted with BARI and BRRI scientists and

maintained continuous liaisons with them. Both research institutes provided ideas for better

understanding and outcomes. Some modifications on balanced fertilization using ISFM-related trial

programs were made based on suggestions from BARI’s On-Farm Research Division (OFRD) and

BRRI’s Soil Science Division. Different grades of OCP compound fertilizers have been considered

during the selection of fertilizer treatments. After a series of discussions and review, trial protocols for

all crops have been finalized and handed over to BRRI as well as to BARI. Final trial protocols were

also sent to OCP Foundation.

On-Farm and On-Station Trials on Non-Rice Crops

OFRD, BARI established 13 on-station and on-farm

non-rice crop (potato, maize, lentil, and wheat) field trial

sites by December 2018. All will be harvested and

reported in the fifth half-yearly report. Table 11 provides

the on-farm and on-station trials of non-rice crops.

Figure 2 also shows the location of non-rice crop field

trials. Appendix 2 provides the details of trials by crop.

On-Station Trials

• OFRD Rangpur Station, BARI (3) – Potato, Maize,

Lentil

• OFRD Bogra Station, BARI (2) – Wheat, Potato

• OFRD, Dinajpur (1) – Maize

• OFRD, Shyampur, Rajshahi (1) – Lentil

On-Farm Trials

• Amnura, Chapai Nawabganj (1) – Wheat

• Godagari, Chapai Nawabganj (1) – Wheat

• Domar, Nilphamari (2) – Potato, Maize

• Dinajpur Sadar, Dinajpur (2) – Potato, Maize

On-Station Field Trial Plot on Lentil at OFRD, Rangpur


Table 11. Status of On-Farm and On-Station Field Trials Established on Non-Rice Crops

SL. # Location

Name of the Crop

Category of Trial

Number of Trials Date of Sowing

1. OFRD, BARI Research Station, Rangpur Lentil On-station 1 November 12, 2018 2. OFRD, BARI Research Station, Rangpur Potato On-station 1 November 15, 2018 3. OFRD, BARI Research Station, Rangpur Maize On-station 1 November 17, 2018 4. OFRD, BARI Research Station, Bogra Wheat On-station 1 November 20, 2018 5. OFRD, BARI Research Station, Bogra Potato On-station 1 November 22, 2018 6. OFRD, Dinajpur Maize On-station 1 November 29, 2018 7. OFRD, Shyampur, Rajshahi Lentil On-station 1 November 21, 2018 8. Amnura, Chapai Nawabganj Wheat On-farm 1 November 26, 2018 9. Godagari, Chapai Nawabganj Lentil On-farm 1 November 24, 2018 10. Domar, Nilphmari Potato On-farm 1 November 23, 2018 11. Domar, Nilphmari Maize On-farm 1 November 26, 2018 12. Sadar, Dinajpur Potato On-farm 1 December 02, 2018 13. Sadar, Dinajpur Maize On-farm 1 December 09, 2018 Total 13


Figure 2. Location of Established On-Farm and On-Station Trials on Non-Rice Crops Through December 2018


Field Demonstrations

The project supports a series of on-farm

demonstrations that display the highest yield

and/or most cost-conserving practices as

compared to current farmer practices. In

particular, demonstrations focus on improved

soil management and GAPs.

Technology/methods and results demonstration

is an important activity of the SSMC program.

The demonstration plots consist of two subplots

in rice and three subplots in non-rice crops, each

measuring 200 square meters. The treatments for

rice include: (T1) farmers’ practice; and (T2)

OCP compound fertilizer (NPSZn) with other recommended fertilizers with liming, keeping other

management practices constant. In non-rice crops, treatments included T1, T2, and (T3) OCP compound

fertilizer (NPSB) with other recommended fertilizers with liming, keeping other management practices

constant.

In the reporting period, 50 demonstrations were established out of the targeted 50, among which 10 were

in rice and 40 were in non-rice crops. Through December 2018, 110 demonstrations were established

out of the targeted 110, among which 30 were in rice and 80 were in non-rice crops. Ten Boro

demonstrations will be established in Year 3. Appendix 3 provides the details of demonstrations by crop.

Status of Rice Demonstrations

There were 10 T. Aman rice field demonstrations planned, and all demonstrations were established. The

status of demonstrations is presented in Table 12. Figure 3 shows the locations of established rice

demonstration plots using a global positioning system (GPS) device.

Table 12. Status of Rice Demonstrations 2018

Demonstration Crop Target Established

Harvest Completed

T. Aman 10 10 10 Source: SSMC database.

T. Aman Demonstration Plot at Gabtali of Bogra


Figure 3. Location of Established Rice Demonstration Plots Through December 2018


Results of T. Aman Demonstrations

SSMC has harvested all 10 established T. Aman demonstration plots. These demonstrations were

established and harvested to determine the influence of OCP compound fertilizer and GAPs on T. Aman

yield and the cost of balanced fertilization. The total nutrient content used in the T. Aman demonstrations

is presented in Table 13.

Table 13. Nutrients Used Under Various Treatments in T. Aman Demonstration Plots 2018

Nutrient

T1 T2

Farmer Practices

OCP Compound Fertilizer (NPSZn) + Straight Fertilizer

(kg/ha)

N 85.73 89.5 (9+80.5)

P2O5 45.16 33.75 (33.75)

K 44.48 50 (50)

S 10.11 11.90 (3.75+8.15)

Zn 0.53 0.75 (0.75)

Dolomite 1,000

Note: The first figure in parentheses is the quantity of OCP mixed fertilizer, and

the second figure is the additional quantity of straight fertilizer added as per the

Fertilizer Recommendation Guide – 2012 of the Bangladesh Agricultural

Research Council (BARC).

Influence of OCP Compound Fertilizers on Yield and Fertilizer Cost on T. Aman 2018

In T. Aman 2018, SSMC-IFDC established 10 demonstrations in 10 upazilas. In these demonstrations,

the project used only three modern high-yielding varieties, BRRIdhan 49, BRRIdhan 51, and

BRRIdhan 52. Table 14 compares the grain yield increase with NPSZn compound fertilizer (0.58 mt/ha)

over farmers’ practice; the results are statistically significant. However, from an economic point of view,

OCP compound fertilizers with balanced doses of nutrients incur a higher cost than farmers’ practice

plots. T. Aman farmers in this zone do not use lime and micronutrients to address soil acidity and are not

interested in using a balanced dose of nutrients, including micronutrients. Details on the complete results

of the 10 demonstrations are provided in Appendix 4.

Table 14. Influence of OCP Compound Fertilizer on T. Aman Yield and Fertilizer Cost, SSMC Demonstration Plots 2018

Items Average Cost of Fertilizer (Tk/ha)

Average Yield (kg/ha)

T1-Farmer Practice 7,849 a 5.41 b

T2-NPSZn+Straight Fertilizer With Lime 7,966 a 5.99 a

Mean 7,932 5.82

CV 12.14 3.99

LSD (0.05) 905 0.22

Difference (T2-T1) 117 0.58 Source: SSMC 10 demonstration plots, T. Aman 2018.

Note: Within a column, mean values followed by the same letters are not significantly different.


SSMC further estimated the yield difference of one type of OCP compound fertilizer and straight

fertilizer with lime over farmers’ practice, which is presented in Table 15. Figure 4 indicates yield

increased with OCP fertilizer. The highest incremental yield increase (i.e., 0.58 mt/ha) over farmers’

practice was obtained from the NPSZn treatment of compound and straight fertilizer plots.

Table 15. Yield Performance of OCP Compound Fertilizer and Straight Fertilizer over Farmers’ Practice

OCP Fertilizer

Average Yield (mt/ha) Incremental Yield (mt/ha)

T1 Farmers’ Practices

T2 OCP Compound

Fertilizer (NPSZn) + Straight Fertilizer With

Lime

T1

Farmers’ Practices

T2 OCP Compound

Fertilizer (NPSZn) + Straight Fertilizer With

Lime

NPSZn 5.41 5.99 5.41 0.58


Figure 4. Average Incremental Yield Increase in T. Aman 2018 in OCP Compound Fertilizer NPSZn and Straight Fertilizer With Lime

5.41 5.99

0.58

-

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

T1 Farmer Practices T2 OCP compound

fertilizer + straight fertilizer

with lime

Incremental yield

Yie

ld (

mt/

ha)

Average Incremental Yield Increase in T. Aman 2018 in OCP

Compound Fertilizer NPSZn and Straight Fertilizer


Status of Non-Rice Crop Demonstrations

Forty field demonstrations were planned for non-

rice crops. All demonstrations were established

on time. The status of demonstration is presented

in Table 16. Figure 5 shows locations of 40 non-

rice demonstration plots using a GPS device.

Table 16. Status of Non-Rice Crop Demonstrations Through December 2018

Demonstration Crop Target Established Harvest Completed

Wheat 10 10

Harvesting will be done

in Year 3

Potato 10 10

Maize 10 10

Lentil 10 10

Total 40 40 Note: Harvesting of non-rice crop demonstrations will start from the second week of February

2019 and will be reported in the fifth half-yearly report.

T. Aman Demonstration Plot at Gabtali of Bogra


Figure 5. Location of Established Non-Rice Crop Demonstrations Through December 2018


Upazila Agriculture Officers and Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officers of DAE Orientation Program

The main objective of holding this program was to acquaint the participants on the different activities of

SSMC and introduce them to the SSMC work plan. The focal point, concerned deputy directors, upazila

agriculture officers (UAOs), horticulturists, and relevant sub-assistant agriculture officers (SAAOs)

attended the orientation program. Participants were briefed about the guidelines regarding farmers’

training and the establishment of demonstration plots, field days, and crop cuts. Modules followed during

training programs were PowerPoint and oral presentations, group discussions in a participatory

approach, and practical demonstrations on identification techniques of adulterated fertilizers. In the

reporting period, two orientation programs were conducted with UAOs and SAAOs of DAE on SSMC

activities (Table 17). The detailed number of participants in the orientation program is presented in

Appendix 5.

Table 17. Orientation Training of Upazila Agriculture Officers and Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officers Through December 2018

Sl. # District Upazila Venue Batches Male Female Total

1 Rangpur Sadar Training Room, SRDI,

Rangpur 1 22 6 28

2 Rajshahi Sadar Training Room, AD

Office, DAE, Rajshahi 1 33 1 34

Total 2 55 7 62

Demonstration Crop Cut and Field Days

Field days were typically organized on the day of

the crop cut of the demonstration plots so that

participating farmers can observe the method and

results of the application of OCP compound

fertilizers and GAP technology. In addition, the

yield and profitability results of improved

nutrient management and GAPs applied in the

field were highlighted. Participants also shared

their experiences through question-and-answer

sessions with demonstration farmers as well as

SSMC senior staff and DAE field officials. In the

reporting period, four field days were held. A

total of 429 participants attended the four field

days, of which 117 were women farmers (27%); 23 participants were fertilizer retailers, and the 289

other participants included male farmers, DAE field officials, media personnel, local leaders, and other

project staff. The status of field days is presented in Table 18. Appendix 6 indicates the total number of

field days organized by upazila.

Crop Harvest from a T. Aman Demonstration Plot


Table 18. Participation in Demonstration Field Days Through December 2018

Reporting Period Batches Male Female Total

Farmers Fertilizer Retailers

Total Participants

Year 1 (Jan-Dec 2017) 5 352 136 488 21 509

Total Year 1 5 352 136 488 21 509

Year 2 (Jan-June 2018) 25 1,819 601 2,420 107 2,527

Year 2 (Jul-Dec 2018) 4 289 117 406 23 429

Total Year 2 29 2,108 718 2,826 130 2,956

Total Project 34 2,460 854 3,314 151 3,465

Farmer Training

Farmers’ Selection

The farmer training programs were designed to

improve farmers’ knowledge on improved nutrient

management with emphasis on increasing

awareness and knowledge about GAPs, the

importance of liming in acidic soils, and the role of

micronutrients and compound fertilizers.

Training took place in batches of 30 farmers; each

batch consisted of 25 progressive farmers,

including demonstration farmers and five fertilizer

retailers. Farmers were trained by Deputy

Directors, UAOs, SAAOs of DAE, and senior staff

and the field coordinator (FC) of SSMC. A total of

60 batches of farmer training were conducted. The

training schedule is as follows: five trainings per crop before planting (5 x 6 crops in Year 1 = 30

trainings) and five at harvest, combined with field days (5 x 6 crops in Year 2 = 30 trainings). The

remaining 33 will be conducted in Year 3.

Training Program

In the reporting period, 27 batches of training were conducted with 808 participants (men and women

farmers and fertilizer retailers). Of the 808 trained participants, 681 were progressive farmers, including

27 demonstration farmers, 95 (12%) were women, and 127 were fertilizer retailers. Through December

2018, 87 batches of farmer training were conducted with 2,603 participants. Of which, 2,210 were

progressive farmers, 393 were fertilizer retailers, and 335 (13%) were female farmers. Modules followed

during training programs included PowerPoint and oral presentations, group discussions in a

participatory approach, and practical demonstrations on identification techniques of adulterated

micronutrient fertilizers. The number of farmers attending the training is provided in Table 19. The

number of participants in the training program is presented in Appendix 7. Figure 6 shows the location

of farmers’ training venues.

Farmers’ Training on Increasing Awareness and Knowledge About GAPs


Table 19. Farmers’ Training Conducted Through December 2018

Reporting Year Batches

Farmers

Fertilizer Retailers

Total Participants Male Female

Total Farmers



Year 1 33 709 131 840 147 987



Year 2 54 1,166 204 1,370 246 1,616

Total 87 1,875 335 2,210 393 2,603


Figure 6. Location of Farmers’ Training Venue Through December 2018


Fourth Steering Committee Meeting of SSMC Project

The Fourth Steering Committee meeting was held

at the IFDC office in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on

November 18, 2018. The meeting was chaired by

Mr. Abdelmonim Elkanit. Mr. Abu Bakar

Siddique, Joint Secretary, Agriculture Inputs,

Ministry of Agriculture, was also present in the

meeting. Attendees included IFDC Regional

Director of Asia, Ishrat Jahan; Rouini Imadeddine,

Project Manager, OCP Foundation; Senior

Manager, Support Agronomical, OCP Company;

Mr. Tarik Boudiar, Senior Sales Manager, India

and Middle East, Executive Commercial, OCP

Group; Dr. A.S.M. Mahbubur Rahman, Chief

Scientific Officer (CSO) and Head of OFRD,

BARI; Dr. Aminul Islam, CSO, BRRI; Dr. Gazi

Zainul Abedin, SSO, SRDI; Kazi Md. Saiful Islam, Additional Director (Inputs), DAE; Mr. Mashe Ul Haque,

Deputy Manager (Sales), Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC); Dr. Apurba Kanti

Choudhury, CSO, OFRD, BARI; Dr. Shaharuk Ahmed, Senior Agriculture Specialist, SSMC, IFDC; Mr.

Mainul Ahsan, Senior Soil Scientist, SSMC, IFDC; and Mr. Afzal Mahmood Hossain, M&E Specialist. In

accordance with the agenda, the IFDC Regional Director of Asia made a PowerPoint presentation on the

progress achieved through October 2018 under SSMC. BARI and BRRI focal points presented the trial results

of maize and Boro rice. After a detailed review of the presentations, all of the members participated in the

discussion and appreciated the outcome of the activities achieved so far. After the meeting, the committee

members attended field visits in Rangpur and Syedpur. The minutes were prepared and submitted to OCP

Foundation. The minutes of the steering committee meeting is presented in Appendix 8.

Media Coverage

The project regularly invites members of the electronic and print media to different events for wider

coverage. These events are reported and/or broadcast on several television channels, in local/national

newspapers, and online. Details on media coverage of the SSMC project are provided in Appendix 9.

Estimated Budget and Actual Expenditure

SSMC is incurring costs as planned. The actual expenses incurred totaled U.S. $439,056.72 through

December 2018, or 92% against the estimated budget through December 2018 (U.S. $ 478426.38) and

64% of the total budget. Details of the expenses are provided in Table 20.

Participants in the Fourth Steering Committee Meeting on November 18, 2018


Table 20. Financial Achievement Against Estimated Budget in U.S. $ Through December 2018

Line Item Total Budget

Expense Through

December 2018 Percent

Achieved

Personnel, fringe benefits, and allowances 363,788.00 215,398.05 59%

Travel and transportation 100,216.00 42,070.23 42%

Program activities 170,225.00 106,622.25 63%

Office operations 41,236.00 26,182.11 63%

Total direct costs 675,465.00 390,272.64 58%

Overhead 75,039.00 48,784.08 65%

Total SSMC Activity Amount 750,504.00 439,056.72 59%


Appendix 1. Gross Margin Per Hectare for Different Treatments Applied in T. Aman 2018 SSMC Demonstration Plots

Item Unit Unit Price

(Tk)

T1=Farmer Practice

T2=NPSZn+ Straight Fertilizer

With Lime

Units/ha Tk/ha Units/ha Tk/ha Total return, of which Tk 103,872 115,008

Yield mt 16,525 5.41 89,400 5.99 98,985

Straw mt 2,675 5.41 14,472 5.99 16,023

Total cost Tk 57,784 62,901

Human labor (hired) Person

day/ha 315 93 29,300 93 29,300

Land preparation

(Power tiller) Rent/ha 6,985 1 6,985 1 6,985

Seed kg 62 62.50 3,850 62.50 3,850

Fertilizer Tk/ha 7,849 7,966

Prilled urea kg 16 171 2,791 175 2,853

TSP kg 23 61 1,430 - -

DAP kg 26 39 1,005 - -

MOP kg 16 89 1,407 100 1,580

Gypsum kg 13 56 766 45 591

Zinc sulfate kg 180 2.50 450 - -

OCP compound kg NPSZn=39 75 2,943

Pesticides tk/ha 4,880 1 4,880 1 4,880

Irrigation cost tk/ha 4,920 1 4,920 1 4,920

Soil management tk/ha 5,000 - - 1 5,000

Gross Margin

(return-cost) Tk 46,088 52,107

Benefit-Cost Ratio

(return/cost) Ratio 1.80 1.83

Source: SSMC T. Aman 2018 Demonstration Plots (10 Demos).

Notes:

1. The gross margin is the difference between total return and total cost. The benefit-cost ratio is total return divided by

total cost.

2. Human labor includes transplanting/seeding; fertilizer application; pesticides application; weeding; harvest and post-

harvest.

3. Figures are rounded.


Appendix 2. On-Farm and On-Station Trials Established for Rice and Non-Rice Crops Through December 2018

Sl. # Location

Name of the Crop

Category of Trial

Number of Established

Trials Date of Sowing On-farm and on-station field trials on rice crops

1

Kurigram

Sadar,

Kurigram

T.

Aman On-farm 1 July, 24, 2017

2 Pirganj,

Rangpur

T.

Aman On-farm 1 July 23, 2017

3 Pirganj,

Rangpur Boro On-farm 1 June 22, 2017

4 Rajshahi

Sadar Boro On-station 2 June 6, 2017

5

Kurigram

Sadar,

Kurigram

Boro On-farm 1 June 23, 2017

Total rice 6

On-farm and on-station field trials on non-rice crops

6

OFRD,

BARI

Research

Station,

Rangpur

Lentil On-station 1 Nov. 12, 2018

7

OFRD,

BARI

Research

Station,

Rangpur


8

OFRD,

BARI

Research

Station,

Rangpur

Potato On-station 1 Nov. 15, 2018

9

OFRD,

BARI

Research

Station,

Bogra


10

OFRD,

BARI

Research

Station,

Bogra



11

OFRD,

BARI

Research

Station,

Rangpur

Maize On-station 1 Nov. 17, 2018

12

OFRD,

BARI

Research

Station,

Rangpur

Maize On-station 1 Nov. 20, 2017

13

OFRD,

BARI

Research

Station,

Bogra

Wheat On-station 1 Nov. 20, 2018

14

OFRD,

BARI

Research

Station,

Bogra

Wheat On-station 1 Nov. 20, 2017

15

Amnura,

Chapai

Nawabganj

Wheat On-farm 1 Nov. 26, 2018

16

Amnura,

Chapai

Nawabganj

Wheat On-farm 1 Nov. 23, 2017

17

Godagari,

Chapai

Nawabganj

Lentil On-farm 1 Nov. 24, 2018

18 Ulipur,

Kurigram Lentil On-farm 2 Nov. 16, 2017

19

OFRD,

Shyampur,

Rajshahi


20 Domar,

Nilphmari Maize On-farm 1 Nov. 26, 2018

21 Domar,

Nilphmari Maize On-farm 1 Nov. 30, 2017

22 Sadar,

Dinajpur Maize On-farm 1 Dec. 9, 2018

23 Sadar,

Dinajpur Maize On-farm 1 Dec. 23, 2017

24 OFRD,

Dinajpur Maize On-station 1 Nov. 29, 2018

25 Domar,

Nilphmari Potato On-farm 1 Nov. 23, 2018

26 Sadar,

Dinajpur Potato On-farm 1 Dec. 2, 2018


27 Domar,

Nilphmari Potato On-farm 1 Nov. 30, 2017

28 Sadar,

Dinajpur Potato On-farm 1 Nov. 22, 2017

Total non-

rice crops 24

Total

trials 30



Appendix 3. Demonstration Established for Rice and Non-Rice Crops Through December 2018

Districts Upazilas Block

Total Year

1

Rice Crops Non-Rice Crops

Total

Total Year 1 and 2 T. Aman Potato Maize Wheat Lentil

Bogra Gabtali Domor 2 1 1 2 4 Noruya Mala 3 1 1 2 5 Sub-Total: 5 1 2 1 - - 4 9 Shajahanpur Domonpukur 1 1 1 2 Gharna 1 - 1 Kharna 1 1 1 2 Subrul 2 1 1 2 4 Sub-Total: 5 1 2 1 - - 4 9 Total: 10 2 4 2 - - 8 18

Chapai

Nawabganj Gomastapur Chotodadpur 2 1 1 3

Jenarpur 1 1 1 2 Rahonpur 2 1 1 2 4 Sub-Total: 5 1 - - 1 2 4 9 Nachole Baghrail 2 1 1 3 Lakhmipur 2 1 1 2 4 Najampur 1 1 1 2 Vatsha 1 1 1 2 Sub-Total: 6 1 - - 1 3 5 11 Total: 11 2 - - 2 5 9 20

Dinajpur Chirirbandar Auliapukur 1 1 1 2 3 Fotejonpur 3 1 1 4 Jot Satnala 1 1 1 2 Sub-Total: 5 1 1 1 1 - 4 9

Dinajpur

Sadar Chehelgazi 1 1 1 2

Ramnagar 3 1 1 4 Sundarbon 2 1 1 1 3 5 Sub-Total: 6 1 1 2 1 - 5 11 Total: 11 2 2 3 2 - 9 20

Kurigram Kurigram

Sadar

Horishor

Kaloya 2 1 1 1 3 5

Kahlisha

Kaloya 1 1 1 2

Palash Bari Bel 1 - 1 Sub-Total: 4 1 1 1 1 - 4 8 Nageshwari Balorampur 1 - 1 Paurashava 3 1 1 1 3 6 Sub-Total: 4 1 1 1 - - 3 7 Total: 8 2 2 2 1 - 7 15

Natore Lalpur Duplia 1 1 1 2 Gopalpur 1 1 1 2 Walia 2 1 1 2 4 Sub-Total: 4 - - - 1 3 4 8

Natore

Sadar Baro Horishpur 2 1 1 3

Dastanabad 2 1 1 2 4 Hazratpur 2 1 1 3


Districts Upazilas Block

Total Year

1

Rice Crops Non-Rice Crops

Total

Total Year 1 and 2 T. Aman Potato Maize Wheat Lentil

Sub-Total: 6 - - - 2 2 4 10 Total: 10 - - - 3 5 8 18

Nilphamari Nilphamari

Sadar Itkholla 2 1 1 1 3 5

Kishamotdalua 1 - 1 Polasbari 3 1 1 2 5 Sub-Total: 6 1 1 2 1 - 5 11 Saidpur Bromouttar 2 1 1 3 Kamarpukur 2 1 1 1 3 5 Sub-Total: 4 1 1 1 1 - 4 8 Total: 10 2 2 3 2 - 9 19 Grand Total: 60 10 10 10 10 10 50 110



Appendix 4. Detailed Data by Upazila for SSMC Demonstrations in T. Aman 2018

District Upazila Block Village Variety

Farmer Practice

Yield (mt/ha)

NPSZn+ Straight Fertilizer

With Lime Yield (mt/ha)

Bogra Gabtali Naruamala Naruamala BRRI dhan 49 5.85 6.55

Bogra Shajahanpur Subrul Nondokul BRRI dhan 49 4.96 5.97

Chapai

Nawabganj Gomastapur Rohanpur Missinpara BRRI dhan 51 4.79 5.20

Chapai

Nawabganj Nachole Laxmipur Borenda BRRI dhan 51 5.77 5.76

Dinajpur Chirirbandar Aulia Pukur Uttar

Volanathpur BRRI dhan 49 4.71 5.26

Dinajpur Dinajpur Sadar Sundarbon Sundarbon BRRI dhan 51 6.38 7.06

Kurigram Kurigram Sadar Horishwar

Kaloya Taluk Kaloya BRRI dhan 49 5.61 6.17

Kurigram Nageshwari Pourasava Balatari BRRI dhan 52 5.12 5.85

Nilphamari Nilphamari Sadar Itakhola Itakhola BRRI dhan 52 5.55 6.32

Nilphamari Saidpur Kamarpukur Bakshapara BRRI dhan 52 5.39 5.76

Average 5.41 5.99

Source: SSMC 10 demonstration plots, T. Aman 2018.

Appendix 5. Number of Participants by Gender in the Orientation Program

Sl. # District Host Upazila Year 1

Year 2 (July-December

2018)Z Total

(Year 1 and 2) B M F T B M F T B M F T

1 Nilphamari Saidpur 1 23 3 26 1 23 3 26

2 Natore Natore Sadar 1 26 1 27 1 26 1 27

3 Rangpur Sadar 1 22 6 28 1 22 6 28

4 Rajshahi Sadar 1 33 1 34 1 33 1 34

Total 2 49 4 53 2 55 7 62 4 104 11 115 Note: B=Batches, M=Male, F=Female, and T=Total.


SSMC Fourth Half-Yearly Report | July-December 2018 37

Appendix 6. Field Days Organized Through December 2018

District Upazila

Up to June 2018 July-December 2018 Total Project

Ba

tch

es

Ma

le

Fem

ale

To

tal

Farm

ers

Fert

iliz

er

Re

tail

ers

To

tal

Pa

rtic

ipan

ts

Ba

tch

es

Ma

le

Fem

ale

To

tal

Farm

ers

Fert

iliz

er

Re

tail

ers

To

tal

Pa

rtic

ipan

ts

Ba

tch

es

Ma

le

Fem

ale

Tota

l

Farm

ers

Fer

tili

zer

Ret

ail

ers

Tota

l

Part

icip

an

ts

Bogra Gabtali 2 123 65 188 10 198 1 94 5 99 5 104 3 217 70 287 15 302

Shajahanpur 2 163 34 197 7 204 - - 2 163 34 197 7 204

Sub-Total: 4 286 99 385 17 402 1 94 5 99 5 104 5 380 104 484 22 506

Chapai Nawabganj Gomastapur 3 283 14 297 15 312 - - 3 283 14 297 15 312

Nachole 2 159 35 194 10 204 - - 2 159 35 194 10 204

Sub-Total: 5 442 49 491 25 516 - - - - - - 5 442 49 491 25 516

Dinajpur Chirirbandar 4 284 104 388 16 404 - - 4 284 104 388 16 404

Dinajpur Sadar 3 206 83 289 14 303 1 45 55 100 4 104 4 251 138 389 18 407

Sub-Total: 7 490 187 677 30 707 1 45 55 100 4 104 8 535 242 777 34 811

Kurigram Kurigram Sadar 3 181 117 298 11 309 - - 3 181 117 298 11 309

Nageshwari 1 58 42 100 5 105 1 94 6 100 4 104 2 152 48 200 9 209

Sub-Total: 4 239 159 398 16 414 1 94 6 100 4 104 5 333 165 498 20 518

Natore Lalpur 3 221 80 301 15 316 - - 3 221 80 301 15 316

Natore Sadar 3 228 43 271 12 283 - - 3 228 43 271 12 283

Sub-Total: 6 449 123 572 27 599 - - - - - - 6 449 123 572 27 599

Nilphamari Nilphamari Sadar 4 265 120 385 13 398 - - 4 265 120 385 13 398

Saidpur - - - - - - 1 56 51 107 10 117 1 56 51 107 10 117

Sub-Total: 4 265 120 385 13 398 1 56 51 107 10 117 5 321 171 492 23 515

Grand-Total: 30 2,171 737 2,908 128 3,036 4 289 117 406 23 429 34 2,460 854 3,314 151 3,465



Appendix 7. Farmers Trained Through December 2018

District Upazila

Up to June 2018 July-December 2018 Total Project (Year 1 and 2)

Ba

tch

es

Ma

le

Fem

ale

To

tal

Fert

iliz

er

Re

tail

ers

To

tal

Pa

rtic

ipan

ts

Ba

tch

es

Ma

le

Fem

ale

To

tal

Fert

iliz

er

Re

tail

ers

To

tal

Pa

rtic

ipan

ts

Ba

tch

es

Ma

le

Fem

ale

To

tal

Fert

iliz

er

Re

tail

ers

To

tal

Pa

rtic

ipan

ts

Bogra Gabtali 5 99 27 126 24 150 3 64 12 76 14 90 8 163 39 202 38 240

Shajahanpur 5 108 23 131 19 150 2 45 8 53 7 60 7 153 31 184 26 210

Sub-Total: 10 207 50 257 43 300 5 109 20 129 21 150 15 316 70 386 64 450

Chapai

Nawabganj

Gomastapur 5 113 12 125 25 150 1 21 4 25 5 30 6 134 16 150 30 180

Nachole 6 131 23 154 26 180 3 64 13 77 13 90 9 195 36 231 39 270

Sub-Total: 11 244 35 279 51 330 4 85 17 102 18 120 15 329 52 381 69 450

Dinajpur Chirirbandar 5 112 13 125 24 149 2 50 0 50 10 60 7 162 13 175 34 209

Dinajpur Sadar 6 124 31 155 24 179 2 41 8 49 11 60 8 165 39 204 35 239

Sub-Total: 11 236 44 280 48 328 4 91 8 99 21 120 15 327 52 379 69 448

Kurigram Kurigram Sadar 4 85 16 101 19 120 2 43 8 51 9 60 6 128 24 152 28 180

Nageshwari 4 87 17 104 16 120 1 19 6 25 5 30 5 106 23 129 21 150

Sub-Total: 8 172 33 205 35 240 3 62 14 76 14 90 11 234 47 281 49 330

Natore Lalpur 4 82 17 99 20 119 2 42 8 50 10 60 6 124 25 149 30 179

Natore Sadar 6 135 18 153 27 180 3 65 9 74 14 88 9 200 27 227 41 268

Sub-Total: 10 217 35 252 47 299 5 107 17 124 24 148 15 324 52 376 71 447

Nilphamari Nilphamari Sadar 6 132 23 155 23 178 3 71 5 76 14 90 9 203 28 231 37 268

Saidpur 4 81 20 101 19 120 3 61 14 75 15 90 7 142 34 176 34 210

Sub-Total: 10 213 43 256 42 298 6 132 19 151 29 180 16 345 62 407 71 478

Grand-

Total: 60 1,289 240 1,529 266 1,795 27 586 95 681 127 808 87 1,875 335 2,210 393 2,603



Appendix 8. Minutes of Third Steering Committee Meeting

Minutes of the Fourth Steering Committee Meeting of the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)-Implemented Sustainable Soil

Fertility Management Component (SSMC) of OCP Foundation’s Agricultural Development Project

The meeting was held at the IFDC SSMC Office in Dhaka, Bangladesh on November 18, 2018,

from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. The agenda of the meeting and the list of participants who presented

in the meeting are attached at Annex 1 and Annex 2, respectively.

Discussion and Presentation Mr. El Kenit, in the opening discussion, extended his thanks to IFDC for attending and organizing

the meeting by bringing all participants from the government sector. He mentioned that both OCP

Foundation and OCP Group were happy to see the progress made by IFDC in investigating the

efficacy of OCP blended fertilizers in the northern districts of Bangladesh through trials by

national research institutes. Both Mr. Imad and Mr. Tarik expressed their gratitude, pleased with

the way IFDC is working with various stakeholders. They reiterated that OCP and IFDC both

would like to exchange farmers’ traditional practices with good agronomic practices and

encourage them to use balanced fertilizer to ensure higher income through higher productivity.

The IFDC Regional Director of Asia, Ms. Ishrat Jahan, welcomed all the participants to the

meeting and encouraged their continuous support to the project. She informed the participants

about the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and its affiliated organizations.

Presentation by IFDC In accordance with the agenda, the Ms. Jahan made a PowerPoint (PPT) presentation on the

progress achieved through October 2018 under SSMC. Also, results of three crops, whose harvest

was 100% completed by October 2018, were presented. She mentioned that, in the last meeting,

the results of the three crops had already been reported. Ms. Jahan also mentioned that the progress

of some of the activities are low, since those were tied with the season. However, all of the

activities will be 100% completed by Year 3. The trial and demonstration results of OCP products

show better performance in terms of achieving additional yield and gross margin over farmers’

practice. On a query from Mr. Imad, the IFDC M&E Specialist mentioned that, while calculating

the cost of the OCP fertilizer, IFDC calculated the cost of each of the nutrients, taking the weighted

average price in the market. Ms. Jahan also said that IFDC received 500 kg of NPKSB fertilizer in

August 2018. This product will be tested in the ongoing winter season by BARI on non-rice crops

(lentil, potato, maize, and wheat) and the results will be reported next year after harvest of the

crops.

Presentation by BRRI and BARI BARI presented the results of the maize crops, which show that all the three OCP compound

fertilizers performed better, compared with recommended fertilizer and farmers’ practice with

respect to maize yield. In the last steering committee meeting, similar findings with potato, lentil,

and wheat were shared.


BRRI conducted six on-station and on-farm trials in Aman 2017-18 and Boro 2018 rice. Aman

was completely harvested, and the results were presented in the last steering committee meeting.

In this meeting, results of Boro crops were presented. The Boro results were found to be even

better than the Aman crops in terms yield increment over farmers’ practice and recommended

doses of fertilizers.

Decisions After discussion, the following decisions were made:

1. OCP, through its local dealer in Bangladesh, will include all three products in the government-

approved list. As per advice of the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, a meeting for this

purpose will be organized in the office of the Chairman of BADC on November 22. IFDC will

facilitate this meeting in consultation with OCP team members.

2. Both BARI and BRRI will present their trial results when all focal points and relevant officials

of BADC will be present.

3. The next meeting of the SSMC steering committee will be held in Morocco between the middle

and end of April 2019. The world’s largest agricultural trade fair will take place in Morocco

during that time. This will allow the steering committee members to be exposed to the

agriculture sector of Morocco.

The meeting ended with vote of thanks from both OCP Group and IFDC.

(Imadeddine ROUINI) (Ishrat Jahan)

Project Manager Regional Director of Asia

International Development Program IFDC

OCP Foundation


Annex 1. Agenda of the Fourth Steering Committee Meeting of the OCP-Funded SSMC

Project

Sl. No. Item Time

1. Opening Remarks by Chairperson 10:00 am – 10:05 am

2. Confirmation of the decisions of the Third

Steering Committee Meeting held on May 9,

2018

10:05 am – 10:10 am

3. Presentation on SSMC Progress of Work by

IFDC through October 2018 10:10 am – 10:30 am

4. Presentation on the Maize and Wheat Trial

by BARI 10:30 am – 11:00 am

5. Presentation on the Boro 2017-18 Trial by

BRRI 11:00 pm – 11:15 pm

6. Progress of Work Reported by DAE 11:15 pm – 11:30 pm

7. Discussions and Decisions 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm

8. Lunch and Prayer 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm


Annex 2. List of Participants


Appendix 9. Media Coverage of SSMC Activities from July-December 2018

Sl. No. News Heading Media

Date/ Time Link

A. Electronic Media

1 Organize farmers training at Shahjahanpur, Bogra Mohona TV Oct. 11,

2018 https://youtu.be/9OjUz3qgQQc

2 Organize farmers training at Gabtali, Bogra ntv Oct. 12,

2018 https://youtu.be/VfQeoiCc9zw

3 Organize farmers training at Sadar, Nilphamari MKTV (Local) Oct. 13,

2018 https://youtu.be/oEUPE_mc7qs

4 Organize farmers training at Sadar, Dinajpur Channel I Oct. 18,

2018

5 Organize farmers training at Gabtali, Bogra Mohona TV Oct. 19,

2018

6 Organize farmers field crop cut at Gabtali, Bogra ntv Nov. 1, 20-

18 https://youtu.be/pjWdjS8s5Z8

7 Organize field days at Saidpur, Nilphamari Channel I Nov. 29,

2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch

?v=10mdFuwjoB8&feature=yo

utu.be

A. Print Media

(i) Local News Paper

1 Organize farmers training at Kurigram Sadar,

Kurigram

The Daily

Bayannoralo

July 4,

2018 Hard copy of news documented.

2 Organize farmers training at Nilphamari Sadar,

Nilphamari

The Daily Khola

Kagog

July 18,


3 Organize farmers training at Chirirbandar, Dinajpur The Daily Vorer

Dorpon

July 18,


4 Organize farmers training at Gabtali, Bogra The Daily

Provather Alo

July 5,



Duronto Songbad

July 5,


6 Organize farmers training at Gabtali, Bogra The Daily Mukto

Zamin

July 5,



Sokal

July 5,



Chandni Bazar

July 5,


9 Organize farmers training at Nachole, Chapai

Nawabganj

The Daily Gour

Bangla

Aug. 2,



Nawabganj

The Daily Chapai

Chitroo

Aug. 2,


11 Organize farmers training at Gomastapur, Chapai

Nawabganj

The Daily Gour

Bangla

Sept. 26,



Nawabganj

The Daily Lal

Golap

Sept. 26,



Nawabganj

The Daily Natun

Provat

Sept. 26,


14 Organize farmers training at Sadar, Natore The Daily Natorer

Khabar

Sept. 27,



Nawabganj

The Daily Chapai

Chitroo

Oct. 5,


https://youtu.be/9OjUz3qgQQc

https://youtu.be/VfQeoiCc9zw

https://youtu.be/oEUPE_mc7qs

https://youtu.be/pjWdjS8s5Z8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10mdFuwjoB8&feature=youtu.be




Sl. No. News Heading Media

Date/ Time Link


Nawabganj

The Daily Gour

Bangla

Oct. 5,



JaiJaidin

Oct, 10,



Sokal

Oct. 10,



Chandni Bazar

Oct. 10,



Zamin

Oct. 10,



Shokoler Khobor

Oct. 10,


22 Organize farmers training at Shajahanpur, Bogra The Daily Vorer

Dak

Oct. 11,



Kurigram

The Dainik Juger

Alo

Oct. 30,



Kurigram

The Daily

Prothom Khobor

Oct. 30,


25 Organize farmers training at Shajahanpur The Daily

Shokoler Khobor

Nov. 8,


26 Organize farmers training at Lalpur, Natore The Daily Amar

Songbad

Nov. 8,


27 Organize farmers training and field day at

Nageshwari, Kurigram

The Daily Amar

Songbad

Nov. 21,




The Daily Juger

Sangbad

Nov. 21,




The Daily Dainik

Saif

Nov. 21,




The Daily

Amader Protidin

Nov. 21,




The Daily Vorer

Dorpon

Nov. 21,




The Daily

Bayannoralo

Nov. 21,


Sustainable Soil Management Component (SSMC) of OCP ......implementation of the Sustainable Soil Management Component (SSMC) of OCP Foundation’s Agricultural Development Project

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