AAPI 7th Quarterly Report Apr-June 2012 - AAPI (Accelerating ...

Aus 2012 – Planting of the Aus crop started in April. Lack of rain caused significant
delays in transplantation and the resultant UDP. Figure 1 shows the relationship between
rainfall and UDP coverage. Mymensingh and Sherpur were most affected and the
transplanting did not start until June. By the end of the quarter there was an estimated 6
375,966 farmers using UDP on 117,260 ha of transplanted Aus land. This is only 70% of the
coverage target. The achievement is completely due to the lack of rainfall and the resultant
decline in transplantation. Farmers refused to irrigate after the low rice price received for
their Boro crop. Those in the tidal belt in the south did get tidal water and were able to plant a
crop. Figure 1 shows that when the rain did come in May the transplantation and UDP
coverage saw a sharp rise as opposed to the gradual lead in to the season that is seen in other
years. However by the time the rain came the seedlings in seed beds sown in March were too
old for transplantation. In Mymensingh and Sherpur districts the season was essentially
abandoned and farmers opted to plant an early Aman crop.
UDP coverage and rainfall
70000
450
M&S
UDP coverage (ha)
60000
50000
40000
30000
20000
10000
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
Rainfall (mm)
FTF
Average 12
stations
2012
Long term
average
0
0
Figure 1.
Trend in UDP Coverage for Aus 2012 against rainfall
Table 7 provides the estimated areas covered. The HYV/hybrid areas are those used
in the scaleup operational plan. At June 26, it was estimated that only 55% of the Aus area
has been transplanted in the FtF districts and 30% in M&S, although in some of the upazilas
in the tidal flood plains of the south it was as high as 100%. The DAE are setting July 15 as
end of Aus transplantation. When the block survey is undertaken next quarter, any Aus
coverage that occurs in early July will be included. The districts that have achieved their
targets in Table 7, such as Barguna, Barisal, Patuakhali and Jalakati have all benefited by
6 Estimated by FMO in weekly reports. To be verified by Block Survey next quarter.
14