Staff reporter: In a significant boost to sustainable agriculture, thousands of farmers across the Barind Tract are adopting water-saving rice cultivation techniques that contribute to both climate resilience and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The "Climate Resilient Agricultural Advancement in Barind (CRAAB)" project launched in July 2023, funded by HSBC Bank and implemented by Sustainable Agriculture Foundation Bangladesh (SAF Bangladesh) with co-implemented by DASCOH Foundation, has successfully trained 4,791 farmers on the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation system.The project aims to reach a total of 25,000 beneficiaries by December 2025.

The Barind Tract, encompassing Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, and Naogaon districts, faces acute water scarcity, particularly during the dry Boro season. Recognizing this challenge, the CRAAB project has focused on promoting AWD, a technology that significantly reduces water consumption while maintaining rice yields. In addition to water conservation, AWD plays a crucial role in mitigating methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas emitted from continuously flooded rice fields. Studies suggest that AWD can reduce methane emissions by 30-50%, aligning with Bangladesh’s climate commitments under the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

From December 2024 to January 2025, SAF Bangladesh and DASCOH Foundation conducted 190 training batches across four key upazilas of the project: Paba, Chapai Sadar, Niamatpur, and Patnitala. These sessions provided farmers with practical knowledge and skills on implementing AWD, emphasizing its role in conserving precious groundwater resources and reducing methane emissions.

"The support from HSBC Bank, and the expert implementation by SAF Bangladesh and co-implementation DASCOH Foundation, has been crucial in driving this positive change," stated B. M. Saidur Rahman, Project Manager, CRAAB Project. "By equipping farmers with AWD techniques, we are not only empowering them to build climate resilience and ensure food security in the region but also contributing to Bangladesh’s efforts to lower methane emissions and achieve its NDC targets."

Farmers who participated in the training have expressed enthusiasm for the AWD system. "We are already seeing the benefits of using less water," said Nazmul Islam, a farmer from Modhuil village under Patnitala Upazila. "The training was very helpful, and we are confident that AWD will help us improve our yields, protect our water resources, and contribute to environmental sustainability."

The CRAAB project’s promotion of AWD also opens avenues for Bangladesh to access carbon credit markets. By reducing methane emissions, AWD adoption could potentially qualify for carbon credits under global climate finance mechanisms, providing an additional incentive for farmers and stakeholders to expand its use.

Aligning with the Bangladesh government's priority on climate-smart agriculture, AWD contributes to the national vision of sustainable water management and greenhouse gas reduction. The initiative supports Bangladesh’s updated NDC, which emphasizes emission reductions in the agriculture sector as part of the broader goal of achieving climate resilience and food security.

HSBC, SAF Bangladesh, and DASCOH Foundation are committed to continuing their efforts to expand the adoption of AWD and other climate-smart agricultural practices in the Barind Tract. The CRAAB project's success underscores the importance of collaborative initiatives in addressing the challenges of climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting sustainable development in Bangladesh.