The On-Farm Research Division (OFRD) is the largest Division of BARI, having one Management Unit (Gazipur) and 28 substations [Rangpur, Dinajpur, Gaibandha, Bogura, Rajshahi (Barind and Shyampur), Pabna, Kushtia, Jashore, Faridpur, Khulna, Gopalganj, Patuakhali, Bhola, Barishal, Noakhali, Bandarban, Cox’sbazar, Chattogram (Hathazari), Sylhet, Cumilla, Kishoreganj, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Tangail, Narsingdi and Manikganj]. OFRD conducts experiments through its 14 Farming Systems Research and Development (FSRD) sites and 85 Multilocation Testing (MLT) sites across the country covering almost all of the agroecological zones (AEZ) of Bangladesh. This division have 75 Scientists, 175 Scientific Assistants and 179 staffs.

GENESIS

The Division was created by G.O. Nos. Krishi-III/1-Sa-3/84/400, 401 & 405; Dated 11 August 1984. Two projects (Extension & Research and Soil Fertility) merged and established the Division.

OBJECTIVES

General

• To bring equitable socio-economic development of resource poor farmers through increased productivity of crops and other components;
• To conserve/improve environmental quality to augment and sustain agricultural productivity.

Specific

• To increase crop yield, total productivity, cropping intensity and economic benefits through development of alternative cropping patterns and improved management practices;

• To improve fertilizer management practices of major crops for improving fertilizer use efficiency as well as sustainable improvement of soil fertility and productivity;

• To develop appropriate agroforestry practices through improved tree and crop management practices;
• To improve family nutrition through year-round production and consumption of vegetables and fruits grown in home gardens;
• To increase farm income through improved animal husbandry practices and fish production in existing perennial and seasonal water bodies;
• To evaluate performance of improved technologies for fine tuning across agro-ecological conditions and eventual technology transfer to development partners (GO/NGO) and end users.

 PROGRAM AREA

   Farming Systems and Adaptive Research

Project I: On-Farm Soil Fertility Management

• Target for increase production of cereal crops from 30.52 m tons to 37.63 m tons by 2011 and increase production of major crops from 8.55% to 25%;
• Production of major food crops about 3.0 m tons per year of major nutrients are removed from the soils;
• The very low organic matter content (only 1%), higher cropping intensity, Imbalance use of fertilizers without considering the whole cropping pattern;
• OFRD, BARI aimed integration of organic manures, green manure, crop residues etc. along with inorganic fertilizers to stabilize and improve soil fertility and yield of different crops and cropping patterns.

Project II: Improvement of Cropping Systems

• Using advanced technologies with proper use of farmers’ resources;
• FSRD and MLT sites of OFRD, BARI testing cropping patterns designed to improve farmers existing pattern;
• Component technologies designed and tested for possible improvement of different crops and cropping patterns;
• Development and improvement of alternative cropping patterns/rotations and related component technologies for increased productivity and income.

Project III: On-Farm Trials with Advanced Lines & Technologies

• Before transferring advance lines & technologies to end users they need On-Farm verification/test or fine-tuning to fit into the farmers existing socio-agro-economic environments;
• Through On-Farm trial valuable farmers feed-back is obtained to modify technology or to develop new technology;

Project IV: Integrated Farming

Three distinct phases of Integrated Farming research and Development –

• 1^st phase: Generation/development and validation of location/clientele specific technologies
• 2^nd phase: Development of Integrated System Modules through integration of technologies developed/validated in phase 1
• 3^rd phase: Dissemination/transfer the system modules to the target farmers.

Project IV: Socioeconomic studies

Socioeconomic study provides –

• Research feed back related to adaptability of a new technology in a farmer’s field
• Biological and socio-economic constraints
• Benchmark information for establishment of a new project and potentiality of a technology
• Impact study, soil fertility, agroforestry, crop production and marketing related survey

Project VI: Transfer of Technology

• Pilot Production & Seed Production Programs
• Training (Scientists of NARS, DAE personnel, NGOs, Scientific Assistants & Farmers)
• Field day and motivation tours
• Published annual report, booklet, leaflet, training manuals, print and electronic media, etc.

 SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

• Developed integrated farming systems modules for farmers of different resource base and through better utilization of all available farm resources;
• Established BARI Technology Villages to popularize the recently developed varieties/technology at all FSRD sites;
• Introduction of Chickpea during fallow period after harvest of T.Aman rice in the High Barind Tract;
• Developed several improved cropping patterns;
• Developed cropping system based fertilizer recommendations for major cropping patterns;
• Screened several rabi crops and developed their production technologies for the saline areas of Noakhali region;
• Developed mustard and chickpea production technology for the vast fallow area of Surma-Kushiara basin of Sylhet region;
• Fine tuned and successfully transferred livestock, broiler and layer rearing technologies at rural household level, and fish culture in seasonal and perennial water bodies at all sites.

LIST OF FARMING SYSTEMS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (FSRD) AND MULTILOCATION TESTING (MLT) SITES

FSRD SITES

1. Ajoddhapur (3), Rangpur
2. Gangarampur (11), Pabna sadar, Pabna
3. Sholakundu (12), Faridpur sadar, Faridpur
4. Atia (8), Delduar, Tangail
5. Tarakandi (8,9), Sherpur sadar, Sherpur
6. Subarnachar (18c, 18f), Noakhali sadar, Noakhali
7. Jamla, (13), Dumki, Patuakhali
8. Basantapur (26), Godagari, Barind, Rajshahi
9. Kamal bazar (20), South Surma, Sylhet
10. Charkharicha (8,9), Mymensingh Sadar, Mymensingh
11. Charpara (4), Sonatola, Bogura
12. Chandradighalia (14), Gopalganj Sadar, Gopalganj
13. Jiakokhi (11), Kushtia Sadar, Kushtia
14. Chandura, Rajshahi

MLT SITES

Region-1

Pabna                     :     Atghoria (11&12), Sujanagar (10,11&12), Kashinathpur (11&12) of Pabna, Sirajganj (4,5,7&12)

Shyampur, Rajahahi :    Shibpur, Puthia (11), Paba (11) of Rajshahi

Barind, Rajshahi      :    Aamnura (26) of Chapainawabganj, Sapahar (26) of Naogaon

Rangpur                 :    Gobindaganj (3) of Gaibandha, Domar (3) of Nilphamari, Ulipur (3) of Kurigram, Khalashpir (3) of Pirganj, Hatibandha of Lalmonirhat (3)

Bogura                   :     Sherpur (4,25), Shibganj (3,4,25),Gabtali (3,4) of Bogura and Joypurhat (3,25)

Rajbari, Dinajpur     :    Raniganj (1), Ghoraghat (1) of Dinajpur, Pirgonj (1) of Thakurgaon,

Thakurgaon             :    Munshirhat (Thakurgaon sadar)

Region-2

Sherpur                 :    Melandah(9) of Jamalpur, Nalitabari (8&9), Jhenaigati (8&9) of Sherpur

Tangail                   :    Ghatail (9,28), Modhupur (9,28), Bhuyapur (7,8),  Mirzapur (8,9), Sadar (7,8) of Tangail

Mymensingh           :    Trishal (8,9), Netrakona (9), Phulpur (9), Muktagaccha (8,9,28)

Kishoreganj            :    Karimganj (8,9), Hossenpur (7,8,9), Nikli (8,19,21), Sadar (8,9)

Narsingdi                :    Shibpur (9&28), Monohordi (9&28) & Raipura (8,9&28)

Gazipur                   :    Manikganj (7,8,10,12), Munshiganj (8,10,12,19) and Dhirashram (28)

Region-3

Jashore                  :    Tularampur (11),Narail, Seemakhali (11),Magura, Kaliganj (11),Jhenaidah, Jikargacha (11),Jashore

Khulna                   :    Satkhira sadar (11,13), Bagherhat sadar (11,13,14), Dumuria (11,13,14), Khulna, Batiaghata (11,13), Khulna, Koyra (13), Khulna

Kushtia                  :    Bheramara (11) of Kushtia, Gangni (11), Mujibnagar (11) of Meherpur and Sadar (11) of Chuadanga

Faridpur                 :    Rajbari sadar (12), Rajir of Madaripur (10&12)

Patuakhali              :    Aamtali (13), Barguna, Kuakata (13) & Bauphal (13), Patuakhali

Barishal                 :    Banaripara (13&19) and Gournadi (12)

Bhola                     :    Daulatkhan (18), Charfashion (18)

Gopalganj               :   Pirojpur (12,13,14), Tungipara (10,12,14,19), Muksudpur (10, 14, 19), Gopalganj

Region-4

Hathazari              :    Patiya (23,29), Fatikchari (29)

Noakhali               :    Feni (19a), Laxmipur (18f)

Cumilla                 :    Barura (19), Debidder (19), Chandina (19), Shaharasti (17,19),Chandpur, Kosba (16,19), Brahmanbaria

Sylhet                   :    Moulivibazar (20, 29), Zokiganj (20), Sunamganj (20, 21) and Habiganj (20, 21, 22)

Bandarban             :    Limujiri (29), Buhalong

Cox’s Bazar             :    Cox’s bazar sadar (23) and Chokoria (23) of Cox’s bazar

 Note: Numerical figure in parenthesis is no. of AEZ