by Sharif Ahmed, Manik Debnath, and Humnath Bhandari
Coastal Bangladesh, which accounts for nearly one-third of the country’s agricultural land, faces significant challenges that limit its cropping intensity. Soil and water salinity, waterlogging, erratic rainfall, and prolonged cultivation of long-duration aman rice leave 30-50% of farmland fallow during the dry season. This underutilization represents a missed opportunity to enhance food security and rural incomes.
To address this gap, the Sustainable Farming Program (SFP), led by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), is promoting crop intensification and diversification through climate-smart technologies. In the 2025 dry season, the program successfully piloted maize and groundnut cultivation on 21 acres of previously unused land—17 acres of maize and 4 acres of groundnut—demonstrating their viability in coastal conditions.
Farmers Field Day on crop intensification and diversification in the Coastal region: performance of Groundnut as a rabi crop at Ghatkhali village of Amtali upazila, Barguna (Photo: Md. Rabiul Islam, IRRI)
Promising Results from Pilot Cultivation
To showcase the success, IRRI organized farmers’ field days in Amtali (Barguna) and Kalapara (Patuakhali), attracting 120 farmers and officials from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE). Participants observed strong yields and discussed best practices for cultivation. “These crops are proving to be highly suitable for our coastal conditions,” said a participating farmers. “They not only help fill the fallow season but also offer better income opportunities.”
Groundnut, requiring less labor and cost than traditional mung beans, showed excellent performance . Mosarref Hawlader, a first-time groundnut farmer, shared his experience: “I grew groundnuts for the first time this season and achieved excellent results. It requires less labor and cost compared to mung beans. I am hopeful for a good profit.”
Md. Rasel, Upazila Agriculture Officer (UAO) of DAE in Amtali, noted the broader significance: “Crop intensification and diversification are essential for profitable agriculture. Groundnut has great potential here, and the market demand is strong.”
In Nizampur village of Kalapara upazila, farmers expressed similar enthusiasm for maize cultivation. Maize, a new crop for the region, demonstrated high yield potential for human and livestock consumption. “We’ve never grown maize before,” said Nizam Fakir, a local farmer. “With IRRI’s support, we tried it this year and found it very promising.”
Farmers Field Day on crop intensification and diversification in the Coastal region: Performance of Maize as a rabi crop at Nizampur village of Kalapara upazila, Patuakhali (Photo: Md. Rabiul Islam, IRRI)
Scaling Up for Greater Impact
Building on this success, IRRI plans to expand the program, incorporating:
- Optimal sowing windows to maximize soil moisture and reduce climate risks.
- Post-harvest training and market linkages to improve profitability.
- Community-based cultivation for better collective bargaining and prices.
As part of CGIAR’s Sustainable Farming Program, these efforts aim to boost productivity, resilience, and livelihoods while reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint. With continued farmer engagement and institutional support, coastal Bangladesh could transform its fallow lands into productive, diversified farms—strengthening food security for the nation.
Farmers Field Day on crop intensification and diversification in the Coastal region: performance of Groundnut as a rabi crop at Ghatkhali village of Amtali upazila, Barguna (Photo: Md. Rabiul Islam, IRRI)