Forecast-based rice farming can transform Bangladesh’s agriculture
Bangladesh's agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters, but reliable weather forecasts can help farmers take precautions and reduce losses. Forecast-based rice farming has been shown to increase yields by 7% and lower production costs by 13% in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh's farmers face significant challenges due to climate-related disasters, with 185 extreme events recorded over the past two decades. The country's agriculture is dominated by rice, which supplies nearly 80% of the country's food. However, traditional farming methods are no longer sufficient in the face of increasing climate variability. The Agrometeorology, Crop Modeling and Climate Change Research Laboratory at BRRI has been working on forecast-based advisory services since 2016-17. Research published in 2023 showed that farmers using these services achieved 7% higher yields and 13% lower production costs. Labour requirements, fertiliser use, irrigation, and pesticide use also decreased significantly.
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