Executive Summary
Change in Soil and Water Dynamics and Supporting Adoption of Conservation Agriculture in Bangladesh (SACA)
September 2024 - March 2029
Bangladesh has made significant progress in agricultural productivity, particularly in rice cultivation, achieving near self-sufficiency in food production. However, this intensification has led to unsustainable practices, including declining soil health, nutrient imbalances, groundwater depletion, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. These challenges are compounded by labor shortages, rising input costs, and limited profitability, especially in rice-based systems. Addressing these issues requires a transition to more sustainable and resilient agricultural practices.
The project titled "Change in Soil and Water Dynamics and Supporting Adoption of Conservation Agriculture in Bangladesh (SACA)", under the ACIAR Soil and Land Management (SLAM) program, aims to support the widespread adoption of Conservation Agriculture (CA). CA is a climate-smart approach that promotes minimal soil disturbance, permanent soil cover, and crop diversification. It has demonstrated substantial benefits in improving soil fertility, reducing input costs, enhancing crop yields, and mitigating environmental impacts. Despite these advantages, CA adoption in Bangladesh remains limited, particularly in rice-based systems, due to technical, economic, and institutional barriers.
The SACA project seeks to generate robust scientific evidence, pilot innovative scaling strategies, and build institutional and community capacity to support sustainable agricultural transformation. It is structured around four integrated research programs as follows:
Assessing long-term impacts of CA
The first program focuses on assessing the long-term biophysical impacts of CA using a network of long-term experiments (LTEs) established across diverse agro-ecological zones. These LTEs, some operational since 2010, provide a unique opportunity to evaluate changes in soil structure, nutrient dynamics, water balance, and biosecurity risks. The findings will inform the sustainability and resilience of CA practices under varying environmental and management conditions.
Modeling risks of alternative rice establishment methods
The second program involves modelling the risks and benefits of alternative rice establishment methods under CA, such as direct seeded rice (DSR) and non-puddled transplanting (NPTR). Using the APSIM simulation platform, the project will analyze the performance of these methods across different seasons, soil types, and climatic scenarios. Field trials will generate data for model calibration, focusing on key agronomic variables such as sowing time, seed rate, irrigation, and weed control. The modelling outputs will guide decision-making on the most suitable and profitable rice establishment techniques under CA.
Continuous improvement of CA practices
The third program is dedicated to improving CA practices in farmers' fields. Adaptive research will be conducted to address practical challenges related to crop establishment, nutrient management, irrigation scheduling, and pest control. The project will also monitor hydrological changes and groundwater recharge to understand the broader environmental implications of CA. Farmers will be directly engaged in the research process, ensuring that their insights and experiences inform the development of context-specific solutions.
Inclusive scaling of CA knowledge and services
The fourth program focuses on scaling CA knowledge, technologies, and services through inclusive and sustainable models. Three key approaches will be piloted: strengthening the Conservation Agriculture Service Providers Association (CASPA) as a self-sustaining platform for CA promotion; implementing collective action models (Samoloy+CA) to coordinate farming activities at the community level; and developing bundled service provision models to enhance access to mechanization and agricultural services. These pilots will be co-designed with stakeholders and evaluated using action research methodologies to ensure relevance, effectiveness, and scalability.
Gender & Social Inclusion
Ensuring equitable participation and leadership in agricultural transformation
Central to Project Design
Gender and social inclusion are central to the project's design. Women, youth, and marginal farmers often face significant barriers to accessing agricultural knowledge, technologies, and services. The project will adopt a whole-family approach to engage all household members in training, demonstrations, and decision-making. It will also assess the inclusivity of scaling models and develop targeted strategies to enhance participation and leadership among underrepresented groups.
Strategic Partnership & Expected Outcomes
Building on strong foundations with national and international partners
Consortium Leadership
Led by Murdoch University, the project brings together a consortium of national and international partners including BAU, BRRI, BARI, BARC, PIOCL, and CASPA. It builds on the foundations of previous ACIAR-funded projects and leverages existing networks and partnerships to maximize impact.
Project Impact & Vision
By the end of the project, it is expected that the long-term effects of CA on soil and water dynamics will be well understood, effective rice establishment technologies will be validated, and scalable models for CA adoption will be operational. CASPA will be strengthened as a platform for farmer engagement and service delivery, and scaling partners will be equipped to provide inclusive CA knowledge and technologies.
Ultimately, the project aims to contribute to improved food security, environmental sustainability, and agricultural resilience in Bangladesh.