Insecticide Free Rice Production in Research Station and Farmers Field; A Success Story of Bangladesh

Rice is the staple food crop of Indian subcontinent, especially in the wetter and populous north eastern part which includes Bangladesh. Insect pest causes average 18% rice yield loss, farmers spray 3 to 4 times more insecticides in a single season (Islam et al., 2003). Farmers heavily rely on chemical insecticides to control pests, resulting in negative impacts on biodiversity, the environment, and human health. The resistance and resurgence of insects further contribute to the escalating use of insecticides. To address this issue, an experiment was conducted at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Barishal in 2020 to reduce insecticide use. The experiment involved sweeping the seedbed with rectangular hand net (Kabir et al., 2023) and and main field using round hand net, respectively, to capture and destroy harmful pests while releasing beneficial insects. The results showed a reduction in insect pests below the economic threshold level in the seedbed, and the technology demonstrated comparable yields to plots treated with insecticides. The experiment was conducted in different rice varieties in BRRI, Barishal during the Boro and T.Aman seasons, and the yield performance of these varieties was documented. Then follow this procedure BRRI, Barishal ninety five acre (95) Sagordi and Charbadna full farm produce insecticide free Breeder and TLS in Boro and T.Aman season with three consecutive years 2020, 2021, 2022. Furthermore, a validation trial for insecticide-free rice production was conducted in a coastal area amtoli, Barguna, which resulted in similar yields to plots treated with excessive insecticides. The technology increased the population of beneficial insects, reducing the need for insecticides and saving costs for farmers.