Minutes of Inception Workshop, 6.02.2012
A inception meeting with all the three partners (Bioforsk, BRRI and CEGIS) was held at 06.02.12 in the premises of CEGIS. The team of BRRI was comprised by Dr. Jatish Biswas (agronomist), Mr.
Moniruzzaman (Agr. Engineer), a water economist and a soil expert. The CEGIS team was consisted by the Executive Director Mr. Choudhury and the Director of Ecology Division, Mr. Sarker. The Bioforsk team was represented by the Head Office of Water and Hydrology Dpt., Dr. Per Stålnacke, the Senior
Researcher and International Coordinator of Asian projects, Dr. Nagothu Udaya Sekhar, the Senior
Researcher Dr. Tronf Rafoss, the researcher Dr. Attila Nemes and the research Dr. Stefanos Xenarios. The consortium of the three teams was discerned for the high inter-disciplinary field among the participants.
Initially, the brochure of the project which has been developed by Bioforsk was demonstrated to the
Bangladeshi partners. A rather satisfactory impression was given by their side and it was only mentioned that emphasis should be given in the salinity and drought issues for both the case studies. Thereafter, the administrative divisions of Bangladesh were outlined as follows: Division- District (Zilla)- Sub District-
(Upazilla)- Block. Each block contains about 700 to 1,000 households. There is also a smaller division held only for land which is named as ‘’Mozza”.
In turn, a brief description of the two case studies was given by BRRI representatives. The first case study is situated northwest in the Rajsahi district. The problems of drought were mainly referred for the winter period. In effect, the marginal and small landholders own or share small pumps with head suction of no more than 5-7 meters with which they irrigate in the winter period. The small pump capacity though, restrain them from having accessibility to distant surface waters and groundwater sources deeper than about 7mt. Although most of the landholdings in the examined case study are mainly rainfed farmers, however, a crucial income also derives from winter (boro) rice varieties which gain more importance the recent years.
The southern case study of Potuakhali district was later discussed where the high salinity problems were mentioned. The attempts to better exploit the saline prone areas in through more resistant crop varieties, efficient water management and better institutional settings were argued.
Below, the minutes are presented in correspondence with the Work Packages and the activities described in each Work Package respectively.
Work Package 1: Modelling climate change impacts, water availability and rice production
1.1
Analyze the most recent IPCC climate change scenarios and downscaling data based on available model results and study report for the study regions with respect to extreme weather conditions and corresponding drought occurrence (CEGIS)
The downscaling to district level was mentioned while some questions about the downscaling accuracy were noted. Data from 1940-2005 for Rajashi is available while for Potuakhali district there are also long time series.

1.2
Describe the present agriculture systems in the selected sub-divisions, including present day irrigation systems, soil fertility and fertilizer application, plant and pest disease occurrences, etc. (BRRI)
The development of a Baseline Questionnaire (QR) to collect the relevant data was mentioned. Also the introduction of Focus groups analysis with 20-30 farmer in each group was noted to be held in December
2012.
1.3
Run hydrological and crop models (using DSSAT and AQUACROP) and develop scenarios for the study areas taking inputs from the IPCC climate scenarios, and available data at various scales.
The components of precipitation, flow availability – surface water and groundwater resources will be epxlored. CEGIS has generated hydrographs in different time series. Aquacrop software was agreed to be used through the help of remote sensing. This will be done mainly for winter (boro) rice.
There was a suggestion to launch an AquaCrop seminar in October 2012. Participants could be from
CEGIS, BRRI, university students and from the Ministry of Agriculture. CEGIS can provide the facilities for computer support. A difficulty to identify genetic co-efficiencies for the crops was noted.
1.4. Generate crop water scenarios using DRAS (DRAS to be run by CEGIS) and water saving model under different climate conditions. Train 2-3 resources within the relevant department to run models.
The discussion was concentrated on the technical details and the feasibility of the soil-crop-weather modeling applications. Questions were raised about the elevation of the study areas and the catchment boundaries in a Block level. It was also commented that the rainy season can provide sufficient water in
Rasjhahi but not for all the months.
1.5 Analysis of salinity impacts and rice crop yield loss due salinity under different climate variability and sea level rise scenarios.
An option to incorporate salinity parameter in the DRASS model was discussed through some proxies.
There was also some insistence from BRRI to raise rice production in salinity prone area for rice sufficiency purposes in Bangladesh in case of natural disasters. BRRI also mentioned that there is a dbase in the institute about the occurrence of natural disasters in Bangladesh and the effects to rice produce.
In turn, the researcher from Bioforks Dr. Attila Nemes, made a presentation about soil and water management through modeling analysis, where the essential components required to run the proposed model were outlined.

Work Package 2: Demonstration of suitable adaptation technologies (WP leader: BRRI)
2.1 To assess the local agro-techniques that farmers adopt in the selected cases to address climate variability
It was noted from BRRI that there is some background information about the current agro-techniques from sub-district (upazilla) Agricultural Departments. Dr. Trond Rafoss made a presentation about
Bioforsks experiences on pest forewarning andthe agro-meteorological services, and what kind of weather data that is required to develop and operate such services in the project. The benefits mentioned for a plant pest and disease analysis was claimed to be the product quality and the reduction of pesticides and risks. Furthermore, new services to support the required day-to-day responses of farmers to manage their crop and emerging pest and disease problems, are analogous to the measures required for adaptation to future climate change. Mr. Rafoss presented the framework to implement pest and disease forewarning models designed and applied in Norway where the early warnings for pest and disease attacks to of crop is given online. Finally, the mobile technology advancements for the application of such a model were exhibited.
2.2 To schedule suitable rice cropping system(s) along with adjustment of sowing/planting timings for stress tolerant varieties.
There was a suggestion of BRRI to launch the analysis for the relevant activity in the next cropping season that will start in June 2012. Mr. Rafoss suggested using mobile techniques in the research analysis.
2.3 To determine water use efficiency of the scheduled cropping systems.
The argument discussed for this activity was the productivity increase with the minimum water use. Also, it was recommended by BRRI to measure it with field demonstration if possible. It was however noted by
Bioforsk that the definition of water productivity should be adopted instead of water use efficiency.
Benchmark values requested for the measurement of water use productivity was agreed to be given by
BRRI. Further, the activities 2.4, 2.5 was suggested starting after the next rainy season.
2.4 To devise efficient fertilizer (organic and inorganic) management options for rice production under predicted conditions.
The same situation is repeated like 2.3
2.5 To evaluate the rice-pest-predator dynamics in relation to future climate and develop eco-friendly management techniques.
There was a notice about the pest predator dynamics by BRRI where Dr. Jatish Biswas mentioned that they have a model for rice diseases and there is a plant pathologist among their team who could work on the rice-pest-predator dynamics. Mr. Rafoss mentioned that it is very interesting that BRRI already has such services and the possibility of advancing these in collaboration with Bioforsk would be of high interest.

Work Package 3. Climate change impacts, socio-economic vulnerability and adaptive capacity (WP leader: Bioforsk and BRRI)
3.1 Assess the socioeconomic vulnerability and loss of welfare of the farm households and their adaptive capacity, including women in the study areas. (Bioforsk)
For this activity, the data, sampling and the groups to be analyzed in the assessment process was agreed to be allocated rather soon.
3.2 Define the efficient allocation of agricultural inputs for the minimization of the welfare losses.(BRRI and Bioforsk)
The introduction of the reference values for an efficient allocation of agricultural inputs in Bangladesh has been already defined by BRRI. Based on these references values, a baseline survey through a
Questionnaire Form (QR) will define the current situation in the Rasjahi and Barisal case studies and will assess potential discrepancies between the current situation and the reference values. Approximately,
30 QRs in each Block and 10 Blocks in each case study was agreed to be tested. Until March 2012 the QR form should be finalized and then a pilot survey will be conducted within April 2012.
3.3 Demonstrate the current status and future potential of stakeholder integration in addressing climate adaptation measures. (Bioforsk and BRRI)
This will be done with the QR, the Focus Groups and two stakeholder meetings which will be conducted in December 2012 and 2013.
Work Package 4 : Integration, Dissemination and Project Management (WP leader: Bioforsk)
For the management procedures underlined for WP 4 it was agreed that 2 persons from BRRI will be responsible for the maintenance of the project’s website once it will be fully developed by Bioforsk.