Weed management- Clean fields sustain yields

Weeds—Some rice weeds are so aggressive that it takes only 3 to 5 plants per square meter of rice paddy to cause significant yield loss. Farmers' livelihoods are harmed not only by the loss of grain, but also by the time spent on manual weeding that could otherwise have been devoted to generating income. Herbicides offer a cost-effective alternative to laborious hand weeding. However, chemical control is knowledge-intensive, and overuse of herbicides may cause weeds to evolve resistance, damage the environment, and pose a risk to human health. Developing and promoting of a range of sustainable weed-management options can improve farmers' livelihoods by boosting rice yields and improving labor productivity.

Closing the gap
Improving farmers' livelihoods in Bangladesh—resolving the problem of yield gaps due to weeds and identifying opportunities for innovation

Farmers in Bangladesh grow rice over a wide range of rainfed and irrigated lands. Researchers examined two contrasting farming systems in Comilla and Rajshahi districts to learn how different rice-cropping systems affect weed abundance and methods for their management. More

Focusing on the farmer
Determining intervention points for improved weed management—socio-economic dimensions

In the Comilla and Rajshahi districts of Bangladesh, farmers know their weeds — their local names, how and where they grow, and how difficult they are to control. Farmers are well aware of the conditions that favor weed growth and the need for early weed management. So, why do weed-induced yield gaps still occur? More

back to top

About Weeds
Research Agenda
Partners

Work Program
Methodology/Approach
Current & future Research
Accomplishments

Publications
Links