Aman rice, a major cereal crop in Bangladesh, frequently encounters monsoon and late floods during the vegetative growth period in August-September. The crop cannot withstand if the flood water remains stagnant for more than 4 to 5 days. In this context, a variety named BRRI dhan52 evolved to grow in 2 to 3 weeks of submergence without losing significant yield. However, no systematic study has yet been ‘made regarding the performance of BRRI dhan52 in real situations. Thus, farmers’ perceived performance has been focused on the study, which was estimated based on responses against 30 different flood tolerant characteristics of BRRI dhan52 in a four-point scale of measurement. Findings reveal that the highest proportion (63.1 percent) of the farmers had moderately favorable perceptions, followed by 19.4 percent with low favorable perceptions and 17.5 percent with high favorable perceptions towards all the 30 characteristics. Out of which, the top five were: can tolerate sudden flood (PI=285), less photosensitive (P1=284), lodging tolerant (PT=284), produce more straw and more fodder (PI=283). Considering the mean values of PI it was found that the complexity related to the use of BRRI dhan52 technology was highly perceived as reflected by PI= 218, followed closely by compatibility of 215, trial ability by 206, relative advantage by 177, and operability by 172. It is also observed that education, family size, communication media, and attitude towards BRRI dhan52 showed significant positive relationship with their perception.

Keywords: Submergence, tolerant, BRRI dhan52, Aman rice

An attempt was made to evaluate ten released sugarcane varieties viz., Isd 31, Isd 32, Isd 33, Isd 34, Isd 35, Isd 36, Isd 37, Isd 38, Isd 39 and Isd 40 against their tolerances to major insect pests. The study was conducted at the experimental farm of Bangladesh Sugarcane Research Institute, Ishwardi, Pabna during the cropping season of 2009-2010. The tolerant characteristic was measured by observing their infestation level against four major insect pests such as rootstock borer, stem borer, top shoot borer and white grubs. The lowest infestation of stem borer (21.46% on stock basis; 17.63% on internode basis) was recorded in Isd 36, rootstock borer (17.48%) in Isd 39 and top shoot borer (7.68%) in Isd 37, suggesting their higher tolerance against these major insect pests. The variety Isd 34 had the highest infestation of stem borer (54.66%), followed by rootstock borer (39.58%), top shoot borer (35.62%) and white grub (6.00%). These indicated higher susceptibility of the variety Isd 34 to insect pest attack. The lowest infestation of stem borer was found in the sugarcane variety Isd 36 which indicated its higher resistance to insect pests especially the most devastating stem borer insect pest of sugarcane.

Keywords: Stem borer, top shoot borer, rootstock borer, white grub, tolerant