Bangladesh

Twelve farmers in the block installed perforated field water tubes this season so they can see the water level instead of guessing when to re-flood.

The honest position is Baseline. This is the first season with the tubes and we have no comparison year yet. What has changed is that people are making the irrigation decision by looking rather than by calendar, which is the part I actually wanted.

Will report again after harvest.

The problem is not growing the vegetables, it is what happens in the six hours between picking and the truck arriving.

Produce sits in the open at the collection point. On hot days the difference in quality by the time it reaches the buyer is visible to anyone standing there. We have started harvesting earlier in the morning and keeping crates under shade cloth — a small change, no cost.

Progressing. Not solved, but better than leaving them in the sun.