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Water Management Perspective of Bangladesh: Concern and Development Potential

Md. Abdul Ghani
Joint Director (Research)
Dhaka Ahsanin Mission, House 19, Road 12, Dhanmondi, Dhaka 1209

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Bangladesh receives annually about 7.5 meters of water over the country of which 5.5 meters from surface flow and 2 meters from rainfall. During this period of the year, the country receives over 90% of surface flow and rainfall thereby affects assured harvest of most crops during October to April without irrigation and due to flooding during June to September. Conjunctive use of ground and surface water, about 76% of the cultivable area can be irrigated of which about 60% are presently under irrigation. About 75% of the irrigated area use groundwater since the country does not have full control over surface water flow. Improved management at local and national levels through government and social interventions can solve the problem and can ensure clean water for all. During the dry months, groundwater level goes down in many places beyond suction limit (>10m), arsenic contamination causes quality deterioration and crosses safe limit (>0.05 pprn). Therefore, Bangladesh faces multifarious problems and availability of safe drinking and irrigation water becomes an issue in summer and demands better management of water resources especially groundwater. Fortunate scenario is that, whatever quantity of groundwater is pumped and used during the dry months is fully recharged during the rainy season, except only in Dhaka city area, where groundwater withdrawal rate is higher than possible recharge rate. Water quality and pumping cost have become matter of major concern of using groundwater and requires effective management for making irrigation systems cost-effective. Shallow and deep tubewells are covering about 75% of the irrigated area but running at about 28 and 60 percent efficiencies respectively of their potential capacities therefore, need improvement. Water management strategy of Bangladesh will be to increase production per unit of land, unit of water and unit of time.

Keywords: Water Management, Water Availability, Water Quality

Location: Northwest Region (present Rajshahi division and greater Kushtia and Jessore districts, eg., Barind tract and Atrai Basin), Coastal Area, Flood Plains and Hill Tracts

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Water management

Objectives:

To increase production per unit of land, unit of water and unit of time through applying water management strategy of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The experiment conducted at the Northwest Region (present Rajshahi division and greater Kushtia and Jessore districts, eg., Barind tract and Atrai Basin), Coastal Area, Flood Plains and Hill Tracts Region. Land area especially cultivable area and water resources, which include rain, surface. and ground water of' the above zones should be carefully estimated. Land area of each zone should be further estimated in relation to flooding conditions (F₀ to F₄ types of land). Potential crops for the zones and its specific localities to be selected reviewing farming system research data from the research institutes and extension department. Production maximization packages to be developed with assistance of the farmers and extension agents. Government machinery to provide advisory services for input supports and market information. No price support or subsidy is expected from the government but facilitating roles are expected. Agricultural production, which includes crop, fishery, forestry and livestock, can be increased through integrated use of water and land resources. The strategy should be to increase production per unit of land, unit of water and unit of time.

Source of Information: JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING, IES, VOL. 33/AE, DEC, 2007

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Private sector covers about 90% of the present irrigated area and remaining 10% is covered by public agencies. The country is deprived of achieving potential benefit of water resources development. Water quality, arsenic contamination issues especially related to groundwater use during dry season and salinity problem in coastal area demand special attention for management of water resources. Participatory water management is therefore, required for best utilization of irrigation systems irrespective of ground and surface water and land and water resources of the country. Conjunctive use of water to be prioritized through participatory management. During infrastructure development for providing FCDI facilities, BWDB and LGED have constructed embankments, created water bodies through construction of irrigation and drainage channels, barrages and river closures. These infrastructures are mostly used for saving lives and properties and creating favorable environment for increasing agricultural production. The country can grow about 36 million trees on embankment slopes of 9900 km of BWDB embankments (4400 km coastal and 5500 km in non-coastal polders) without foregoing primary objectives of constructing the embankments. Fodder and vegetable cultivation on the embankment slopes can be incorporated with afforestation program without affecting growth of the trees at least during initial 3 to 5 years. This will assist in development of livestock sector and subsequently in poverty reduction. Irrigation and drainage canals can be used for fish cultivation in addition to their normal use and will bring added production opportunities for the stakeholders and will further contribute to poverty reduction. Bangladesh has created facilities for 4.8 Mha of irrigated and 5.79 Mha of FCDI area. Water potential permits irrigation development up to 6.55 Mha by 2025 and 7.45 Mha to the maximum. Therefore, about 6 Mha may easily be planned for year-round crop production through effective use of FCDI facilities. About 10 tons/ha of grain can be harvested in the FCDI area per year adopting available technology. Therefore, the country can produce 60 million tons food grain (paddy + other grains + pulses) from the FCDI area, which may be about 45 million tons of net grain production (rice + other grains). This production target can be achieved adopting available research and management technology and through integrated land and water management. However, it will require coordinated efforts for improved water management, post harvest technology, processing and improved storage for favorable returns to the farmers.

Knowledge Management: Journal