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Water Management of Integrated Rice-fish Farming in Inundated Floodplains: a Case Study

M. S. Rahman
Scientific Officer
Irrigation and Water management Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Bangladesh

M. Salehin
Associate Professor
Institute of Water and Flood Management, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

One of the potential scopes for improving fish production in Bangladesh is to integrate aquaculture with rice farming. In this study, the required water management for integrated rice- fish cultivation was explored in seasonally inundated deep water rice field of a small water management project, namely, Balajtala-Kalmadanga Subproject. Desired water levels as well as depth required for minimization of rice yield reduction and increasing favorable condition for fish culture were analyzed, which can be met from the available water in the study area. Results indicate that standing water depth up to 50% of plant height is recommended during the different growing stages of rice that maximizes yield and increases the favorable condition for fish culture. Again, as high stagnation of water at early tillering stages is considered to be more detrimental than at other growth stages of rice, the water depth should remain not more than 25% of plant height during tillering stage for yield maximization. Suggested water management will allow more area to be brought under cultivation during Kharif-II (monsoon) season. The water management infrastructures in the project area were found to be conducive to the adoption of the new farming system.

Keywords: Water management, Rice-fish farming, floodplains, Bangladesh

Location: Gopalgonj district

Start Date: 01-09-2007

End Date: 30-04-2008

Program Area: Farming System

Commodity: Aquatic animal, Rice

Objectives:

To examine the water management requirements of a recently started integrated rice-fish farming practice in a small scale water management sub-project, namely, Balajtala-Kalmadanga subproject in the south-west region of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

To identify the water management requirements for integrated rice-fish farming in seasonally inundated deep water rice field, a small water management project, namely, Balajtala-kalmadanga subproject in Gopalgonj district of the southwest region was chosen as the study area. Recently the local people in Balajtala-Kalmadanga subproject have started an integrated rice-fish farming practice in inundated floodplains through a community initiative. The Balajtala-kalrnadanga Subproject is a small-scale water management project implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) lies in between latitudes 22° 54' 30" N and 22° 56' 26" N and the longitudes 89° 51' 38" E and 89° 52' 48" E in Gopalgonj district, and falls within the South-West Area Integrated Water Resources Plan Project of Bangladesh Water Development Board and Local Government Engineering Department. The study area covers 448 ha land and is divided into non-cultivated high land, highland, medium high land, medium low land, lowland, F3 and perennial water body. Medium high land and medium low land occupy major portion of the study area. Soil texture of these lands varies from silty clay loam to silty clay. Average elevation of the area varies from 2.40 m PWD to 0.91m. Major part of the area (40%) has a cropping pattern of B. Aus- T- Aman-Pulses/V egetables. In 80% of the high land, T. Aman is cultivated in the Khariff-Il season. About 80% of Medium high land is under cultivation, while 20% remains fallow. A combination of local variety B.Aus and B. Aman is broadcast, with the B.Aus being harvested at the end of Kharif-I (March/April-June) season. Most of the land (50%) remains fallow during the rabi season, while 30% of land is Bora cultivated. All the lands under Medium low land category remain fallow, except Bora cultivation in 90% of land in the Boro season. All the lands under low land category are Bora cultivated. Three canals, namely Swanirvar canal, Balajtala canal and Hazir canal, which are used as drainage and irrigation canals, flow along the subproject area and finally fall into the Singair river. The river system and canals are under the influence of tidal water movement. The early flooding, drainage congestion at the end of monsoon and shortage of irrigation water in the dry season are the predominant features of the subproject area. Local people used to construct earthen cross-dams at different locations of the canals to conserve water for irrigation of Boro crop and to protect young B. Aman from early flood. People could not continue the practice due to fund constraint. As such local people demanded construction of one regulator over Swanirvar canal and one pipe sluice over Balajtala canal along with re-sectioning of the embankment that crosses these canals in order to protect young B. Aman from early flood. Local people also demanded construction of one water retention structure over Hazir canal to conserve water by allowing tidal flow for irrigation of Boro. Construction of the regulators and the water retention structure has recently been completed. The study involved collection and analysis of both primary and secondary data. Primary data collection was done mainly through the application of Participatory Rural Appraisal tools and field observation during the period from September 2007 to April 2008. Secondary data on location, land types, source of water, water conveyance and drainage system, and agricultural and fisheries practices were collected from the appraisal reports of the project these data, however, were cross checked during field survey and the FGDs. Water level and rainfall data were collected from BWDB. Other important secondary data and information were collected from a number of relevant government and non-government organizations.

Source of Information: Journal of Agricultural Engineering, Dec. 2009, Vol.37/AE, pp:15-26, ISSN:0379-4318.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The water management infrastructures in the project area are conducive to the adoption of the new farming system; hence the integrated rice-fish technology in inundated rice field is technically feasible. Desired water levels required for minimization of rice yield reduction and increasing favorable condition for fish culture as analyzed in the paper can be met from the available water in the study area. Finally the study reveals that if the proposed water management of integrated farming system are implemented, it will pave the way for more production of fish as well as rice which in turn will help sustain the system.

Knowledge Management: Journal