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Integrated Environmental Management: a Case Study on Shrimp-paddy Land Use Strategies

Rezaur Rahman
Associate Professor
Associate Professor, Institute of Water and Flood Management, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.

Iffat Huque
Environment Cluster Coordinator, Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This paper presents the results of an integrated environmental management exercise in the shrimp-paddy region of Bangladesh. The aim of the study is to project the choices with regard to land use on the basis of economic, social and environmental considerations. The study area consists of three coastal districts of southwestern Bangladesh. The study area traditionally was a paddy cultivation area. Shrimp cultivation started in the early nineties giving rise to conflict with paddy production. A conceptual framework had been devised for the management of land resources in relation to shrimp-paddy production. The strategies considered in the context of this study restrict paddy and shrimp cultivation to specific areas. The computational framework for the study generates and quantifies the environmental, economic and social trade-offs between shrimp and paddy cultivation in the study area. A major part of the computational framework is based on spatial models including a salinity intrusion model and a land use allocation model. It was observed through the exercise that a strategy supporting shrimp cultivation in the coastal region is an attractive strategy.

Keywords: Environmental Management, Shrimp-Paddy, Rice, Shrimp

Location: Bagerhat, Khulna and Satkhira districts, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-00-2000

End Date:

Program Area: Farming System

Commodity: Rice, Shrimp

Objectives:

In this study, the goal was formulated as to 'optimize use of land resources for shrimp-paddy cultivation in the study area'.

Methodology:

The study area consists of three districts of southwestern Bangladesh, viz., Bagerhat, Khulna and Satkhira with a total area of 10,660 sq. km. The southern part of the study area is occupied by the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans. The study area comprises numerous tidal rivers and creeks ultimately draining through Passur, Shibsa and Arpangasia in the downstream part of the study area. The Gorai River is one of the biggest right bank distributaries of the Ganges River and is the main source of fresh water into the study area. After the commissioning of the Farakka Barrage on the Ganges in 1974, the Gorai gradually declined. It started to dry up completely during dry season. The situation has improved, however, with the recent dredging at the off-take and as a result, further works are being planned. The study area is saline prone - salt intrusion length varying with the hydrological condition. Salinity intrusion is highest in the dry season and lowest in the wet season. Salinity increases from east to west of the study area. Among the three major estuaries in the study area (Malancha, Passur-Sibsa and Baleswar), Baleswar receives the highest amount of fresh water discharge during both wet and dry seasons from Lower Meghna, Arial Khan and Goral, As a result, salinity is very low along this estuary even during the dry season. In the study area, shrimp is a major economic activity. Alternating crops between shrimp and paddy is widely practiced. The agricultural cropping intensity in the study area is only 139% compared to 176% for the country. The reasons for such low intensity include surface water salinity, poor aquifer conditions, drainage congestion and large areas devoted to shrimp farming. During monsoon, Aman paddy is the major crop grown in then study area, nearly half of which is high yielding variety (HYV). In the dry season, where irrigation water is available, HYV Boro paddy is also an important crop. Shrimp occupies an important place in the economy of Bangladesh. Almost all the shrimp cultivated in the country is exported. Frozen food which consist mostly of shrimp is now the second (next to ready-made garments) largest export item of Bangladesh. Dry season production of local species of shrimp and fish, grown from naturally stocked fry and fingerlings carried into the "ghers" (the large shallow ponds, usually of several hectares or more, in which the shrimps and fish are grown) by controlled tidal inflow, is a long tradition in the coastal regions of Bangladesh. The general structure of the computational framework was laid out. All the computations were carried out by a spreadsheet model employing recursive equations. According to the framework, land uses were allocated according to a particular strategy. The GIS overlay of the salinity map corresponding to a flow regime and the land use map generate a table showing the distribution of the land use classes for each salinity regime. With knowledge of this distribution, areas under each salinity class may be allocated to a particular land use. Allocation is done only in the areas under the "major crop regimes". The areas under "other land use", as determined above, such as mangroves, settlements and beels are not variable. The allocation schemes are determined by a land use strategy under consideration during a model run.

Source of Information: Copedec VI, 2003; Colombo, Srilanka , Paper No. 202

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Under this study, an IEM framework for a major shrimp producing area has been developed. According to this framework, the impact of various land use strategies involving shrimp and paddy cultivation in the study area can be simulated and evaluated. For the study area, the national economic, social and environmental objectives had been translated into a number of criteria and indicators appropriate for the area. A set of water resource management scenarios depending on various flow regimes in the Gorai River was conceived. Three probable strategies were then formulated. These strategies were: maximizing shrimp production (Max-shrimp); maximizing paddy production (Max-paddy); and a Balanced Land Use in the study area. Shrimp cultivation needs to be low intensive. This had been the case so far in order to contain environmental degradation within a natural resilience. The low input-low output regime is preferable in this respect, which is also supported by the Fisheries Policy. Bangladesh can gain considerably from shrimp export through proper management of its coastal resources.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings