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Experiences of an Action Research in an Irrigation Project

Mohammad Rezaur Rahman
Institute of Flood Control and Drainage Research, BUET, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

M. Monowar Hossain
Department of Water Resources Engineering, BUET, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

M. Mozzammel Hoque
Institute of Flood Control and Drainage Research, BUET, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A field level study/action research was carried out during 1994 at Meghna-Dhonagoda Irrigation Project of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) to test the efficacy of a participatory management model. During the action research, the engineering performances of the irrigation structures, which were modified according to suggestions of farmers improved and irrigation cost declined. However, the yield declined due to delay in rehabilitation work, BWDB contracting procedure need to be more flexible to select contractor in order to complete rehabilitation work satisfactorily and in time. Soil quality was also found to be poor and was considered to be partially responsible for poor and declining yield. Soil quality improvement should be given equal importance along with water management in order to sustain the project benefit. Farmers participated in large numbers in many project activities and they are willing to pay water charge. But it was difficult to convince them to organize themselves into groups. Legal status should be given to farmers grass root organizations to encourage them in organizing themselves. The experiences gathered during the action research suggests that, BWDB need to involve farmers in decision making regarding operation and maintenance activities in order to improve the performances of their irrigation projects. The lessons learned from the action research are expected to contribute in better planning, implementation, operation and maintenance of the BWDB's irrigation projects.

Keywords: Water, Irrigation, BWDB, BUET

Location: Meghna-Dhonagoda Irrigation Project of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB)

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Water management

Objectives:

To gather information on the present status of the Irrigation Project
To draw lessons for improvement and to find a simple management model

Methodology:

Based on two field visits to various sites of the Meghna-Dhonagoda Irrigation Project (MDIP) of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) , the area covered under the tertiary canal. U_1-2 and U_1-21 appeared to be the most suitable for action research from many considerations. It was assessed that water could be guaranteed to the whole command area after minor maintenance works were made which could be easily competed before the Boro season. Moreover, the farmers of this area showed keen interest in the scheme to be taken for action research. The command area under U_1-2 and U_{1- 21} was 150 ha. The canal system serves about 2500 people in South Fatehpur and the adjoining areas. The two tertiary canals had a total length of 1.53 km of which 0.67 km is situated on the sandy soil. The portion of the canal which is on the sandy soil is so unstable that this was lined with brick work. But even the lined canal failed in many places. The disproportionate canal slope was also causing water overflow at some places and scarcity at other places, especially at the tail end. For the selected study area, some modifications/improvements of physical facilities were necessary for conducting the proposed action research. The physical modifications that were carried out included refixation of canal alignment and turnouts. During the field visits for site selection, it was revealed from the discussion with local farmers and BWDB officials that the existing 4 turnouts were inadequate for irrigating the lands of U_1-2 and U_1-21 and new turnouts needed to be constructed. This aspect was given due consideration and a total of 11 turnouts were constructed during the action research. The turnouts were sited as per suggestion of the farmers. The objectives of the institutional modification were formation of outlet committees (OC), bringing these committees under a common water users association (WUA) and ensuring participation of WUA in decision making regarding irrigation scheduling and operation and maintenance (0 & M) of the tertiary canals. The command area of each turnout and the area served reliably by each turnout during the Boro season of 1994. At it was seen that a total of 115 ha out of 150 ha of land was brought under irrigation by canal U_1-2. i.e. 76% of the command area. The rest of the area were still being served by LLP. The entire command area of U_1-2 had been under Boro cultivation since the inception of MDIP. But prior to structural modificaton much of the area especially the command areas under turnout no. 6. 7 and 8 did not receive irrigation water from U_1-2 as it could not carry the design now due to structural problem. The farmers used nearby drainage canals as their source of irrigation water and used LLPs to draw such water. The purpose of the structural modification work was to bring such land under the command or U_1-2 as per design. The performance or structural modification works was assessed by direct measurement of hydraulic indicators. The measure of equity showed that the tail of U_1-21 represented by T09 had 67% of water received by T02 representing lhe head of the canal. However, the tail of U 1-2 itself, represented by T06. is getting only 54% of water compared to head of the canal represented by T02.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Water Resource Research, Vol. 14-18. 1997

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The outcome of the action research showed positive impact of a participatory management model. However. there exists much scope for improvement. It was observed that delay in transplantation affects the yield considerably. All structural rehabilitation work should be completed in lime so that the irrigation water could be supplied in time. BWDBs contracting procedure was found too rigid.

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