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Effectiveness of Groundwater Service Providers in Northwest Bangladesh

M.B. Uddin
Department of Rural Sociology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

M.W. Rahman
Professor, Department of Rural Sociology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

K.S. Farid*
Professor, Department of Rural Sociology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

M. Mainuddin
CSIRO, Canberra, Australia.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This study examines the effectiveness of groundwater service providers of Bogura and Chapainawabgonj districts in Northwest Bangladesh by employing qualitative approach. Required data were collected through focus group discussions, key informant interviews, indepth interviews, case studies, and observation from purposively selected participants, and analyzed through qualitative content analysis. Findings reveal that though majority of the farmers are dependent on institutional groundwater service providers, namely Barind Multipurpose Development Authority, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation, and Rural Development Academy for groundwater irrigation, the share of individual tubewell owners is increasing noticeably. Provider specific effectiveness was assessed based on managerial, operation, and economic efficiencies. It is found that water buyers mostly prefer individually owned tube-wells for irrigation instead of institutional providers. Good service delivery, good operational and managerial practices, comparatively low irrigation charges, and regular water supply are the important factors motivated water buyers to choose individual service providers over institutional providers.

Keywords: Community, Institutional service provider, Effectiveness, Groundwater irrigation

Location: Bogura and Chapainawabgonj districts

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Performance

Objectives:

This study thoroughly examines the various features of groundwater business of different service providers and eventually evaluates their comparative effectiveness. It also evaluates the effectiveness of service provision of various tube-well ownership categories in northwest Bangladesh. It can reasonably be claimed that this study is different from earlier studies and may contribute significantly to the existing literature as well social science discipline.

Methodology:

The qualitative technique was the prime research approach adopted for village level study. Accordingly, two villages namely Ajhoir of Nachole upazilla and Alokchattra of Kahaloo upazilla were selected randomly from purposively selected districts of Chapainawabgonj and Bogura, respectively. The selected districts are located in the northwest Bangladesh where the ratio of groundwater to surface water use is much higher compared to other parts of the country (Shamsudduha et al., 2011). Farmers of the selected villages use groundwater for irrigation that is supplied by BMDA, BADC, RDA and private owners. Hence, a specific command area of BMDA, BADC, RDA and private tube well owners were selected randomly from the selected villages. After selection of the command areas, qualitative tools such as focus group discussion (FGD), in-depth interview (II), key informant interview (KII), case studies, and observation were performed in order to collect necessary data for the present research. A total of eight FGDs, eight KIIs, six in-depth interviews, and five case studies were conducted with the participants selected through purposive sampling. FGDs were conducted among water users of different groundwater irrigation service provides, irrigation committee and resource persons in the locality for generating diverse views. Homogenous and mixed group discussions were performed. Similarly, KIIs and IIs were also performed with various stakeholders for gathering and validating the information. Findings were generated based on the qualitative content analysis, which focuses meaningful description and interpretation of topics and themes emerged during data collection from the study participants. For content analysis, records and field notes of the FGDs, KIIs, in-depth interviews, case studies, and observations were transcribed first and then transcripts were thoroughly examined. Topics, themes, and issues related to the study objectives were identified from the transcripts. Later on, thick description and logical interpretation of each topic, theme and issue were written, which were then systematically arranged, categorized and conceptualized based on the objectives of the study. Case studies have been developed to explore the effectiveness of specific groundwater service provider on the basis of an individual case as a case study explores and investigates an individual’s real-life phenomenon through detailed contextual analysis (Hennink et al., 2011). Ethical issues were addressed by ensuring the anonymity of participants and confidentiality of the information shared. The participants were fully aware of the objectives of the study and the use of the data provided by them. The researcher provided a convenient environment for the participants during data collection so that they can willingly disclose their thoughts, experiences and ideas related to the study objectives. The study describes the process of local people’s participation in groundwater service provision. Managerial, operational and economic efficiencies were thoroughly evaluated for different groundwater service providers and comparative features of different groundwater service providers (institutional and individual) are presented in descriptive tabular form on the basis of qualitative content analysis for examining the effectiveness of specific service provider.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Economics, XXXIX 1&2 (2018): 73-84

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

From actual understanding of effective management of groundwater among different service providers’ effectiveness criteria, water users or community or farmers are mostly interested to buy water from individual tube-well owners. From management approach it is said to be perfect, if the demand-side elements balance with its supply-side inputs. This is matched with individually owned tube-wells. Farmers usually purchase water from water seller considering the price of water per acre. The actual cost of buying water from RDA is lower compared to other service providers. BMDA price is almost same irrespective of season. They are bit costly due to additional maintenance cost and maintenance and technical operation are slower than that of other institutions. Generally, BADC and RDA set price based on land area (decimal) but BMDA and individual owners sell water per hour basis in the study location. However, farmers still prefer individual tube-wells considering the managerial and operational efficiencies. In respect to community participation, tube-well specific irrigation committee is formed in case of institutional sellers and they have the sole control over irrigation business. However, tube-well operators play vital role in distributing water and in decision making process. In case of irrigating plot, first water goes to the owners or managers’ plots, then to their close relatives, then to the regular and timely water charge payers and finally to others. This sequence becomes even more pronounced during a crisis, when water availability is reduced. Considering the socioeconomic circumstances of the poor, it is probable that they are always last to have their lands irrigated. On the other hand, individual tube-well owners have full freedom to manage, operate and control their installed tube-well to run irrigation business. Individual owners provide services to the farmers when they need it. For these reasons along with less complexity, groundwater users prefer individually installed tube-wells than BMDA, BADC, and RDA installed tube-wells. Considering the importance of groundwater irrigation in northwest Bangladesh, the water supplying institutions including BMDA, BADC and RDA should take care of selecting manager/operators who really work for the community as a whole. BMDA should be pro-active in repairing the machineries and the repairing cost should be borne by the authority. Finally, it can be concluded that the institutional service providers should maintain ethics during distribution of water. They should not prioritize powerful groups rather they should distribute water according to the rules and regulations. Therefore, community based groundwater management under institutional arrangement should be the top priority by the relevant stakeholders.

Knowledge Management: Journal