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Untapped Potential for Agricultural Development: Technology Interventions in Less Favoured Agro-ecologies of Bangladesh

M. A. Sattar Mandal
Emeritus Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) and former Senior Advisor, FAO- Bangladesh

Mike Robson
Former FAO Country Representative in Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Many projects relating to agricultural technology, food security and rural livelihoods have been implemented by government agencies with financial and technical support from development partners. In addition to achieving partly or fully the intended objectives of production enhancement or capacity building, the projects generate enormous experience about farmers’ perspectives, opportunities and constraints, which could be used as potential knowledge for conceptualizing and designing of future projects. This paper attempts to reflect on experiences and lessons learned from four recently implemented FAO projects in less-favored agro-ecological regions of Bangladesh using a case study approach. The paper argues that during the implementation process of meeting project targets, important insights and wisdom of farmers/ beneficiaries may easily be missed and that these have huge potential for use in future project design and implementation.

Keywords: Agro-ecologies, Project design, Waterlogging, Village based organization, Rural livelihood

Location: Department of Agricultural Economics, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU)

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Analysis and interpretations

Objectives:

The aim of this paper is to discuss some of the lessons learned from a number of specific project interventions supported by FAO Bangladesh over the recent years, in partnership with the government extension departments (Department of Agricultural Extension, Department of Fisheries, and Department of Livestock Services) and other stakeholders, and to reflect on key findings, their limitations and the possible policy implications.

Methodology:

For this paper, a case study approach is applied using project reports, consultations with beneficiaries, project personnel and selected field visits. The projects under study are selected from four agro-ecologically-defined regions generally characterized as less favourable, in terms of remoteness; soils, hydrology and topography; population and land availability, etc. The case studies in question include (i) livelihood interventions in water-logged areas in south west Bangladesh; (ii) integrating guided micro credit with improved crop and non-crop production, and market linkages in northern Mymensingh areas; (iii) modernizing hill agriculture through improved cultivation practices and rainwater harvesting in the Chittagong Hill Tracts; and (iv) promoting agricultural mechanization as an element of the broader rehabilitation programme in the Sidr/Aila affected districts of southern Bangladesh.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Agric. Econs. XXXVIII, 1&2 (2016-2017) 1-16

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

One major conclusion drawn from interventions in waterlogged areas is that unique conventional engineering structural solutions i.e. pondering or river dredging can be undermined because of the lack of coordination between agencies and human interventions (canal blockade or public cut) limit the results of interventions. Our main lesson is that people trapped in waterlogged conditions adopt myriads of coping mechanisms and some of them are more rewarding financially than the conventional practices. For this to sustain and also to act on preventive measures, wider negotiations amongst multi-stakeholders (government, NGO, local bodies, private sector, communities) need to be taken into account in the design and implementation of projects.

Knowledge Management: Journal