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Exploring Approaches to Fresh Water Storage and Uses for Irrigation in Salinized Southwest Coastal Region of Bangladesh

Hamidul Huq
Institute of Development Studies and Sustainability (IDSS)

*Khalid Md. Bahauddin
United International University (UIU), Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The agricultural system of coastal regions of Bangladesh is heavily dependent on environmental factors such as the timing, intensity and distribution of the monsoon, soil salinity and the availability of fresh water for irrigation. This study explores and documents the farmers’ practices of innovative approaches to freshwater storage and uses in the agriculture and irrigation in the coastal regions of Bangladesh. The study was mostly qualitative in nature but some quantitative primary data were collected based on the study objectives. Primary data were collected through in-depth individual interviews, group discussions, focused group discussions and key informant interviews. The data collection for this study was carried out in the Bajua and Laodob union of Dacope Upazila of Khulna district. This study found that the mainstay of the economy of the study areas is agriculture (51.67% for the Bajua and 50.43% for the Laodob union) and bulk of the local population is dependent on farming. The study found that in 2009 the shrimp farming is being stopped in the study areas by the collective efforts of villagers, local political leaders and different NGOs. These areas are now affected by severe water scarcity problems and due to lack of water sources and the increasing salinity, the people in the study areas cultivate rice (Aman) once a year, but now produce robi crops in the summer season. Farmers depend mainly on rainwater, canals, ponds and rivers. It noted that groundwater for irrigation using deep tube wall is failed in the study areas because the groundwater lever has already gone very down. This study explored that the increasing salinity, lack of water sources, with temperatures rising, the recurrent natural extremes are impacting on agriculture intensifying the vicious cycle of hunger and poverty are becoming more frequent especially in the summer season. It is interestingly noted that the farmers in the study areas dig small/ mini ponds beside agriculture land during rainy season for storing freshwater which are used in summer season for irrigating robi crops because in summer season, the salinity increases in soil and water and, canal and river become silted. This study revealed that because of high salinity in groundwater and surface water, the people of the study areas use rainwater collecting it in the rainy season and storing it for use during the dry season. However, within a short period, insects begin to breed and nuisances created in the water which affects the quality of water using for irrigation and drinking. To prevent this from happening, some people keep two or three Kai fish (Climbing Perch) in the container to eat insects and keep the water clean and, free of nuisances. This study also importantly noted that to keep the stored rainwater free from any nuisances, some people of the study areas place a paste made from two or three pieces of raw turmeric wrapped in a clean cloth into the water container. They use this as herbal repellant in the form of turmeric in order to keep stored rainwater free of pollution. Communities developed these practices out of necessity and these practices are not tested scientifically, but people believe in their efficacy.

Keywords: Water Storage and Uses, Irrigation, Practice, Coastal Bangladesh

Location: Coastal regions of Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Water Conservation, Water management, Soil salinity

Objectives:

Farmers’ practices of innovative approaches to freshwater storage and uses in irrigation uses are common, but in small scale and scattered. If these innovations are scientifically documented, then this knowledge can be useful in larger scale in the southwest coastal region of Bangladesh. The uses of locally innovated approaches to freshwater storage and irrigation are also relevant to climate change adaptation of coastal agriculture. Scientifically documentation of these practices is expected to make effective contributions in knowledge sharing with relevant stakeholders towards advocacy for science-policy interface. Considering the discussion above the main objective of this study was to explore and document the farmers’ practices of innovative approaches to freshwater storage and uses in agriculture and irrigation in the coastal regions of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

This study was mostly qualitative in nature but some quantitative primary data were collected to compliment and comprehend for findings based on the study objectives set. Primary data were collected through in-depth individual interviews, group discussions, focused group discussions and key informant interviews with farmers, women; government and NGO field workers with relevant projects. The data collection for this study was carried out in the Bajua and Laodob union of Dacope Upazila of Khulna district. The study areas were selected purposively based on consultation with relevant stakeholders. For attaining the research objectives, six in-depth individual interviews, two key informant interviews, four group discussions and six focused group discussions in each this two study unions of Dacope union of Khulna district were conducted using set of checklists and guidelines. Secondary data will be examined critically and organized to get in-depth understanding of irrigation practices and gender dynamics in water management in the study areas.

5.1. Major Economic Activities in the Study Areas As this study focused on irrigation practices and water management so it reasonably became a matter to be studied in the principal economic activities of the people of study areas such as Bajua and Laodob union of Dacope Upazila of Khulna district. The mainstay of the economy of the study areas i.e. Bajua and Laodob union is agriculture and bulk of the local population is dependent on farming. According to the livelihood classification of the villagers in the 2011 Census, it’s found the evidence that majority of the people in the study areas involved in agricultural activities for their livelihood. The table-1 shows that a great majority of the people (51.67% for the Bajua and 50.43% for the Laodob union) depend on agriculture. The data of this study indicated that people in these areas are predominantly agricultural communities. This was evident when the researchers found that the preponderant majority of their fathers and grandfathers were also farmers. Although, agriculture is predominant in both the people of the study areas, there are other occupations represented as well. The second important occupation of the people of the study areas is day labor following by fishing.

5.2. Entering into Rice Cultivation from Shrimp Farming: Looking at the History of Stopping Shrimp Farming Although certain types of economic development activities are beneficial for the macro economy and capital flow to relatively depressed regions such as the Southwest of Bangladesh, shrimp farming adversely affected on the Bajua and Laodob union of Dacope Upazila of Khulna. It was 2007 when people of the Bajua and Laodob union realized that the rapid development of shrimp farming was causing a series of negative environmental and social consequences in their areas. Actually the movement of stopping shrimp farming started in 2007 initiated by local political leaders and some villagers. They convinced people that the shrimp farming of their areas led to reduction in agricultural productivity and the availability of potable water. While it was enhancing the foreign exchange through exports, it created loss of land, food insecurity and social dislocation.

5.3. Searching the Challenges of Irrigation and Exploring Farmer’s Practices to Fresh Water Storage and Uses for Irrigation under the Adverse Environmental Condition It is been more than eight years since shrimp farming is being stopped in the study areas i.e. Bajua and Laodob union of Dacope Upazila, Khulna district. These areas are now affected by severe water scarcity problems in agriculture and secured livelihood due to the intense lack of sources of water. Due to lack of water sources, the people in the study areas cultivate rice once a year, but now produce robi crops in the summer season. When people started growing more crops around the year, they faced water scarcity problems. Most crops need more irrigation water for production. Water is therefore a vital factor for high yields. Farmers depend mainly on rainwater, canals, ponds and rivers. It is noted that groundwater for irrigation using deep wall is failed in the study areas because the groundwater lever has already gone very down. In the locality of the study areas, back in 15 to 20 years, the people used to store water traditionally; they called it Kua and Indara. They stored groundwater in the Kua, it was a small deep (5ft - 10 ft) hole which was prepared of mud or brick in the surface area. But people could not able to use it for a long time due to inadequate water from groundwater. To cope with the situation, then the people in the study areas started storing water which locally called Indara prepared of concrete rings and with a depth of 15ft-20ft and after few years of using this, they had to stop it due to further dropped down of the groundwater. Now the main problem of the study areas is the intense lack of water sources.

Source of Information: Management of Sustainable Development Sibiu, Romania, Volume 10, No.2, December 2018

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

This study explored and documented practices to fresh water storage and uses for irrigation used to adapt with adverse environmental and climatic conditions as well as methods employed to avoid loss of livelihood options and assets, and ensure availability of water, the continuation of livelihood activities and ensure agricultural productivity. In this study, researchers attempted to uncover some principles and logic underlying previously unexplored and seemingly arbitrary beliefs that have been adapted into practices for irrigation by the people of the study areas. When dealing with isolated instances collected from the field, it could appear that these practices have no coherent interrelationship that could justify a community’s investment into their utilization.

Communities developed these practices out of necessity - primarily, to meet the demands of daily existence and they were developed through trial and error. These practices are not tested scientifically, but people believe in their efficacy. They continue to experiment, innovate and adapt until they find their practices that produce desired results, reinforcing confidence levels. Practices are integrated into local traditions and passed down from generation to generation. Throughout the study process a wide range of data relevant to mechanisms for coping with salinity and lack of water sources were collected. The practices documented, often interwoven with cultural values, are designed or adapted to achieve specific objectives or serve precise purposes. Identical reproduction of these practices in another community or cultural setting may not be possible. However, the principles behind these practices may be replicable.

Knowledge Management: Journal