Centre for Irrigation and Water Management

In pursuance of the decision no. 10.2 of the 30^th Board of Governors’ Meeting held on 4^th January 2003 a committee was formed headed by the ADG with a view to formulating a proposal for establishing a specialized Centre for Irrigation and Water Management (CIWM) set-up under RDA with specific terms of reference. The committee comprising Messrs. AKM Manzurul Haque, M A Matin, Mahmud Hossain Khan & Md. Nazrul Islam Khan, as members explored different aspects of RDA’s experience and lessons acquired from various research/action research programme in the field of irrigation and water management proposed the following report for consideration of the Board of Governors' Meeting (BoG). Finally BoG has been approved the centre under the administrative control of DG. Rural Development Academy Bogra in 31st Board of Governors meeting in 2003 for extending and popularizing RDA's Irrigation and Water Management Technologies throughout the country within a very shortest possible time for uplifting socio-economic condition of the rural people as well as quality of life.  

Introduction

Agriculture in Bangladesh is still dominating our economy in terms of employment, though  not in terms of GDP. The agriculture traditionally had    been dependent on rained irrigation. But with the advent of science and technology and under the pressure of a very fast growing population, modernization of agriculture became inevitable. All options of modernizing agriculture had to be exercised. To supplement the volatile and irregular precipitation causing fluctuation in agricultural yield was identified as one of the major hindrances to the sustainable growth of agricultural output.

So, mechanized irrigation along with the application of chemical fertilizer in appropriate doses and HYV seeds were introduced. Surface water resource might be the potential means of irrigation to our agriculture but because of it's alternating abundance and scarcity characteristics failed to be a regular and reliable source of irrigation. So, the scientists have no other obvious choice than abstracting sub-surface water for irrigation purpose.

Dr. Akhter Hameed Khan

Dr. Akhter Hameed Khan was the first man in this country to introduce mechanized abstraction of sub-surface water where surface water was not available. Both BARD and RDA proceeded in the direction he showed.

Rural Development Academy, Bogra is a national level Training and Research Institute of Rural Development established in 1974 under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives. The major objectives of the Academy are to (i) offer training to the personnel of different nation building departments and agencies involve in rural development works; (ii) conduct research and action research or pilot experiments in different aspects of rural development; and (iii) offer consultancy services to different national and international agencies as well as NGOs on various rural development issues.

To achieve the objectives, the Academy has been working on a wide range of rural development activities since 1974 with slightly more emphasis on exploring and managing water resources as a means of rural development. Availability of surface water during dry season becomes scarce both for irrigation and human consumption. So the ground water has become increasingly important source of irrigation, human drinking and other uses. Presently over 70% of irrigation and over 90% of potable water needs of the country are met from ground water. In such a backdrop ground water table goes below the suction level of STW and HTW, especially in the dry season due to misuse. This hampers supply of water for irrigation as well as drinking in many places of Bangladesh. Of late the quality of water has been traced to deteriorate with excessive arsenic contamination and iron concentration resulting in health hazard.

Rural Development Academy (RDA), Bogra has successfully carried out experiments in the field of water resources management and development, especially, in respect of optimum utilization of scarce water resources and has developed a model of multi-purpose use of DTW. The model includes: (i) partial buried pipe irrigation system; (ii) low and medium cost lined channel; (iii) compacted earthen channel; (iv) domestic water supply from irrigation well (v) installation of low-cost DTW with water filtration plants etc. In order to replicate these models of exploration and management of water, Academy organized several programmes for demonstration and training of the officials of BADC, LGED, DAE and BRDB.

Strategy of Project Implementation

The first approach is the installation of low-cost DTW at relatively chemically polluted free (particularly iron and arsenic free) strata of the aquifer. This approach suggests to pure water from the well and supply it through piped network to the individual households. In this method, it is needed to find out a particular layer of the aquifer which is

free or less contaminated with concentration of unwanted chemical elements specially iron and arsenic, before the installation of a low-cost DTW at any location. Such an activity is performed by conducting test drilling at the selected site. On the basis of in-situ test drilling data, sub- surface geologic formations of the particular location is known which can be used to determine the size of filter opening (slot) as well as the quality of groundwater, especially concentration of iron and arsenic.

In places where application of the above mentioned approach is not possible, RDA developed an alternative approach with the technique of purifying groundwater through treatment plant. It is based on the modification of traditional water filtration plant which is widely used in the developed and developing countries. The purpose of such water treatment plant is to convert the raw water abstracted from aquifer (groundwater formations) into safe water in respect of chemical contamination by iron and arsenic which is suitable for the concerned uses (i.e drinking, domestic, industrial, etc). The treatment process of groundwater consists of aeration, sedimentation, rapid filtration and post-chlorination. In the treatment process the most important thing is the removal of pathogenic  organisms, iron and manganese compounds, suspended matters and toxic substances such as arsenic.

There will be a provision of village based water users group among the villagers in each project area which comprises of maximum 6 sub-groups. The groups are arsenic free safe drinking water supply group, irrigation group, nursery and vegetable production group, aquaculture group, poultry and livestock rearing group, etc. All groups belongs to one main group called village based water users group and all members will be associated with them. There will be provision for seed capital for income generating activities. These individual group will be provided training at the academy and or successful completion they will be provided with credit from the projects seed capital fund with the recommendation of RDA credit supervisors, GO/NGO management representative and also village based water users group. The project will be implemented though Go/NGO/private enterprise.

RDA will provide Tk. 18.00 lakh for this project and other infrastructure including DTW, buried pipe network for irrigation, treatment plant for ensuring arsenic free water whenever necessary, overhead tank and main line for domestic water supply. If treatment plant is not necessary for removing arsenic, in that case, the expenditure for that will be used for other infrastructure (main/branch line) development. Total capital cost (18.00 lakh) will be recovered from the beneficiaries like GO, NGOs and Private enterprise within 10 years (without interest) and beneficiaries will deposit the money to RDA on yearly basis. The credit money of Tk. 10.25 lakh will be refunded through GO, NGOs and Private enterprise with 11% service charge. If the recovery of the credit money is satisfactory in that case the revolving period of the credit money may be extended for further period by mutually agreed decision. The total money would be disbursed through Bank. The interest rate is 11%- 5% credit supervisor and other; 4% CIWM; 2% NGO/Samity.

A Brief Guideline for Managing the Centre

Objectives of CIWM

The main objective of this Centre is to conducting training, research and action research in the field of Irrigation and Water Management over the past two decades experience of RDA and side by side extension of RDA developed irrigation and water management technology through out the country for upliftment of socio-economic condition of the rural people within a very short time.

The specific objectives are as follows:

1.  To ensure both surface and sub-surface water for increasing crop production.

2.  To ensure multipurpose use of water resources irrigation, drinking water supply, horticulture and nursery development, poultry and livestock rearing etc.     

3.  To develop quality of life in both rural and urbane areas through supplying safe drinking water.

4. To build up institutional linkage with different national and International organizations within the country or out side the country;

5. To develop capacity building of the RDA Faculty Member and also staff through in country training or overseas;

6. To conduct seminar/workshop about the success and failure of CIWM activities within the country or outside the country;

7. To give consultancy services in the field of Irrigation and water Management;

8. To visit home and abroad for sharing the experiences of water resources development;

9. To ensure environment friendly irrigation and water management.

Management System of CIWM

The Centre for Irrigation and Water Management has set-up within Rural development Academy, Bogra, with support facilities available from various Divisions of RDA. CIWM is managed  by one Director and two Deputy Directors with the required supporting manpower drawn from Agricultural Sciences Division and Social Sciences Division of RDA. The Centre is running under the direct supervision and control of the DG, RDA. A Organogram comprising with of 29 number of manpower has been approved by the Board of Governors of RDA.

Sources of Funding

(a)    Service charge of RDA credit programmes of two completed GOB funded projects namely, (i) Action Research project on Multipurpose Use of Low-cost DTW for Long-term post Flood Rehabilitation (1999-2003) (ii) Socio-Economic Development and Improvement of Quality of Life through Arsenic Free Safe Drinking Water Supply (2001-2005) and three On-going GOB funded projects (i) Creation of Additional Employment, Increase in Marginal Productivity of Labour in Rural Economic Activities and Poverty Alleviation Through Irrigation and Water Management (ii) Action Research Project on Increasing Irrigated Area through transferring RDA-Model of Irrigation and Water Management Technology in Southern and Hill Districts of Bangladesh (iii) Action Research Project on Command Area Development using Surface Water for Rural Livelihood Improvement by Replicating RDA Technology; and

(b)   30% of the consultancy charge realised against work on deposit in different GO/NGO/Private organization through implementing RDA-model and also from evaluation study.

(c)    Organizing IGA training courses.

Physical Facilities of CIWM

A well decorated 6 stored CIWM building having modern training room, conference room, Water related equipment etc. Have already been established under the financial support the GOB.

Achievement

1982

Average command area of a BARD - installed 2 cusec DTW was at best 16 hectare. RDA carried out action research on Command Area Development (CAD) and extended the area coverage by a same capacity DTW upto 67 hectare in village Narhatta of Bogra Sadar Upazila in 1982 for the same crop grown in the same season through the introduction of buried pipe irrigation system. The area coverage was the highest so far achieved in Bangladesh. Further research in CAD in other areas of the district of Bogra projected almost similar success. As a result, use of ground water for such an extended area could be reduced from 8 lakh to 2 lakh litre per hour and power consumption from 80 K. W. to 20 K.W. This helped protect the environmental aspects of ground water resources as well as water quality. This also helped reduce power consumption as well as cost of irrigation per ha.

1982-1986

Dual use of DTW was experimented during this period and was found feasible. Year-round utilization of DTW for irrigation and drinking was ensured to make it a profitable investment. Per-capita domestic water use was increased manifold, which in turn improved quality of life through better sanitation. In recent times the model has been replicated by different GOs/NGOs in the country and also in some CIRDAP countries.

1986-1990

A number of Training Modules on utilization and management of water resources were developed and quite a good number of officials of BRDB, BADC, DAE, LGED and the water users were trained on.

Achievements after 1990

RDA developed Low-Cost DTW Model

The Rural Development Academy, Bogra developed the Low-Cost DTW Model in 1998. This Low-cost DTW has got the superiority over the traditional DTWs, especially in respect of cost and quantum of water supply on regular basis. Total cost of abstracting water by traditional DTWs becomes high because of selection of bigger size of pump and prime mover (engine/motor) without consideration of the actual demand of water and power consumption. For a traditional DTW of 2-cusec discharge capacity by a 30 hp motor, the annual electric bill is around Tk. 30-35 thousand. Usually the DTWs remain idle during the off-irrigation season. If the power line is not disconnected there will be again a minimum bill for line rent. Ultimately, the operational cost of such a traditional DTW becomes a burden to the users unless the command area is proportionately enhanced. Due to high capital investment and    O & M costs as well as complex management system, use of traditional DTW for only seasonal irrigation purpose has not been found economically viable. Keeping the above facts in view, RDA has carried out the experiment for developing the low-cost demand-based DTW having a capacity-range from 10,000 litre/hour to 2,00,000 litre/hour and this has proved successful. It has ensured water supply from the main aquifer by a low-cost demand-specific DTW which is based on economical design and suitable for Bangladesh context.

DTW Management

Before installation of DTW in any village/place, finalization of management structure is very important. To finalize the overall management structure, a field inventory is done through a thorough socio-economic survey, which includes among others, identification of owners (GO/NGO/Users’ Group, etc.), probable site, different purposes of water use and different water users’ group. Then on the basis of the socio-economic survey report, a Village Resource Book for the village is prepared and an MOU is signed between RDA, Bogra and the Management Group formed by the users. The MOU incorporates among other terms and conditions a repayment schedule of capital investment.

The RDA-DTW Model is demand-based because due consideration is given to calculating the actual demand of water abstraction and to selecting the size of the pump and prime mover (motor) accordingly. Until now the sizes of RDA-developed DTWs vary from 7.5 hp to 30 hp; at the same time discharge capacities of the pumps vary from 10,000 litre/hour to 2,00,000 litre/hour.

Safe Drinking Water Supply model

In Bangladesh, Hand Tubewell (HTW) is mostly used for abstracting groundwater for drinking purposes. The hand tubewells abstract groundwater usually from shallow aquifer and there is risk of biological and chemical contamination and water quality deterioration in many places. Very recently, arsenic contamination of groundwater has emerged as a major public health hazard in the country. The contamination was first detected in 1993 when only four tubewells were found polluted with arsenic in Nawabganj district in the north-west region of Bangladesh. Subsequently in 1994, for the first time, the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health (DOEH) of the National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM), Bangladesh identified eight patients suffering from arsenic toxicity. Initially, it was reported that the arsenic contamination was present in eight western border districts of Bangladesh and about 10 million people were at risk. Until 1997, it has been found that the problem exists in most areas of the country except the south-east hilly region and the Barind tract where arsenic contamination in groundwater has not yet been detected. It has been reported that about 35 million people are affected by arsenic contaminated groundwater through drinking and other unknown ways (Khan and Ahmad, 1997; Khan et. al, 1997).

RDA-Developed Treatment Plant at                                                           720 Ton/hour Water Filtration Plant at JFCL,

Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge Area                                                                Jamalpur, Bangladesh

In recent years, irrigation-cum-domestic water supply system developed by RDA, Bogra has drawn the attention of different agencies. Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) has already replicated the above model at 26 sites on pilot basis and they are now going to scale up the extension of this model in their project areas. Moreover, on request of the Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge Authority (JMBA), the Academy has installed several low-cost DTWs with water filtration plants in their project area. Also on similar requests from the concerned agencies, RDA installed low-cost DTWs with filtration plant at different GO/NGO establishments, and also in different private locations of the country.

RDA has been currently implementing two action research projects namely (i) Action Research Project on Multipurpose Use of Low-cost DTW for Long-term Post Flood Rehabilitation (1999-2003)

(ii) Socio-Economic Development and Improvement of Quality of Life through Arsenic Free Safe Drinking Water Supply (2001-2006). The success of the projects is quite encouraging. Even though these two govt. sponsored projects end after their stipulated terms, lessons learned from it should be continued, disseminated and the actions initiated should be continued for the sake of development and this continuation of RDA’s mission needs exclusive institutional arrangement within its administration and control.

The Over-all achievement of CIWM, RDA, Bogra

1. Low cost DTW ( Borc hole ) having different capacities( 10 litre/sce to 56 litre/sce ) have been developed and popularized through out the country

2. The quality of drinking water has been brought up to Bangladesh as well as drinking water standard ( iron and arsenic free).

3.Multipurpose use of water resources could be possible in irrigation, drinking water supply, horticultive and nursery development, poultry and livestock recessing etc.

4. Micro-credit programm in very much helpful for undertaking different types of IGAs.

5. Ground water could be used for manufacturing fertilizer production. 

RDA Credit for Wider Access in Water Resource Management for Livelihood Improvement

The concept of RDA-credit is not entirely new. Comparing various types of data; it is revealed that for socio-economic development of rural livelihood, RDA credit works in different way. The objective of poverty alleviation is far to achieve if the rural people, especially the beneficiaries of the action research projects are not given capital support to undertake income generating activities (IGAs). Project beneficiaries are poor and they could not undertake any activity without having credit. Since training-matched-credit is the outcome of the RDA action research, this credit has been named as RDA-credit.

RDA-credit has been found successful in creating self-employment and generating income in the rural areas. RDA-credit system demands due attention because the issues of micro-credit are considered as one of the key factors to alleviate poverty in the country.

Objectives of RDA-Credit

The Major objectives of RDA-credit Program are to:

Provide capital support to the beneficiaries of RDA action research projects on easy terms to undertake income generating activities;

Encourage capital formation of the samity/ group members through thrift savings;

Features of RDA-Credit

Credit is imperative for undertaking IGAs by the poor people. RDA believes that proper investment and utilization of credit is possible only if training on particular IGA is provided prior to the distribution of credit. Training-matched credit is the main theme of RDA-credit.

Insufficient credit leads to misuse and dis-investment of credit. For this RDA credit program advocates for giving sufficient amount of credit to the beneficiaries in order to get maximum output from particular IGAs. Monitoring and supervision are the key elements to the success of RDA-credit. The field level credit activities are being regularly supervised and monitored by the field level project staff as well as CIWM staff at the Academy level.

Membership of Samity/group is considered as collateral of credit.

Allocation of credit is based on the recommendation of the cooperative/group. No member of the samity/group will be eligible for credit unless his loan case is forwarded by samity/group for approval.

Procedures and Strategies of RDA-Credit Operation

RDA credit aims at overall development of project beneficiaries through optimum utilization of irrigation equipment as well as credit available to them. According to CIWM rules and regulations the selected and interested cooperative societies/groups have to sign an agreement with RDA project authority. The RDA-credit fund is known as revolving fund and meets the individual credit need on rotatory basis. The individual borrowers have also to sign a deed before receiving the loan money. The CIWM authority reserves the right of withdrawal of credit fund from any site in case of dissatisfactory credit performance/dealings. Formation of sub-groups consisting 5 to 15 members for better management.

Sub-groups are formed with the members of homogenous interest which is convenient for selection of IGAs.

Each sub-group has one chairman and one secretary. Credit is given both for individual and group.

Hundred percent repayments of previous loans with service charge is a pre-condition for receiving loans in successive cases.

In flat rate method eleven percent (11%) service change is imposed and realized. ²/₁₁^th of the service charge go to Co-operative/Group/NGO as commission, ²/₁₁^th  for bad debt, ⁴/₁₁^th  for remuneration of Credit Supervisor and Credit Monitor and ³/₁₁^th  to CIWM as augmentation, technology transfer, manpower management for credit program, travel and miscellaneous expenditure. If any Co-operative/Group/NGO employs their own Credit Supervisor they get ⁴/₁₁^th of the service charge as commission instead of ²/₁₁^th of it. RDA-credit is generally given for one year. Loans are repayable on weekly installments including eleven percent (11%) flat rate service charge.

Loan including 11% service charge is repayable in 46 equal weekly installments.

Credit supervisors are normally recruited by the CIWM authority for the sub-project areas. If the Cooperative/Group/NGO fails to operate the credit program or is not interested in operating the same, the credit program is run by a six-member Management Committee consisting of a Chairman, a Secretary and four members. It is mandatory for the Credit Supervisors and Credit Monitors to submit weekly and monthly report to the Director of CIWM.

Loanee Member Selection

Only one member (the most enterprising and skilled) of the family will be selected as a member of sub group and s/he should have interest in receiving training.

Loan Application and Loan Disbursement Procedure

At primary stage, the loan will be given to the resident of sub-project area/ village only for Income Generating Activities (IGA). Surplus money can be given in other areas (Action Research Project Area) as credit investment only after fulfilling the demand of member of the sub-project area/ village. Members interested in taking loan, will apply in the prescribed form, indicating their activities to the Cooperative/ Group/ NGO. The loan must be given only for income generating activities (IGA) not for consumption.

Loan can be given only after the approval of one third members present in the meeting of the executive committee of Co-operative/ Group/ NGO.

Co-operative/ Group/ NGO will operate and maintain the disbursement of loan and report weekly/ monthly to the Director of CIWM.

The Credit Supervisor will collect the application for loan with the assistance of the office of the Co-operative/ Group/ NGO. And will submit in the meeting of Co-operative/ Group/ NGO. Credit Supervisor will submit all the application to Credit Monitor passed by the committee with his own recommendation. The Credit Monitor after verifying selecting and examining the application will submit to the Credit section of CIWM.

Personal loan application

Copy the decision of Co-operative/Group/ NGO’s management committee

Bail guarantee and evidence for loan repayment

Credit Supervisor and Credit Monitor will ensure the disbursement of loan in presence of members of executive committee of Co-operative/ Group/ NGO. For any faults and failures the associates Credit Supervisor and Credit Monitor will be whole responsible.

Credit Supervisor and Credit Monitor will also sign on it after getting signature and stamp of the officer empowered by the executive committee of Co-operative/ Group/ NGO and it will be submitted to Assistant Director (Credit) for preservation in the file of the related office.

Member wise loan and savings Pass Book with attested photograph will be maintained. In that Pass Book loan and savings record will be resister by the Credit Supervisor.  

The loan and savings Pass Book after receiving taka eight and loan application costing taka two will be given against receipt. That money will be deposited in the bank account of CIWM.

Self Capital Formation

Concern Co-operative/ Group/ NGO may collect maximum taka fifty as admission fee from each member. Eighty percent (80%) of the total savings of the member can be invested as credit among the member by the director of CIWM. Account of loanee maintain separately from the savings loan. The loanee from savings loan account will not be against the loanee form seed capital fund.

The RDA credit policy fully follows by applicable in investing savings loan.

The total principal and service charge deposit in same account after the return of installment of the distributed savings loan.

Eleven Percent (11%) flat rate service charge collects from the loanee of the loan money.

Status of Credit Operation as on November 2007 (CIWM)                                          Taka in million