Name of the Project

:

Creation of Additional Employment, Increase in Marginal Productivity of Labour in Rural Economic Activities and Poverty Alleviation Through Irrigation and Water Management.

Background

:

The proposed project is a national priority project of command area development and safe drinking water supply for the rural people through RDA Irrigation and water management model in different areas of Bangladesh. The project actions are not only for ensuring low cost irrigation in different areas of Bangladesh, it is also helping reduce capital as well as  operation and maintenance cost of the project through ensuring safe drinking water supply and horticulture & nursery, livestock & poultry, aquaculture and small & cottage industry development in different areas of Bangladesh.

 In the context of modern advances, the overall irrigation management in Bangladesh is still backward compared to the other developed and developing countries. As a result, now a DTW with a capacity of 56 litres/sec irrigates only 17 ha of boro paddy. But now through introducing RDA's appropriate technology, it is possible to irrigate up to 67 ha of land with the same capacity. The main considerable components of the project will be: installation of Low-cost deep tubewell, introducing an appropriate irrigation water conveyance system and safe drinking water supply network with the help of RDA innovated appropriate water technology. Besides, by using the same sources deep tubewell, water would be supplied to the other areas of IGAs like vegetable production, livestock, aquaculture and food processing & preservation. Apart from this, the project includes provision of several training courses in such areas, as on-farm water management, well drilling, nursery development, vegetable production, livestock & aquaculture development, marketing of agricultural products and food processing & preservation. Water users’ group will be set up according to the sources of water supply in each project area. A maximum of seven sub-groups would be formed under each water users’ group. Credit (capital) would be given in cash as seed capital which is reimbursable within the project period. 

Project Duration

:

01 July, 2005 to 30 June, 2008                                            

Project Cost

:

Tk. 240.92 million

Project Location

:

Rural Development Academy (RDA), Bogra-5842. (The project will cover the entire territory whole of Bangladesh (with a minimum of two schemes for each greater district)

Project Objectives

:

The main objective of the project is to alleviate poverty through rapid extension of RDA-developed irrigation and water management model by creating additional employment of the rural people for better rural livelihood and better living.

The specific objectives of the project are:

i.         To extend RDA-developed low-cost multipurpose  DTW model;

ii.        To replicate RDA-developed low-cost water filtration plant model for supplying safe drinking water in the rural areas;

iii.      To ensure higher production through safe water supply, skill development training and micro-credit assistance;

iv.      To ensure multipurpose use of water resources for irrigation, drinking water supply, horticulture nursery development, poultry & livestock rearing, fish cultivation, food processing & preservation and so on.

v.       To create additional employment for the rural people;

vi.      To contribute to additional food production for meeting up incremental national food demand;

vii.    To ensure proper post-processing in agricultural production;

viii.   To ensure proper marketing network of agro-products including export through co-ordination among production, processing and modern irrigation technology; and

ix.       To enhance socio-economic quality of life of the rural people.

Major Components

:

q       Installation of Low-cost DTW on the basis of recent technological option developed by RDA, Bogra;

q       Construction of multipurpose overhead tank;

q       Construction of low-cost buried pipe irrigation system;

q       Construction of network for safe drinking water supply;

q       Cropping technology transfer through demonstration and training;

q       Installation of nursery and production of vegetables;

q       Develop livestock, poultry and fishery farms with community bio-gas plant;

q       Introduce agro-based small industry;

q       Provision of multi-dimensional training to different target groups;

q       Distribution of monetary seed capital among the beneficiaries;

q       Identification of appropriate credit operation system;

q       Arrangement of seminar/workshop; and

q       Follow-up and monitoring/evaluation.

Implementation Strategy

:

The Action research will be undertaken at least at two locations of each greater district of Bangladesh. The selection criteria of the project site/village will be the following:

a)       The village should be well communicated with road infrastructure for better action demonstration to the officials as well as farmers from other areas of Bangladesh;

b)       The village should have a three-phase power supply system with an own stand-by generator;

c)       The individual members/groups will have to be interested in undertaking different types of income generating activities (like crop irrigation, nursery, livestock, fishery, cottage industry and so on where DTW water would be used);

d)       If any GO/NGO or village based Samity (society) show their interest to comply with all responsibilities associated with the implementation of the project, then their location would be selected as a project site through an agreement between them (GO/NGO or village based Samity) and the project authority at RDA. Source of water availability, water quality and present number of DTW in the site will be considered a successfull for site selection.

e)       A total amount of Tk. 2.2 million will be allocated for installation of RDA-developed low-cost DTW, Multipurpose overhead tank, Buried pipe irrigation system, Pipeline network for domestic water supply and Water filtration Plant (if needed) through the capital investment of the project, which is refundable to the Centre for Irrigation and Water management (CIWM), RDA, Bogra within a maximum of ten years period without any interest.

f)        At the early/preliminary stage of the project, 10% of the capital investment i.e. Tk 220,000.00 (Two hundred and twenty thousand) will be given to the CIWM, RDA, Bogra by the project-implementing agency (GO/NGO or village based Samity).

g)       Project beneficiaries will be divided into different sub-groups based on the baseline information. They will be trained up with various IGAs skill and the total cost for this will be met from the project fund.

h)       A maximum of Tk. 1,050,000.00 (One million and fifty thousand) will be given as seed capital for credit operation under RDA-credit Programme for the socio-economic development and improvement of quality of life of the project beneficiaries.

A benchmark survey will be conducted at each site covering beneficiaries’ agro-socio-economic status (in the areas like current occupation, irrigation, drinking water supply, nursery and vegetable production, livestock and poultry rearing, aquaculture, income). After completing the survey, a village resource book will be prepared and then based on it, a detailed realisable work plan will be developed.

Lessons Learnt

:

1.        On the basis of IGA training-cum-RDA credit facility, micro entrepreneurship has been developed in the project area. 

2.        Beneficiaries are using DTW water for different purposes i.e. irrigation, drinking, pisciculture, livestock and poultry rearing and also for other domestic and industrial purposes.

3.        Direct participation of the project beneficiaries is ensured in the following ways:

(a)        They deposited 10% of the total capital cost of the project i.e. Tk. 220,000.00 to the Academy at the initial stage;

(b)       Cost of electric connection charge is completely borne by the management group;

(c)        The internal domestic pipe network along with fittings are completely done by the individual users;

(d)       The operation and maintenance cost of the sub-project are also borne by the groups;

Future Plan

:

• The total capital cost of the project will be recovered within 10 years;
• The project activity will be extended to other areas through project cost recovery; and
• For sustainability the project activities will be continuously monitored  through CIWM with its own income

Name of the Project

:

Action Research Project on Increasing Irrigated Area through Transferring RDA-model of Irrigation and Water Management Technology in Southern and Hill Districts of Bangladesh

Background

:

Agriculture in Bangladesh still dominates our economy in terms of scale of employment generation if not in terms of contribution to the GDP. Agriculture sector traditionally was dependent on natural rainfall. But with the advancement of science and technology and under the pressure of a very fastly growing population, modernization of agriculture became inevitable. All options of modernizing agriculture had to be exercised. Supplementing the volatile and erratic rainfall causing fluctuation in agricultural yield was identified as one of the major remedial measures for sustainable growth in agricultural output.

Thus mechanized irrigation along-with the application of chemical fertilizer in appropriate rates and HYV seeds were introduced. Surface water resources might be the potential means of irrigation to our agriculture but because of its alternating abundance and scarcity characteristics, it failed to be a regular and reliable source of irrigation. Thus the scientists had no other obvious choice than extracting sub-surface water for irrigation purpose.

In the Hill districts of Bangladesh some of the valleys are considered to be quite suitable for installation of DTWs which may increasingly facilitate irrigation for crop production and multipurpose uses of water. In 2005-06, with the technical support of RDA, Rangamati Hill District Council already undertook a Feasibility study on application of RDA-developed Multipurpose DTW Technology in the Rangamati Hill District. The study recommended that  out of 32 sample sites 26 would be chosen for using mad which sources and result of test boring in 5 sites (randomly selected from these 26 ) 3 were suitable for DTW. Remaining 21 sites were subjected to conduct test boring for introduction of RDA-developed DTW Technology.  

Creation of similar facilities is imperative in the southern districts of Bangladesh to use underground water for multiple purpose uses (irrigation, drinking, and other agro-domestic uses and enterprise development. Adoption of RDA DTW technology can relieve coastal people from the use of saline Bay water in multiple purposes.

Project Duration

:

01 July 2006 to 30 June 2009.

Project Cost

:

Tk. 141.394 million

Project Location

:

Chittagong: 3 sites (Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachari);

Sylhet: 2 sites (Sunamganj and Maulabhibazar);

Dhaka: 3 sites (Manikganj, Narayangonj and Gazipur );

Khulna: 2 sites (Satkhira & Bagherhat); and

Barishal: 2 sites (Pirojpur and Jhalokathi)

Project Objectives

:

The main objective of the project is to meet up the increasing demand of food and provide food security for uplifting the socio-economic condition of the rural people by transferring RDA- model of irrigation and water management technology in the non irrigated areas of Southern and Hill Districts.

The specific objectives of the project are:

i.         To explore the possibility of the best use of surface and sub-surface water irrigation in the non irrigated areas;

ii.        To undertake exploratory drilling for finding best aquifer for DTW installation;

iii.      To install observation well for ground water monitoring;

iv.      To demonstrate and disseminate RDA-model (multipurpose use of water resources) for irrigated command area development;

v.       To conduct training programmes for stakeholders on skill development IGAs for their capacity building and poverty alleviation;

vi.      To enhance food production by increasing irrigated area within the project area.

vii.    To ensure enhanced crop production by selecting appropriate cropping patterns in the costal and hill areas.

Major Component

:

q       Installation of Low-cost DTW on the basis of recent technological option developed by RDA, Bogra;

q       Construction of multipurpose overhead tank;

q       Construction of low-cost buried pipe irrigation system;

q       Construction of network for safe drinking water supply;

q       Cropping technology transfer through demonstration and training;

q       Installation of nursery and production of vegetables;

q       Develop livestock, poultry and fisheries farm with Community bio-gas plant;

q       Introduction of agro-based small industry;

q       Provision of multi-dimensional training to the different target group;

q       Distribution of seed capital among the beneficiaries;

q       Identification of appropriate credit operation system;

q       Arrangement of seminar/workshop; and

q       Follow-up and monitoring/evaluation.

Implementation Strategy

:

The implementation strategy will be:

A. Selection of site location, group/institution

a)       The village should be well communicated by road for better demonstration of the project activities to the officials as well as farmers of other areas of Bangladesh;

b)       The village should have a three-phase power supply or the villagers should have their own stand-by generator;

c)       The individual members/groups have to be interested in undertaking different types of income generating activities (like crop irrigation, nursery, livestock, fisheries, cottage industry and so on.);

d)       If any GO/NGO or village based Samity is interested to take up all responsibilities of implementing the project, then village would be selected as a project site and the project would be implemented through  an agreement made between them (GO/NGO or village based Samity) and the project authority. Source of water availability, water quality and current number of DTW in the area will be taken as essential consideration for site selection.

e)       A benchmark survey will be conducted for each site covering the beneficiaries’ socio-economic status (in terms of irrigation, drinking water supply, nursery and vegetable production, livestock and poultry rearing, aquaculture, other occupation, income). After completing the survey, a village resource book will be prepared and then based on this, a detailed work plan will be prepared.

f)        According to the benchmark findings, project beneficiaries are to be divided into different sub-groups and be given various skill development training fundable by the project.

B. Direct participation of the beneficiaries

a)    A total amount of Tk. 2.5 million will be allocated for installation of RDA-developed Low-cost DTW, Multipurpose overhead tank, Buried pipe irrigation network, Pipeline network for domestic water supply and Water filtration Plant (if needed) through the capital investment of the project, which is refundable to the Centre for Irrigation and Water management (CIWM), RDA, Bogra within a maximum of ten years period  without any interest.

b)    At the early/preliminary stage of the project implementation, 10% of the capital investment i.e. Tk 250,000.00 (Two hundred and fifty thousand) will be given to the CIWM, RDA, Bogra by the project-implementing agency (GO/NGO or village based Samity).

c)    A maximum of Tk. 1.0 million will be given as seed capital for credit operation under RDA-credit Programme for the socio-economic development and improvement of quality of life of the project beneficiaries.

Lessons Learnt

:

RDA-model of irrigation and water management technology could be replicated in the southern and hill districts of Bangladesh with some modifications.

Future Plan

:

RDA-model of irrigation and water management technology would be replicated in the other areas of southern and hill districts of Bangladesh.

Name of the Project

:

Action Research Project on Command Area Development using Surface Water for Rural Livelihood Improvement by Replicating RDA Technology.

Background

:

National water planning in Bangladesh dates back to 1964 when a 20-year Master Plan was prepared with emphasis on large-scale flood control, drainage and/or irrigation projects. The World Bank conducted a land and water sector study in 1972, which advocated for small and medium-scale projects through minor irrigation technology. After the devastating floods of 1987 and 1988, a five-year (1990-1995) Flood Action Plan (FAP) was launched with focus on flood mitigation. Besides, earlier water management plans focused mainly on agricultural development, neglecting the water needs of other sectors-especially the social and environmental impacts of water resources development interventions.

The success of an irrigation project in meeting these requirements depends, to a large extent, on the proper functioning of sources of supply of water (surface or ground water sources), its water conveyance (distribution) system and field level water use.

About 75% irrigation has been done though ground water in Bangladesh which is the highest all over the world that creates extra thrust on ground water sources. Except Command Area Development, Bangladesh now has major programmes on flood management, drainage improvement, and water conservation. The above infrastructure development is necessary but there should be provision for ensuring proper irrigation and water management in the field through buried pipe or open canal systems with some water control structures, which remains yet to be accomplished. This situation deters surface water is to reach farmer’s field for irrigation.

It is believed that appropriate water distribution system can increase the command area under any type of irrigation equipment. RDA’s experience of buried pipe irrigation¾a highly effective water saving technology, could be introduced in different sub-project areas of the Small Scale Water Resources Development Sector Project (SSWRDSP), of LGED and the areas where an adequate magnitude of surface water source is available during the lean period.

Project Duration

:

01 July 2007 to 30 June 2012.

Project Cost

:

Tk. 149.082 million

Project Location

:

Rural Development Academy (RDA), Bogra

(A total of 25 sites will be selected on the basis of surface water availability in any district of Bangladesh. Preference will be given on   SSWRDS project sites implemented by LGED. )

Project Objectives

:

The main objective of the project is to ensure efficient use of surface water resources for command area development by increasing crop production as well as creating additional employment generation through IGA, thus helping upliftment of the socio-economic conditions of the rural people for better livelihood. The specific objectives of the project are as follows:

i)          To install buried pipe irrigation system for economic and efficient use of surface water resources for crop production;

ii)         To demonstrate RDA developed low-cost buried pipe irrigation model for wider replication throughout Bangladesh;

iii)       To conduct training on the know hows of different types of Income Generating Activities (IGAs) for the beneficiaries’ capacity building supported by RDA credit programme;

iv)       To increase food production for meeting up the demand of increased population in Bangladesh in the 21st century.

v)        To develop sustainable project management model.

vi)       To reduce irrigation cost and save electricity thus helping reduce load shedding during dry season.

vii)     To strengthen surface water irrigation and water management for maintaining ecological balance of ground water resources.

Major Components

:

q       Construction of Header tank;

q       Construction of low-cost buried pipe irrigation system;

q       Cropping technology transfer through demonstration and training;

q       Installation of nursery and production of vegetables;

q       Develop livestock, poultry and fisheries farm with community Bio-gas plant;

q       Introduction of agrobased small industry;

q       Provision of multi-dimensional training to the different target group;

q       Distribution of seed capital among the beneficiaries;

q       Identification of appropriate credit operation system;

q       Arrangement of seminar/workshop; and

q       Follow-up and monitoring/evaluation.

Implementation Strategy

:

The implementation strategy will be:

a)       The village should be well communicated for better demonstration of the project actions and achievements to the officials as well as farmers from other areas of Bangladesh;

b)       The village should have three-phase power supply or the beneficiaries should have their own stand-by generator;

c)       The individual members/groups have to be interested for undertaking different types of income generating activities (like crop irrigation, nursery, livestock, fisheries, cottage industry development etc.);

d)       If any GO/NGO or village based Organisation/ Samity is interested to take up all pertinent responsibilities to implement the project in their area, this will be taken as a project site and the project would be implemented these through an agreement between them (GO/NGO or village based Samity) and the project authority at RDA. Water availability, water quality and present number of DTW in that area will be primarily considered for site selection.

e)       A total amount of Tk. Tk 5.963 million will be allocated for installation of RDA-developed Low-cost DTW, Multipurpose overhead tank, Buried pipe irrigation system, Pipeline network for domestic supply and Water filtration plant (if needed) through the capital investment of the project, which is refundable to the Centre for Irrigation and Water management (CIWM), RDA, Bogra within a maximum of ten years period without any interest as per to the agreement.

f)        At early/preliminary stage of the project implementation, 5% of the capital investment i.e. Tk 298,000 (Two hundred and ninety eight thousand) will be given to the CIWM, RDA, Bogra by the project-implementing agency (GO/NGO or village based Samity).

g)       Project beneficiaries are to be divided into different sub-groups as per the baseline survey findings. Group members will be trained up with various IGA skill development technologies and the training and other costs will be met from the project fund.

h)       A maximum of Tk. 1.0 million will be given to the beneficiary as seed capital for of credit operation under RDA-credit Programme for the socio-economic development and improvement of quality of life of them.

i)         A benchmark survey will be conducted for each site covering their socio-economic status (occupation, income, irrigation, drinking water supply, nursery and vegetable production, livestock and poultry rearing, aquaculture). After completing the survey, a village resource book will be prepared and then, using it, a detailed work plan will be prepared.

Lessons Learnt

:

RDA-model of irrigation and water management technology could be replicated in areas with available surface water resources.

Future Plan

:

The project activity would be extended in new the project areas through cost sharing basis.

Name of the Project

:

Comprehensive Village Development Programme (CVDP)

Background

:

Comprehensive Village Development Programme (CVDP) was initiated by Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD), Comilla in 1975 in the name of ‘Total Village Development Programme (TVDP)’ with a view to examining the efficacy of one village one organisation in a village. The main thrust was given to mobilisation of local resources and its utilisation so that the villagers would be self-reliant irrespective of age, sex, class and professions. The project was included in the 3^rd FYP and renamed as ‘Comprehensive Village Development Programme’. In the second phase during the Fourth FYP, Rural Development Academy (RDA), Bogra was involved with the implementation of the project in 1991-92.

CVDP was one of the action research projects of the Academy being implemented in 40 villages of four Upazilas under Rajshahi and Khulna divisions since 1991-92. The main objectives of the project were to (i) promote overall development of all segments of population of a village by bringing them under a single co-operative organization and (ii) evolve a replicable rural development model. The Experimental Phase of the project was wound up in June 2004.

At the Experimental phase CVDP was able to create some positive results for the betterment of the rural people. With the intention of extending its results throughout the country a series of discussions and seminars on the results, problems and potentials of CVDP were held in the Ministry of Local Government Rural Development (LGRD) and Co-operatives and Planning Commission. Finally, the government was convinced to adopt CVDP as a model concept for rural development, but recommended for further implementation for three more years on pilot basis before replication throughout the country. 

The pilot phase of the project started in July 2005. The Rural Development and Co-operatives Division of the Ministry of LGRD & Co-operatives is sponsoring the project. RDA, BARD, Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) and Co-operative Department are working as implementing agencies. In all the project covers 1575 villages of 21 Upazilas from 19 districts.

Project Duration

:

July 2005 – June 2008

Project Cost

:

Tk. 486.47 lacs (RDA part)

Project Location

:

300 Villages under Sherpur (Bogra), Sadullapur (Gaibandha), Mirpur (Kushtia) and Jhenaidah Sader (Jhenaidah) Upazilas of Rajshahi and Khulna Divisions.

Project Objectives

:

General Objective

The main objective of CVDP is to promote overall development of all segments of population of a village through a single co-operative organisation and verify its replicability throughout the country.

Specific objectives

The specific objectives are to:

a)  Ensure comprehensive development of rural population irrespective of age, sex, rich and the poor;

        Revitalize and reconstitute appropriate kind of institutional infrastructure for development;

b)  Mobilise all sections and functional groups of population and organize them for development;

c) Mobilise all kinds of material resources and inputs and maximize their utilization   

    and production;

d) Provide management and skill development training to the co-operators in for  

     order to create employment opportunities;

e)Motivate the cooperators to develop capital-base for rendering micro-credit   

   facilities; and

f) Cater to the social, psychological and health needs of the rural population for a sustainable development.

Major Components

:

-       Training and Motivation;

§      Open Membership;

§      Trained Village Development Workers;

§      Capital Accumulation and Investment;

§      Self-employment and Income Generation;

§      Social Development;

§      Village Development Plan; and

§      Monthly Joint and Coordination Meeting.

Implementation Strategy

:

 1.                 One Village One Co-operative.

2.                 Emphasis on training and transfer of technology.

3.                    Linkage between Upazila level offices and co-operative organizations for    

                necessary support-services.

4.                     Preparation of Village Resource Book and best use of it for planning.

5.                     Local resource mobilisation.

6.                     Capital formation and best utilization of it in order to generate

                employment and income.

7.                     Monthly Joint Meeting and Participatory Planning.

Lesson Learnt

:

 During 1989-2004

i)           People were organized under a village-based co-operative organization irrespective of age, sex, class and occupations. But 100% coverage of populations would be a hard task.

ii)          ‘Comprehensive approach’ seemed to be better than ‘Target group’ approach.

iii)        A working relation between Upazila level offices and village organizations was developed.

iv)        Training not credit principle was found effective.

v)         The trend of  social development indicators was positive.

 During the Present Phase (2005-2008)

i)     Villagers are eager to be members of CVDP co-operatives. This is a positive indication and the project should give priority to institutional development and awareness building programme through training and motivation.

ii)    Capital accumulation and investment should be strengthened in order to enhance employment and income opportunities.

iii)  To share the experience and knowledge of the good societies, the members of the relatively bad societies may be taken to the good societies under study tour programme. Thus, a competition among the societies to be better off organisation is found effective for healthy growth of co-operatives.

iv)  Holding of Monthly Joint and coordination meeting at the village level should be given emphasis to uphold the participatory planning and implementation process.

v)   Four organizations are involved in implementation of CVDP. There should be close coordination among the implementing agencies.

Future Plan

:

The project has carried out field level experiment for 18 years and brought about a lot positive results in the field of institutional development, family coverage, membership enrollment, capital formation, health and sanitation improvement, plantation and so on. The findings show more positive results than negative. Based on the past experience the government agreed to take it as a Pilot Scheme in 21 Upazilas. It is expected that after completion, CVDP may be launched as a National Programme under the Ministry of LGRD and Co-operatives.[1]