Difference between revisions of "05 Outcomes and Impact from Participatory Water Management"
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* BGP FFS run by DAE covering crop production, homestead vegetables and family nutrition | * BGP FFS run by DAE covering crop production, homestead vegetables and family nutrition | ||
| − | * FFS run by the Blue Gold TA team covering homestead vegetables, poultry, livestock, pond aquaculture, market orientation and family nutrition | + | * FFS run by the Blue Gold TA team covering homestead vegetables, poultry, livestock, pond aquaculture, market orientation and family nutrition |
* Other trainings from BGP, which covered the maintenance of water infrastructures, community organization development, partnership with LGIs and other line departments, gender, etc. | * Other trainings from BGP, which covered the maintenance of water infrastructures, community organization development, partnership with LGIs and other line departments, gender, etc. | ||
* BGP Farmer Field Days showing the results of successful demonstrations and pilots | * BGP Farmer Field Days showing the results of successful demonstrations and pilots | ||
| − | * Other (non-BGP) training programmes of the government – primarily provided by DAE, but other departments were also involved | + | * Other (non-BGP) training programmes of the government – primarily provided by DAE, but other departments were also involved |
| − | * NGO training programmes | + | * NGO training programmes. |
Data from the household survey 2021 show the proportion of households where members attended each of these different training events (Table 5.9). Most (63%) of sample households reported that members of their households attended Farmer Field Schools (FFS) organised under BGP by DAE and by the Technical Assistance (TA) Team. | Data from the household survey 2021 show the proportion of households where members attended each of these different training events (Table 5.9). Most (63%) of sample households reported that members of their households attended Farmer Field Schools (FFS) organised under BGP by DAE and by the Technical Assistance (TA) Team. | ||
Latest revision as of 11:17, 19 December 2021
The chapter includes the outcomes and impact of improved water management and institutional development, mostly derived from the Blue Gold WMG survey of 2021, complemented with some findings from the endline survey of 2020.[Notes 1] This chapter explores the extent to which the management of water resources has been improved, including the reduction of water-related constraints to crop production in different seasons. This chapter also reports on how coastal communities are engaged in and control local water management, on their membership of community organizations, their participation in training programmes and the rate of adoption of new technologies for agricultural and homestead-based production.
Increased resilience against climatic variability: outcomes and impact of rehabilitation work on water management[edit | edit source]
One of the central objectives of the Blue Gold Program (BGP) was to create an enabling environment for the coastal communities for economic development through the improvement of water resources management at the local level, especially to remove water-related constraints to crop production. BGP has especially funded repairs to sluice gates, re-sectioning and repairs of embankments and re-excavation of drainage khals within the 22 BGP polders, with the objective of draining excess water, preventing flooding, while improving access to water for irrigation. At the time of the surveys in 2021, these works were about 90% complete. Apart from these works, water management groups (WMGs) have undertaken minor works using their own labour, while some other agencies, such as Local Government Institutions, have also supported water management improvements benefiting the BGP polders.
Many WMGs reported that they started getting benefits from BGP in 2013 or 2014. For other WMGs, the year of getting benefit is within 2015-2017. These dates precede the completion (or even start) of many water management infrastructure-related interventions by BGP. But even when the infrastructural works were not yet effective, WMGs may have seen benefits from their own water management initiatives, from Farmer Field Schools and from other interventions related to agricultural production or marketing.
Table 5.1: Severity of water management problems
| Pre-project situation (2013-14) | Current situation (2020-21) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |||
| Season | Rabi | 2% | 9% | 25% | 49% | 15% | 17% | 66% | 16% | 2% | 0% | |
| Kharif-2 | 1% | 14% | 37% | 36% | 12% | 22% | 59% | 15% | 3% | 1% | ||
| Kharif-1 | 4% | 7% | 26% | 45% | 18% | 7% | 39% | 40% | 10% | 4% | ||
| Total | 3% | 10% | 29% | 44% | 15% | 15% | 54% | 24% | 5% | 2% | ||
| Zone | Khulna | 2% | 12% | 29% | 42% | 14% | 12% | 52% | 27% | 7% | 2% | |
| Satkhira | 8% | 21% | 19% | 30% | 21% | 18% | 45% | 27% | 9% | 2% | ||
| Patuakhali | 1% | 2% | 33% | 51% | 13% | 19% | 60% | 18% | 2% | 1% | ||
| Total | 3% | 10% | 29% | 44% | 15% | 15% | 54% | 24% | 5% | 2% | ||
| Score: 1 = very good, 2=good (i.e. no problem), 3-=average, 4=bad, 5=very bad. Percentage of WMG reports for each season Source: WMG survey 2021 | ||||||||||||
Table 5.1 shows the improvement of water management through the severity of water management problems (ranked 1 to 5) for each season and each zone. The 2021 WMG endline survey showed that problems have been reduced compared with the pre-project situation. In the reporting per agricultural season, 69% of the WMGs found that the water management situation became good or very good (score of 1 or 2) compared with only 13% in the pre-project situation and with 56% in the 2019 WMG survey (Technical Report 26). The extent of completion of BGP infrastructural works will have contributed to these improvements over time; at the time of the 2019 WMG survey only 53% of these works were complete, whereas at the time of the 2021 WMG survey 90% had been completed.
The improvement has been the greatest in Patuakhali where only 3% of the WMGs rated their water management situation as good or very good before BGP, but now 79% are at this level. In Khulna 14% of WMGs reported their water management situation being good or very good before, compared with 64% now. Satkhira (the single Polder 2&2E) registered the lowest improvement, having had a relatively better position prior to BGP (29% good or very good) and now having 63% of the WMGs in these categories.
Overall, 79% of the WMGs reported that there was a reduction in the seasonal water management problems (Table 5.2), as compared with 68% in the WMG survey of 2019. There is a higher proportion of positive reporting for the rabi season (87%) and a lower proportion for the kharif-1 season (70%). A higher proportion of seasonal reporting from Patuakhali shows an improvement (84%), compared with only 65% from Satkhira. Compared with 2019, there has been a large improvement in Khulna: in 2019 57% of the WMGs reported improvements in the seasonal water management problems, compared with 75% in 2021. Improvements in Satkhira were relatively the smallest, with 65% of the WMGs reporting reduction in water management problems.
Table 5.2: Change in severity of seasonal water management problems
| Change in seasonal water management score | % of WMGs improving | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -3 | -2 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| Season | Rabi | 0% | 0% | 1% | 12% | 28% | 41% | 18% | 1% | 87% |
| Kharif-2 | 0% | 0% | 1% | 17% | 34% | 34% | 11% | 2% | 82% | |
| Kharif-1 | 0% | 2% | 5% | 23% | 35% | 28% | 7% | 0% | 70% | |
| Total | 0% | 1% | 2% | 17% | 32% | 34% | 12% | 1% | 79% | |
| Zone | Khulna | 0% | 0% | 3% | 22% | 34% | 32% | 8% | 0% | 75% |
| Satkhira | 1% | 4% | 6% | 25% | 26% | 28% | 10% | 2% | 65% | |
| Patuakhali | 0% | 0% | 1% | 8% | 32% | 40% | 17% | 1% | 91% | |
| Total | 0% | 1% | 3% | 17% | 32% | 34% | 12% | 1% | 79% | |
| Source: WMG survey 2021 | ||||||||||
The average WMG water management problem scores are presented in Table 5.3 by season and zone. This shows that there has been a greater improvement in water management (i.e. reduction in the water management problem score) in the rabi season, followed by kharif-2, with the least improvement in kharif-1. Improvements in Satkhira were less than in the other two zones, with only a small improvement in the problem score since 2019. The overall average improvement is 1.35 (i.e. reduction in the problem score system of 1 – 5), compared with 1.06 in the 2019 survey.
Improvements in water management reported by WMGs were confirmed in the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) held as part of the WMG survey 2021. Out of 23 FGDs covering all 22 polders, only in one FGD (in polder 28/1 in Khulna) the participants reported that there was no significant change in water management. This is also the polder (together with polder 28/2) in which BGP had the least impact in terms of increased cropping intensity and farm income. The 22 other FGDs reported that the BGP’s interventions resulted in significant improvements in water management.
Table 5.3: Average WMG seasonal Water Management Problem Score
| 2021 WMG survey | 2019 survey | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-14 | 2020-21 | Change | Now | ||
| Season | Rabi | 3.66 | 2.02 | 1.65 | 2.45 |
| Kharif-2 | 3.44 | 2.02 | 1.42 | 2.34 | |
| Kharif-1 | 3.65 | 2.64 | 1.01 | 2.79 | |
| Zone | Khulna | 3.54 | 2.33 | 1.21 | 2.71 |
| Satkhira | 3.32 | 2.33 | 0.99 | 2.29 | |
| Patuakhali | 3.74 | 2.05 | 1.68 | 2.33 | |
| Total | All WMG | 3.58 | 2.23 | 1.35 | 2.53 |
| Score: 1 = very good, 2=good (i.e. no problem), 3-=average, 4=bad, 5=very bad. Source: WMG survey 2021 | |||||
The WMG survey 2021 also gathered information on the type of constraints (waterlogging, flooding, water shortage and salinity) per agricultural season and on the overall severity of water problems (very good, good, average, bad, very bad). Table 5.4 shows the proportion of WMGs reporting the principal water management problem per season and per zone, before BGP and in 2021.
Table 5.4: Principal water management problems as reported by WMGs per season and zone
| Main problem | rabi | kharif-2 | kharif-1 | Khulna | Satkhira | Patuakhali | All | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before 2013-14 | Waterlogging | 0% | 87% | 79% | 54% | 55% | 58% | 56% |
| Flooding | 0% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | |
| Water scarcity | 86% | 6% | 0% | 31% | 30% | 31% | 31% | |
| Salinity | 12% | 3% | 9% | 8% | 6% | 8% | 8% | |
| Now
2020-21 |
Waterlogging | 0% | 73% | 76% | 54% | 62% | 40% | 50% |
| Flooding | 0% | 20% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 18% | 7% | |
| Water scarcity | 89% | 1% | 0% | 32% | 24% | 29% | 30% | |
| Salinity | 5% | 1% | 4% | 3% | 1% | 4% | 3% | |
| Percentage of WMG reporting in each season. The percentages for zones are the average number of WMG reporting for each of three seasons. As some WMG did not report a main problem in all seasons, the totals in each column may not add up 100%. Source: WMG survey 2021 | ||||||||
Data on the main type of water-related problem in Table 5.4 shows that, both prior to BGP and in 2021, water scarcity (for irrigation purposes) is, as would be expected, the main problem for farmers in the rabi (boro) season. Waterlogging remains the main problem in kharif-1 (aus) and kharif-2 (aman) seasons. The proportion of WMGs reporting on salinity as a main problem in the rabi season declined. There has also been a decline in the percentage of WMGs reporting waterlogging as their main problem in kharif-1 and kharif-2, whereas flooding became the major problem for 20% of WMGs in kharif-2 – and mainly in Patuakhali. Salinity was the major problem in kharif-1 and kharif-2 for only a small number of WMGs, and this problem has declined.
For the three BGP zones, taking the average for the three agricultural seasons, waterlogging was the major issue for over half of all WMGs in all three zones, with water scarcity the main issue for around 30% of WMGs. An increased number of WMGs in Satkhira report that waterlogging is now their major problem, with fewer reporting water scarcity. In Patuakhali, fewer WMGs say waterlogging is the major problem, but more report flooding. There has been little change in Khulna. Compared to the 2019 WMG survey, more WMGs now report waterlogging the major problem, but fewer report water scarcity problems.
Apart from the principal problems, also other water management problems were reported, which are shown in Table 5.5. In the rabi season salinity was, and still is, the main other problem. But this salinity problem seems to have now largely been eliminated in some polders: 31P in Khulna and 47/4 in Patuakhali, but remains a significant issue in polder 47/3 in Patuakhali. In the Patuakhali zone, water scarcity is still an issue in some polders, and seems to have become more widespread, although possibly this problem is more felt now because more farmers now want to grow irrigated crops.
Table 5.5: Other water management problems
| Other problems | Season | Zone | All | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rabi | kharif-2 | kharif-1 | Khulna | Satkhira | Patuakhali. | |||
| Before 2013-14 | Waterlogging | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Flooding | 0% | 2% | 7% | 4% | 1% | 2% | 3% | |
| Water scarcity | 0% | 9% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 7% | 4% | |
| Salinity | 8% | 3% | 0% | 4% | 0% | 5% | 4% | |
| Now
2020-21 |
Waterlogging | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Flooding | 0% | 2% | 6% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 3% | |
| Water scarcity | 0% | 14% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 12% | 5% | |
| Salinity | 4% | 1% | 0% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 2% | |
| Other | 8% | 0% | 5% | 6% | 1% | 3% | 4% | |
| Percentage of WMG reporting. The percentages for zones are the average number reports for each of three seasons. As many WMG did not report other problems in all seasons (but some WMG reported multiple other problems), the totals in each row do not add up 100%. Source: WMG survey 2021 | ||||||||
The FGDs held in the context of the 2021 WMG survey showed that in Khulna BGP had been able to meet between 25% and 100% of the WMGs expectations regarding improved water management infrastructure. In Patuakhali this ranged from 60% to 90%, and in Satkhira from 80% to 85%. The remaining problems include some khals not being excavated and further work needed on some sluice gates and culverts, whereas also significant areas of land remain waterlogged. In some locations proper drainage is impeded by siltation and rising bed levels in the rivers outside the polder. There are also some problems in situations where land levels within a WMG command area vary, so those with high land may want water for irrigation at the same time as those with low land need water to be drained out. In addition, fish ghers can obstruct the drainage of crop land.
Organised coastal communities: outcomes and impact of institutional development[edit | edit source]
The role of communities in improving water management infrastructure[edit | edit source]
Section D (chapters 14 – 20) of this BGP’s lessons learnt report focuses on Participatory Water Management and elaborates how BGP organised coastal communities for participating in water management for development. The WMG survey 2019 reviewed the roles of WMGs and WMAs in better water management in the BGP areas. Detailed information on the participation of the communities in water management was collected by this 2019 WMG survey.
According to the 2019 WMG survey, the most widely reported improvement in water management infrastructure was re-excavation and de-silting of khals. A significant percentage of WMGs (30-50%) also reported khal cleaning, sluice repairs, new or repaired culverts, better sluice operation and repaired embankments (Table 5.6). Digging out the responsible organisations behind the improvements illustrates the roles of the WMGs in improved water management.
Table 5.6: Organisations responsible for infrastructure development
| Khal excavation | Khal cleaning | Culvert | Sluice works | Sluice operation | Embankment | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main responsible organisation | |||||||
| 1 | WMG with own resources | 4.5% | 60.6% | 6.9% | 7.0% | 66.4% | 10.8% |
| 2 | BWDB-BGP with WMG support | 73.1% | 0.0% | 5.6% | 36.8% | 15.0% | 12.2% |
| 3 | BWDB-BGP without WMG support | 11.9% | 12.6% | 16.7% | 40.4% | 1.9% | 56.8% |
| 4 | BWDB with no BGP involvement | 1.4% | 0.0% | 2.8% | 1.8% | 0.0% | 2.7% |
| 5 | BADC | 3.7% | 0.0% | 11.1% | 3.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 6 | Local government | 3.4% | 5.5% | 54.2% | 8.8% | 0.0% | 14.9% |
| 7 | Farmers by themselves | 1.7% | 21.3% | 0.0% | 1.8% | 16.8% | 2.7% |
| 8 | Other (LGED, ADB, NGO) | 0.3% | 0.0% | 2.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | ||
| Source: WMG survey 2019 | |||||||
Most of these works and tasks were undertaken by BWDB-BGP with WMG support, with the WMGs themselves mainly being responsible for khal cleaning and better sluice operation. Khal re-excavation (including de-silting) was the main type of work reported and was largely done using BGP resources, usually with support from the WMG. Khal cleaning (removal of weeds, cross-dams etc) was mostly done by the WMGs with their own resources (i.e. voluntary labour) and/or by groups of farmers. The same is true for the improved operation of sluices. This is an outcome of BGP’s work in establishing and strengthening the WMGs. The construction and repair of culverts was primarily done by Local Government Institutions (i.e. Union Parishads), as culverts usually cross roads which are a government responsibility. WMGs tend to communicate with these LGIs to inform them on the need to construct or repair such works; WMGs subsequently help to implement the works, with -partial- funding of the LGIs. Where BGP funded work on culverts, this was usually channelled via Union Parishads and with WMGs having an active role in identifying the need for such works as well as in the implementation. The same is also true for other agencies such as BADC, LGED (responsible for water management schemes of up to 1,000 ha), ADB (may be funding LGED schemes) and NGOs occasionally funding water infrastructure. Qualitative interviews also mentioned DANIDA in this context.
Water management by communities[edit | edit source]
Having control over the operation of sluices is significantly related to improved water management as well as to the institutional development of the WMGs. The 2021 WMG survey found that there has been a total change, with all WMGs reporting that the sluices that drain their land are controlled by their WMG, another WMG or by a group of WMGs (Table 5.7). The 2019 WMG survey results reported a much lower level of sluice control by WMGs, whereafter BGP staff paid special attention to supporting WMGs in taking control of sluices and most 2021 FGDs confirmed that most sluices were now under the control of WMGs or catchment committees involving a number of WMGs. Still, one out of 10 FGDs in Patuakhali, three out of 11 in Khulna and both of the two FGDs in Satkhira reported that sluices were not fully under the control of WMGs. Furthermore, even if sluice gates are under the control of WMGs, another five FGDs in Khulna said that at least some of the drainage khals were under the control of others, including where khals had been leased out to influential individuals, usually for fish production.
In these cases, WMGs are not likely to control the sluices at all times according to the community needs. There are some conflicts. The khals are leased out by the Upazila administration, not by the BWDB, and there is a lack of coordination among the Upazila administration and BWDB. In some cases, WMGs solved the problem (not leasing out the khal anymore) by submitting an application to the Upazila administration to undo the leasing-out. Some FGDs expressed their fear that WMGs may lose control of water management infrastructure in the future.
Table 5.7: Control of sluices
| Sluice control by: | Khulna | Satkhira | Patuakhali | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMG interviewed | 47% | 44% | 86% | 60% |
| Another WMG | 20% | 36% | 11% | 19% |
| Group of WMGs | 33% | 11% | 3% | 21% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Percentage of WMGs reporting (n=506) Source: WMG survey 2021 | ||||
Membership in community organizations[edit | edit source]
Coastal communities are actively engaged in community organizations including the water management organization (Table 5.8). According to endline survey 2020, overall, two-thirds (67%) of households reported being members of at least one type of community institution. BGP has a strong focus on community participation in water management and has supported WMGs over the entire area in which it operates. However, membership of a WMG is voluntary and, just over half (54%) of sample households were WMG members.[Notes 2] This is more than any other type of community institution. The next most frequently reported type of community institution was NGO groups, with membership being reported by almost one third (32%) of households. NGO group are largely concerned with micro-finance services and other economic and social development schemes. Farmer group membership is reported by 17% of households. These groups may be set up by DAE as a channel for agricultural extension services. Other groups were reported by 7% of households and may be linked to other government agencies for the delivery of their services. Local samities tend to be informal savings and loan associations.
Table 5.8: Membership of community organizations
| Zone |
Community institutions |
Type of community organisation | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMG | Farmer
Group |
NGO
group |
Other
group |
Cooperative | Local
samity |
Other
organisation | ||
| Khulna | 68% | 55% | 13% | 28% | 7% | 11% | 11% | 1% |
| Satkhira | 72% | 66% | 13% | 35% | 9% | 5% | 3% | 1% |
| Patuakhali | 64% | 45% | 24% | 33% | 5% | 7% | 7% | 1% |
| WMG membership | ||||||||
| Member | 100% | 100% | 30% | 38% | 9% | 11% | 9% | 1% |
| Non-member | 29% | 0% | 1% | 24% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 1% |
| Land ownership | ||||||||
| landless | 64% | 52% | 10% | 33% | 8% | 7% | 5% | 0% |
| marginal | 68% | 53% | 15% | 36% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 1% |
| small | 67% | 54% | 21% | 30% | 6% | 10% | 10% | 1% |
| medium | 71% | 64% | 24% | 18% | 6% | 10% | 11% | 3% |
| large | 69% | 60% | 23% | 12% | 0% | 6% | 6% | 2% |
| Total | 67% | 54% | 17% | 32% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 1% |
| Source: End-line survey 2020 (n = 3156 households) | ||||||||
More households in Satkhira report being members of WMGs than in the other two zones. Although a slightly higher proportion of medium and large landowners are WMG members, membership includes at least 50% of the households in all landowning categories. It is worth noting that WMG members are more likely to also be member of all types of groups – underlining that these households are more engaged in agriculture and/or more motivated to join community organisations. WMG membership has more than doubled since the 2017 baseline survey, which recorded 21% of households as WMG members. It is also now more evenly distributed – in 2017 there were no, or almost no, WMG members in three of the seven polders covered.
Training and adaptation of new technologies[edit | edit source]
The following training was provided to community members in the BGP areas:
- BGP FFS run by DAE covering crop production, homestead vegetables and family nutrition
- FFS run by the Blue Gold TA team covering homestead vegetables, poultry, livestock, pond aquaculture, market orientation and family nutrition
- Other trainings from BGP, which covered the maintenance of water infrastructures, community organization development, partnership with LGIs and other line departments, gender, etc.
- BGP Farmer Field Days showing the results of successful demonstrations and pilots
- Other (non-BGP) training programmes of the government – primarily provided by DAE, but other departments were also involved
- NGO training programmes.
Data from the household survey 2021 show the proportion of households where members attended each of these different training events (Table 5.9). Most (63%) of sample households reported that members of their households attended Farmer Field Schools (FFS) organised under BGP by DAE and by the Technical Assistance (TA) Team.
Table 5.9: Household members attending training
| Land ownership | Household member attended: (percent of all households) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FFS-DAE | FFS-TA | Other BGP | Field day | Govt | NGO | |
| landless | 47% | 52% | 22% | 49% | 14% | 27% |
| marginal | 64% | 62% | 39% | 63% | 21% | 30% |
| Small | 67% | 70% | 43% | 69% | 29% | 35% |
| medium | 79% | 71% | 54% | 76% | 35% | 38% |
| Large | 73% | 69% | 50% | 68% | 39% | 38% |
| Total | 63% | 63% | 38% | 63% | 23% | 32% |
| Khulna | 62% | 61% | 36% | 74% | 25% | 43% |
| Satkhira | 53% | 57% | 29% | 60% | 16% | 33% |
| Patuakhali | 69% | 71% | 46% | 53% | 25% | 16% |
| * % of all households Source: HH survey 2021 | ||||||
A same proportion of households had at least one member attending BGP Farmer Field Days, while over one third (38%) attended other BGP training.[Notes 3] Relatively more BGP FFS and other training took place in Patuakhali and least in Satkhira; but fewer households reported attending Farmer Field Days in Patuakhali. Compared with BGP training, training from other government programmes reached fewer households (23%), whereas NGO training reached 32%. Households owning less land are less likely to have received training from BGP, government and NGOs – possibly because they are less engaged in agriculture.
Table 5.10 shows the adoption of training as found by the household survey of 2021. This table shows that, overall, between 77% and 93% of households attending each type of training say they have adopted at least something from what they learned. This may over-state adoption rates as people attending training tend to exaggerate their adoption rates. Nevertheless, training seems to be successful. Adoption rates for BGP training appear a little lower in Satkhira than in the other two zones. More WMG members than non-members report adoption. There is a slightly lower adoption rate reported by landless households (and, to a lesser extent, by marginal households), suggesting that they may find the content of training less useful, which may be linked to their less agricultural livelihood strategies, their more limited access to land and other resources, and lower capacity to take risks with new ideas.
Table 5.10: Adoption of ideas from training
| Zone | Percent of households attending each type of training who report some adoption | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAE FFS | TA FFS | Other BG | Field day | Other govt | NGO | |
| Khulna | 90% | 93% | 86% | 88% | 78% | 78% |
| Satkhira | 81% | 90% | 84% | 77% | 88% | 82% |
| Patuakhali | 95% | 94% | 90% | 91% | 82% | 72% |
| WMG | ||||||
| member | 90% | 93% | 89% | 87% | 83% | 78% |
| non-member | 84% | 92% | 64% | 81% | 75% | 75% |
| Land ownership | ||||||
| landless | 76% | 87% | 78% | 73% | 57% | 70% |
| marginal | 87% | 91% | 86% | 85% | 74% | 76% |
| small | 97% | 95% | 91% | 90% | 88% | 82% |
| medium | 95% | 97% | 94% | 92% | 96% | 77% |
| large | 95% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 75% |
| Total | 89% | 93% | 88% | 87% | 82% | 77% |
| Source: HH survey 2021 | ||||||
Informal interviews provided more detailed insights. These include:
(a) Khulna[edit | edit source]
New technologies that were adopted include: (i) crops: new paddy varieties, new types of vegetables, mustard after aman (some areas), watermelon, line sowing and bed sowing of vegetables; (ii) fish: fish after boro, new types of fish (koi, tilapia, pabda), rice-fish, mixed species fish culture; (iii) livestock/poultry: vaccination, cleaning poultry and cattle sheds, balanced feed, cow rearing and fattening, disease control, Napier grass, hajol for brooding eggs; (iv) homestead vegetables: vegetable beds, homestead and commercial fruit, tomatoes.
(b) Satkhira[edit | edit source]
New technologies that were adopted include: (i) crops - new types of vegetables including hybrids, new paddy varieties; (ii) fish: - mixed shrimp fish and crab, crabs in cages; (iii) livestock: - new breeds of cattle and chicken, beef fattening, rearing male goats.
(c) Patuakhali[edit | edit source]
New technologies that were adopted include: (i) crops: - new paddy and mung HYVs, boro paddy, hybrid watermelon, sunflower, maize, potato; (ii) fish: digital fish marketing and high quality fish seed – but not many other new things for fish; (iii) livestock: small scale commercial poultry, knowledge on disease; (iv) homestead vegetables: high quality vegetable seeds, new vegetable varieties, compost and bed system for vegetables, correct use of fertiliser and pesticides.
Overall, it seems that things that appear to be most readily adopted include new types of vegetables and new varieties of vegetables and paddy (and mung bean in Patuakhali). However, there are exceptions – in some places, tomatoes and BR52 paddy were rejected. New breeds of poultry and cattle were also said to be popular, as was cow rearing and beef fattening. Small commercial poultry units are another innovation that is spreading, although without direct support from BGP.
Some new ideas were accepted in some areas but not in others. This includes raised beds for vegetable production and hajol for brooding of hatching eggs. The rabi crops of maize, sunflower and potato were said to be adopted in some places and not in others – although data from the questionnaires shows these crops, as well as mustard, are rarely grown. There were no reports of dragon fruit and mushrooms being adopted.
BGP Farmer Field Schools (by DAE and the TA team) have played a key role providing training and knowledge on new technologies. But respondents also said that they were in contact with staff of DAE, DLS, DoF and NGOs, as well as input dealers and other farmers. Although FFS provide detailed information on a range of topics, it is to be expected that farmers need follow-up advice which is provided by government staff and others who are permanently available. Farmers may well have been first introduced to these staff at FFS.
Barriers to adoption of new technologies include lack of suitable land or ponds. Some new crops or enterprises need inputs that may not be available. Pests and diseases are said to hinder adoption of new technologies in crops, vegetables, fish, livestock and poultry. In a number of instances, respondents said that, even after training, they still lacked the required knowledge. The poorest households with little land and no ponds may find that many crop and fishery technologies are not relevant and they may also lack the required capital and capacity to take risks. Lack of time was cited as an adoption barrier by some respondents, while others said modern machinery was needed to ease labour constraints.
Notes[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Section B Introduction and Summary provides an overview of the studies conducted through the Blue Gold Program, and the studies and reports which were the main sources of information for Section B.
- ↑ The 2019 WMG survey covered virtually the entire BGP area and recorded that 61% of households were WMG members.
- ↑ 13% of sample households were not WMG members, and so are unlikely to have attended BG training events. This means the percentage of WMG members being reached by BG training will be higher (i.e. 72% attend FFS).
See more[edit | edit source]
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