Welcome to Coastal area of Bangladesh

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Welcome to Coastal area of Bangladesh
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Paper Title Prospects of integrated water and
land management for increasing agricultural
production in the coastal area of
Bangladesh.Author Dr. Md. Abdul
Ghani Salient FeatureCoastal area of
Bangladesh consists of about 2.8 million hectare
(Mha) of, which about 2.0 Mha is cultivable.
Therefore, the coastal zone has more than
one-fifth (22) of the cultivated land of the
country. Most of the cultivated area is under
single crop and is subject to natural calamities.
Reasons are not known, but 90 of the
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coastal area remains fallow during November to
April. The entire area is mostly under single
crop (Aman, rice grown during June/July to
November/December) due to limited availability of
sweet water during the dry season (November to
April/May), which is most often considered only
suitable for irrigation. The coastal area can
be a potential zone for increasing crop
production through better management of land and
water resources. Very easily an additional crop
can be harvested in the coastal area of 2 Mha
with average yield of 1 ton/ha. The country may
be self-sufficient in food grain since Bangladesh
faces on an average, annual food deficit of about
2 million ton (however, the situation has
improved in 2000). With available water
resources,
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and its management, it is possible to introduce a
second crop in the coastal area, which may
produce at least 1 ton/ha. Recently about 2.0
t/ha rice has been harvested under research
program in farmers field, which is an evidence
of possibility of second crop during the dry
season in the coastal area.

• Water Conservation
• Water conservation through storage of excess
  rainwater during the monsoon and surface flow in
  the existing low areas, canals and smaller rivers
  is possible. Cultivation of irrigated second crop
  with the stored water during the winter/dry
  season can change fate of the coastal people.

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• Excavation of ponds and re-excavation of existing
  canals will increase storage capacity for
  subsequent use of water for irrigating the second
  crop. New ponds and re-excavated canals can also
  be used for fish cultivation. Fish cultivation
  alone in the ponds and re-excavated canals will
  be cost effective.  

Appropriate methodology for conjunctive use of
water and multiple use (e.g. rice-fish
cultivation) of the storage facilities can be
determined through adaptive research. However,
multiple use of the coastal infrastructure will
require active participation of GO and NGO
personnel and stakeholders. Groundwater
Groundwater of the entire coastal area may not be
unsuitable for irrigation. Therefore, analysis of
groundwater for determining its salinity level
and possible use for irrigation during the dry
season is required.
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Appropriate methodology for conjunctive use of
ground and surface water and multiple use
(irrigating dry season crop and fish cultivation)
of the storage facilities can be selected through
action research on water and land management.
Conjunctive use of water for the coastal area may
include

• use of surface and rain water for irrigation
  during certain period of the year
• use of groundwater during dry season if its
  quality allows for irrigation
• mixing of ground and surface water
  (stored/available) for irrigation purpose if salt
  concentration of groundwater is high and
• augmentation of groundwater recharge during the
  monsoon and subsequent use for irrigation during
  dry months.

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Innovative action research on the above will
assist national agencies in their capacity
building and will foster strong linkages among
them and stakeholders. The country as a whole
will be benefited, as agricultural production
will be increased. Beneficiary participation in
the management of coastal resources and
infrastructure will reduce public expenditure for
operation and maintenance of polders and new
developments in the coastal area.
Multiple use of Infrastructure 1. Afforestation
Bangladesh has constructed 145 polders in the
coastal area. While constructing these polders,
Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB)
constructed about 4,000 km of coastal embankment
with average outer slope of 15 and countryside
slope of 13. With average embankment height of
5 meter above ground level, estimated embankment
surface area excluding the top will be about
14,800 ha. Considering population of 1,500 number
of trees/ha, about 22 million trees
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can be grown on the embankment slopes. Selection
of the trees for plantation on embankment slopes
will be in accordance with the approved
Government Policy for Embankment Afforestation
(June 1998). These trees can produce significant
amount of fruits and timbers and will make
substantial contribution to the development of
the area and the country.

• Vegetable Cultivation Some people in the coastal
  area are growing vegetables on the embankment
  slopes, which may be encouraged. But vegetable
  cultivation should not be practiced in such a way
  that may create loose embankment surface, which
  may affect safety of the embankments.
• Fish Cultivation During construction of the
  embankment and polders in the coastal area, BWDB
  has also constructed irrigation and drainage
  canals, closures, borrow pits and water bodies.
  These facilities may also be used for fish

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cultivation under integrated water and land
management program and can contribute
significantly in increasing agricultural
production and poverty reduction in the coastal
area.
4. Job Opportunities Maintenance of the trees
and embankments will provide job opportunities to
the project affected and landless people. Green
vegetation and trees on the embankment slopes and
toes will also contribute to improved
environment. Fodder cultivation on the embankment
slopes and toes along with afforestation program
may create opportunities for additional income
for the landless and marginal farmers.
Comprehensive program for fodder cultivation will
also help in development of dairy and animal
husbandry sectors.
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5. Improved Environment Furthermore, creation of
greenbelt on and along embankments will provide
additional safety to the embankments during
cyclones and tidal surge and will create
favorable environment in this area.
 
How can we achieve these?
Action Research Action research program is
proposed for developing water and land management
strategy for the coastal area of Bangladesh.
Under this program, possibilities will be
explored for increasing annual agricultural
production, which includes crop, fish/shrimp,
fruits and vegetables, timber, and fodder, which
will create additional job opportunities for the
local people. These developments will also assist
in establishing sustainable afforestation along
the embankment and institutionalizing operation
and maintenance (OM) of the coastal
infrastructures.
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Outcome of the research may lead to overall
development of the coastal area through
coordinated efforts of the concerned implementing
agencies and stakeholders. Expansion of the
research findings will assist in creating job
opportunities for the local people. Outcome of
the action research will contribute to
formulation of water and land use strategy for
the coastal area and its overall development
through implementation of the strategy.
Production packages will be developed with active
beneficiary participation through conjunctive use
of water, which includes effective use of ground,
rain and surface water. Beneficiaries will manage
the system with assistance of selected agency
personnel and researchers. Increased production
through beneficiary participation will help to
income distribution and poverty reduction in the
coastal area.
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Groundwater quality will be monitored for
possible use for irrigation during dry season
where surface water is not dependable. Excavation
of new ponds and re-excavation of existing ponds
and irrigation and drainage canals will be
explored for rain and surface water storage
during the monsoon and for subsequent use for
irrigation cum fish/shrimp production. Possible
methods of artificial recharge of groundwater
will also be explored in the study area for
subsequent use for irrigation during the dry
season.
Specific objectives of the action research will
be to (i) Generate information on salinity
levels of ground and surface water over the year
for possible use for dry season crop, salt and
shrimp/fish cultivation.   (ii) Increase
agricultural production through proper water and
land management and monitor its contribution to
poverty reduction in the coastal area.
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(iii) Assist in beneficiary participation and
leadership development for coastal infrastructure
management.
The program may be carried out for four to five
years with the assistance of BWDB and Department
of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Forest
Department (FD), Department of Fisheries (DOF)
and Department of Livestock (DOL). A Research
Team will implement the program in collaboration
with government and non-government agencies.