Approaches

Farmer own initiated water harvesting pond in the vellay adjacent to Hills [Bangladesh]

approaches_2652 - Bangladesh

Completeness: 69%

1. General information

1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Key resource person(s)

SLM specialist:
SLM specialist:

Sankar Paul

Bangladesh Forest Research Institute

Bangladesh

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)
Bangladesh Forest Research Institute (Bangladesh Forest Research Institute) - Bangladesh

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies

Water retention/sediment capture pond
technologies

Water retention/sediment capture pond [Hungary]

Sediment capture ponds are constructed and located along networks of ditches which drain watersheds. They slow the velocity of water and cause the deposition of suspended materials. These ponds help to avoid sediment accumulation in the ditches themselves, and can decrease sediment and nutrient pollution of surface water bodies downstream.

  • Compiler: Brigitta Szabó

2. Description of the SLM Approach

2.1 Short description of the Approach

This is an indigenous approach to store rain water for irrigating rice and other crops in the hillside earthen dam.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Aims / objectives: The SWC approach water reservoir is land constructed by earthen bunds. The water through down hill run-off is generally preserved in the rainy season. Excess of rain water deposited in the farm pond is drained out through the out-lets prepared in the lower portion of the bands. In preparing the bands the farmer first construct bamboo made barriers and then earthen materials are put to form the bands.

Role of stakeholders: The individual farmer with his own effort and cost prepare the farm pond for the use of irrigation.

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

Country:

Bangladesh

Region/ State/ Province:

Chittagong Hill Tracts

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

Indicate year of initiation:

2001

2.7 Type of Approach

  • traditional/ indigenous

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The Approach focused mainly on other activities than SLM (Bathing, Duck rearing, Fish culture)

The main objectives and target is to preserve run-off water during rainy season and to use it in the dry season.

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: Inadequate natural water availability during dry period.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

availability/ access to financial resources and services
  • hindering

Self finance but with lack of money in hiring labour

Treatment through the SLM Approach: Credit supply

legal framework (land tenure, land and water use rights)
  • enabling

The existing land ownership, land use rights / water rights greatly helped the approach implementation: Individually land title ensured long term production.

3. Participation and roles of stakeholders involved

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

  • local land users/ local communities

Differences between the participation of men and women because of man dominating culture. The differences are mainly in respect to decision making

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach
Involvement of local land users/ local communities Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation none
planning none
implementation none
monitoring/ evaluation none
Research none

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:
  • land users alone (self-initiative)
Explain:

By Indigenous technique.

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by by land users* alone (self-initiative / bottom-up). By Indigenous ways and means.

4. Technical support, capacity building, and knowledge management

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Describe/ comments:

Advisory service is totally inadequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?
  • no

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

bio-physical aspects were ad hoc monitored

technical aspects were ad hoc monitored

economic / production aspects were ad hoc monitored

management of Approach aspects were ad hoc monitored

There were few changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation: Not applicable

5. Financing and external material support

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Approach costs were met by the following donors: other (Farmer): 100.0%

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

No

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

  • none
 
If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:
  • voluntary
Comments:

Household labour

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

6. Impact analysis and concluding statements

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

Did the Approach help land users to implement and maintain SLM Technologies?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Design and specification of the dam.

Did the Approach improve issues of land tenure/ user rights that hindered implementation of SLM Technologies?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

The problem is unlikely to be overcome in the near future.

Did other land users / projects adopt the Approach?
  • No
  • Yes, little
  • Yes, moderately
  • Yes, greatly

Fish culture and Duck rearing.

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?
  • yes

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Rice cultivation. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Further improving management system.)
fish culture and duck rearing. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Further improving management system.)
Pineapple cultivation, establishment of orchards, increased socio-economic. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Further improving management system)
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Low cost irrigation facilities to crops. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Structuring the dam permanently.)
Increased soil fertility,increased productivity. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Availability of necessary inputs & technial support.)
Increased household income.
Bio-diversity improvement. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Awareness build-up through demonstration & training.)

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view How can they be overcome?
Damaging the bands due to excessive rainfall. Making wider bands with some consultation of experts.
Siltation/ deposition of sand particles. Re-excavation.
Lack of capital. Provide available credit support with minimum interest.
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
Damaging the earthen bands due to intensive rains. Constructing wider bands.
Sediments deposition. Re-excavation.
Lack of capital. Credit support.

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • field visits, field surveys
  • interviews with land users

Links and modules

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