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

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Establishing National Land Use and Land Degradation Profile toward Mainstreaming SLM Practices in Sector Policies (ENALULDEP/SLM)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Department of Environment (DoE) - Bangladesh

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

08/04/2020

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

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Introduction of sustainable water usage to prevent impacts of seasonal droughts in Barind region, Bangladesh

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Barind is a drought-affected area of Bangladesh. It covers about 7,770 sq. km, that is 41% of the North Western part of Bangladesh, spreading over 16 districts of Rajshahi and Rangpur Division. It is one of the driest areas in Bangladesh with comparatively high temperatures - though cooler in the wet season from mid-June to October. Rainfall in the area varies from about 1500 mm to 2000 mm per annum. Temperature ranges from 4 degree Celsius to 44 degree Celsius. The area is at a comparatively higher elevation than the adjoining floodplains. There are two main terrace levels - one at 40m and the other between 19.8 and 22.9 m above mean sea level. The total cultivable area of Barind is about 583,000 ha, of which 34% is loamy, 10% is sandy, and 49% is clay: the remaining 7% is of other composition.
In the 1980s, the area was predominantly single cropped, and yields were poor and subject to seasonal drought, from late February to early May (up to the onset of pre-monsoon). No crops could be grown during the "rabi" season (November to May). The impacts of drought were severe and affected food insecurity and livelihoods. To address the situation, the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) under the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) initiated two projects. One in 1985: The Barind Integrated Area Development Project and subsequently in 1992, the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) as a separate institutional entity. Both the projects focused on a new approach to water extraction, distribution and management practices at institutional level. Deep tubewells were installed and maintained by BMDA, rather than privately (which is often practiced in other parts of the country).
Deep tubewells (DTWs) were installed to abstract water from 15-20 meters, and water was initially distributed through open channels. Later, these were fitted with smart card–operated electric/solar pumps to develop a drought-resilient irrigation system Both projects have helped the Barind region reduce poverty and achieve self-sufficiency in rice. Without supplementary irrigation, there would be crop failure.
Since it was established, BMDA has focused on halting seasonal drought in Barind, and increased cropping intensity by providing irrigation through 15,800 DTWs in different districts. That reduced the cost of irrigation water for one bigha (0.1ha) from about $40 to <$20. On the other hand initiation of smart cards and buried pipelines for water distribution increased the efficiency of water use and facilitated revenue collection by the BMDA. However abstraction of groundwater (GW) for irrigation triggered another issue - drawdown of GW in the area, which even led to abandoning shallow tubewells (STW) used for drinking water.
In 2004 BMDA initiated another project, to lift surface water from the Padma river to ponds/canals/rivers in the main land after re-excavation. These sources are used as reservoirs and at the same time contribute to GW recharge generally. At the same time, usage of solar power instead of electricity is another means of reducing the cost of pumping water.
BMDA again installed 490 dugwells where STW or DTW could not be constructed. These dug wells are used for safe drinking water and small-scale irrigation. These measures have meant that, at present, the area avoids seasonal drought in most of the locations. Potatoes, "boro" and transplanted "aman" occupy more than 50% of the cultivable land. In addition, provision of safe drinking water and improved communications have boosted the local economy. The approach embraces various technologies including (1) tapping river water (from the Ganges, Mahananda and Tangan rivers0; (2) storing water in creeks or ponds; (3) distribution to farm land through subsurface irrigation pipes (buried pipelines); (4) use of low lift pumps (LLP) with solar energy support ; (5) prepaid water metering - usage of smart cards; (6) conversion of derelict water bodies to become effective water reservoirs ; (7) dug wells with solar power for water abstraction; (8) orchard plantations where both surface or groundwater are limited; (9) plantations of trees and horticultural crops along road and channels to change the land cover; (10) usage of compost to improve soil health. All of these contribute to land degradation neutrality (LDN) in one way or another.
Finally BMDA's approach is to boost productivity in the drought affected Barind through its projects, and encouraged communities to adopt diversified land use: previously much land remained fallow during most of the year outside the monsoon. Institutions like Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and many NGOs promote a variety of seasonal, annual and perennial crops in the area, the use of balanced fertilizer, plantation of high density fruit crops. The impact of the BMDA approach has greatly changed the drought-affected Barind.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

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

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

To provide irrigation water for cropping in dry season.
To increase cropping intensity in drought affected areas of Barind.
To manage land use or land cover in Barind.
To mobilize community on rational usage of soil and water resources.

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

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

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	passive	Farmers are using irrigation water for their crops supplied by BMDA and they pay revenue
planning	passive	Farmer nor the community are involved in the planning process
implementation	passive	Land users allow to set buried pipelines under their fields.
monitoring/ evaluation	passive	Land users are not involved in the M&E but they participate in the events organized.
	none	Land users only choose their crops to be grown

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

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

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• mainly land users, supported by SLM specialists

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)
• research findings
• personal experience and opinions (undocumented)

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users
• field staff/ advisers

If relevant, specify gender, age, status, ethnicity, etc.

BMDA has trained staff to care for the system by and large. There are both male and female staff.

Form of training:

• on-the-job
• demonstration areas

Subjects covered:

Buried pipeline maitenance, good seed production, marketing etc.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• at permanent centres

Describe/ comments:

BMDA has field offices at each upazila to look after the system

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, greatly

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local
• regional

Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

BMDA has it headquarters at Rajshai city and sub-offices at all "upazila" to where the pipeline extended.

Specify type of support:

• capacity building/ training
• equipment

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

BMDA monitors groundwater levels regularly, and also the pipelines and other operational activities.

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

Yes

Comments:

During the documentation of the SLM best practices of the Banrind area intensive conversations, meetings and workshops were organized with all officials of headquarter and filed offices.

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

No

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 10,000-100,000

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

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

Yes

If yes, specify type(s) of support, conditions, and provider(s):

All infrastructural establishment cost were born by BMDA

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• none

• equipment

• construction

• infrastructure

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

Yes

If yes, specify:

Installation and maintenance cost borne by BMDA, but farmers have to pay for water through smart cards (Pre-paid).

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

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

• yes

If yes, describe how:

Buried pipeline irrigation has changed the Barind area greatly.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
More crops could be grown throughout the year,
Crop diversity is possible, annual, perenial or seasonal
Secure crop production

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Minimum loss of irrigation water
Surface (river) water usage minimize stress on ground water usage
Improved ground water recharge
Safe drinking water where tubewell is not available.
Usage of solar power for lifting water from dug well or for lifting water to buried pipeline
Introduction of water meters reduces misuse of irrigation water

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?
The system could be implemented at single farmer level	Developing community approach with the support of the government

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Very high pressure on land and soil resources	Lower water consumptive crops could be introduced
Severe soil nutrient depletion may develop	Use of manure/ compost or organic matter or crop rotation to enrich soil

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Baring Multipupose Development Authority

URL:

http://www.bmda.gov.bd/site/page/2ea693ba-ac10-4ada-b304-111d72a72105/-#

Title/ description:

Pro-Poor Groundwater Development

URL:

https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/33246/Pro-Poor-Groundwater-Development-The-Case-of-the-Barind-Experiment-in-Bangladesh.pdf?sequence=5