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

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

Decision Support for Mainstreaming and Scaling out Sustainable Land Management (GEF-FAO / DS-SLM)

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

Bangladesh Forest Department (Bangladesh Forest Department) - Bangladesh

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

Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) (Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI)) - Bangladesh

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

Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) - 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 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Landform changes to dyke and ditch to introduce multiple crops.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Marshy land covers most of the area of southern Bangladesh in the estuaries of the big rivers, including Swarupkathi Upazila. This area typically floods for more than 9 months, is perennially wet, and is covered by Hogla (Typha), Reed plant, and weeds. Crop cultivation has been difficult due to unfavourable drainage conditions. Local people previously cultivated paddy only in small areas by clearing the swamp vegetation. Now, however, some of the marshy land has been converted to a dyke and ditch multi-cropping system, which has been practiced for the last 200 years. Through this practice, the marshlands have provided valuable harvests for generations and currently yield vegetables, fruits, timber and fishes for farmers and that support local livelihoods. The marshland ecosystem, that converted to terrestrial ecosystem now support habitat for a wide range of flora and fauna. The technology reduces the pressure on arable land through construction of dykes which also plays a crucial role in flood mitigation. The continuous series of dykes and ditches with diverse vegetation increases the aesthetic beauty of the region and conserve biodiversity as well.
The dykes are elevated beds of soil constructed to 4-6 feet height and 12-14 feet width. The dykes are constructed with soils collected from ditches and on the top of the bed water hyacinth composed are used. Along with increasing fertility, water hyacinth compost also increases the soil holding capacity of the dykes. Though water hyacinth is normally one of the most dangerous invasive species, it can be converted to useful resource by this system. The ditches are 10-11 feet wide canals and deep enough for fish culture. According to size of land owned by farmer the length of each dyke and ditch varies. All the ditches are interconnected with a regular flow of water. Once the dyke preparation is complete, crops including brinjal (eggplant), turnip, red amaranth, coriander, spinach, cowpea, chili, cornflower, tomato, papaya are planted. On the bed, 1 foot wide drain is constructed after every 3 feet intervals. Creepers and vines are planted on sticks along the sides of the dyke to prevent erosion. Trellis crops like bottle gourd, bitter gourd, ash gourd, sweet gourd, cucumber, etc. are cultivated in between two dykes and over the ditches. Guava, Hog plum, banana, lemon, pineapples and other fruit trees planted are in the bed after three years of establishment. Timber trees are also introduced in the dykes over time though some beds are only managed for crop cultivation. Through this way, they establish a multi-crop and agro-forestry system. In the ditches, farmers cultivate local fish varieties that generate extra income for them. Water hyacinth also managed in the ditch that used as fertilizer in the bed. Farmer add soil to the dyke from the ditches once in every year to raise the dyke and make it stable. The local community also developed a large floating market of guava, which now attracts tourism in this area and facilitates alternate income.
The initial investment of establishing dyke and ditch technology is expensive due to huge labour requirement for dyke preparation and often difficult for farmers to manage the required money. Usually they take loans from neighbours or micro credit organizations with high interest to initiate the work. Almost 80% of the households are involved with micro credits in Swarupkathi because loans from the national bank is much more time-consuming. If the farmers can get easier access to loan and marketing facilities from the government, they will benefit more from the dyke and ditch system.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• more than 50 years ago (traditional)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• as part of a traditional system (> 50 years)

Comments (type of project, etc.):

This practice spread out through local community.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• reduce risk of disasters
• create beneficial economic impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agroforestry

Comments:

As closest cropping system agroforestry is selected. The crop composition is seasonal vegetables followed by horticulture crops.

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• Yes (Please fill out the questions below with regard to the land use before implementation of the Technology)

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

No

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Comments:

Manual irrigation practiced as supplementary.

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• agroforestry
• integrated soil fertility management
• wetland protection/ management

• Agri-horticulture

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Ditch and dyke establishment to avoid prolonged water logging situation.

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

Comments:

Prolonged water logging was the problem of this area. Through establishment of ditch and dyke system the community overcome the situation and is now growing their crops year round.

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• reduce land degradation

Comments:

Through dyke and ditch method, crop production was increased tough total cropping area was decreased due to preparation of ditch

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

BDT

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

84.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Earth work (dyke preparation, bed leveling with water hyacinth compost, drain preparation on bed)	December to February
2.	Seasonal/annual planting of crops and vegetables	Seasonal
3.	Planting of horticultural tree and shrub species after 2-3 years of crop cultivation	Jun-July

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Earth work (dyke preparation, bed leveling with water hyacinth compost, drain preparation on bed)	person-days	200.0	500.0	100000.0	100.0
Labour	Cultivation	person-day	100.0	500.0	50000.0	100.0
Labour	Weeding	person-day	60.0	500.0	30000.0	100.0
Equipment	Spade	pieces	2.0	250.0	500.0	100.0
Equipment	Weeder (manual weeding tool)	pieces	2.0	150.0	300.0	100.0
Equipment	Bucket	pieces	2.0	150.0	300.0	100.0
Equipment	Net (to support trellis crops cultivation in between dykes))	kg	20.0	60.0	1200.0	100.0
Equipment	Bamboo sticks (to support the nets and creepers vegetable)	pieces	200.0	2.0	400.0	100.0
Plant material	Seeds (needed over first 2-3 years of establishment)	kg	0.5	2000.0	1000.0	100.0
Plant material	Seedling (needed over first 2-3 years of establishment)	pieces	300.0	20.0	6000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	T.S.P	kg	66.0	22.0	1452.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Urea	kg	66.0	16.0	1056.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	MoP	kg	22.0	15.0	330.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Pesticides	litre	1.0	5000.0	5000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					197538.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					2351.64

Comments:

Earth work is the prime establishment cost of this technology and others are the regular cropping cost

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Dyke management (add soil and water hyacinth to the dyke, bed leveling, drainage system on bed)	March-April

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Dyke management (add soil and water hyacinth to the dyke, bed leveling, drainage system on bed)	person-days	66.0	500.0	33000.0	100.0
Equipment	Spade	pieces	2.0	250.0	500.0	100.0
Equipment	Bucket	pieces	2.0	150.0	300.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					33800.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					402.38

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Labor cost

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Regularity:

episodically

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, not titled
• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• leased
• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Are land use rights based on a traditional legal system?

Yes

Specify:

Law of inheritance

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well
seasonal temperature	summer	increase	well
annual rainfall		decrease	well
seasonal rainfall	wet/ rainy season	decrease	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
tropical storm	well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	very well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• > 50%

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 91-100%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
1. Introduction of multi crops.
2. Maintaining daily households nutrition needs.
3. Support natural fish catching.
4. Improve economic condition of local communities.
5. Reduce risk of crop failure.
6. Improved access to health and education.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Socio-economic condition improved
Improved soil nutrient balance
Increase crop intensity and diversity
Reduce green house gas emission
Improved biodiversity

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Establishment cost is high	Easy loan facilities by government
Unavailability of labor	Standard payment for labor
Lack of post harvest processing/storage facility	Government initiatives to establish processing and store house
Late harvesting of crops and eventually low price for sale	Use high yielding and early crop varieties

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Absence of perfect market	Through government initiative facilitate a market place
Grazing hampers the stand at the initial stage	Community awareness

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Rahman, M. (2014). Framing Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change: Applicability in the Coast of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh: IUCN, x+43pp.

Available from where? Costs?

Mangrove for Future, Bangladesh.

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Ditch-and-dyke schemes for year-round cultivation

URL:

www.mangrovesforthefuture.org/assets/Repository/Documents/Framing-ecosystem-based-adaptation-BangladeshcIUCN2014.pdf

7.4 General comments

The WOCAT questionnaire covers all the technical aspect of this practice.