Farmers are using different types of supplementary irrigation in agriculture. Bangladesh Agricultural Development Cooperation (BADC) under the Ministry of Agriculture undertook the Barind Integrated Area Development Project (BIADP) in 1986 to improve livelihoods, keep environmental balance and fulfill the food-grain demand of the most backward and drought prone settlement in the north-western part of the country. It aimed to increase agricultural production by providing extensive irrigation facilities through deepwater irrigation system in fourteen Upazilas in the Barind Tract Region. The Deepwater Irrigation system has two major components i.e. installation of deep tube-well and construction of underground distribution line. The underground distribution line is an integral part of Barind Irrigation System which helps in transportation of water in the undulated terrain and to avoid evaporation loss during distribution.
6.2.1 The Project Location
The Barind Tract lies between 23028‛30‛‛ to 26038‛ north latitude and 88002‛ to 89057‛ east longitude (see location Map). It covers greater Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Bogra and Pabna districts of Bangladesh, known as north-western part and identified as a severe drought prone region in Bangladesh.
6.2.2 Socio-Economic Condition
Economic growth and development has been hampered significantly and become dissected from all types of economic activities and development efforts. Many indigenous farmers of this region migrated to the adjacent country, which caused enormous harm to the agriculture. Subsequently, new poor Muslim farmers came to this area from west India and eastern plain land and started their livelihoods. But due to lack of indigenous knowledge on climate, agriculture and land conservation system of the area, they failed to develop agriculture and started to cut down forest to meet their daily needs for survival. Besides, there were no integrated efforts for development of the Barind Tract before independence of Bangladesh.
Barind morphology looks like stairs from remote sensing visualization, which is called terrace landform. This tract is 30-40 m over mean sea level and segmented by a Pleistocene fault. About 87% to 91% soil of this region is formed with eroded greyish clay. Some tributeries of the Ganges river system such as Atri, Mohananda, Shib Pagla and Koratoa are the major rivers in the region. Unfortunately, these rivers dry up immediately after the rainy season due to low rainfall and construction of barrages in upstream by the neighbor country. Insufficient rainfall, lack of surface water, absence of forest, high temperature during summer, hard and dry radish soil, poor organic composition of soil (0.8%-5%), wavy land, uneven distribution of groundwater, very poor communication system, extreme poor residence etc. are the key characteristics of the region.
6.2.3 How the Project was Done?
Comprehensive study findings were shared with Ministry of Agriculture through BADC and the feasibility study report was followed by actual project from the BADC and the Ministry. Barind Integrated Area Development Programme (BIADP) was approved in 16 July 1986 to be implemented under BADC. BIADP phase 1 has installed 50 percent deep tube-well. Constructed of distribution system and electrification were negligible. An institutional reform occurred in 1992 and a separate authority “Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA)” was established. The Authority started with the incomplete programmes of BIADP and up to 2004 a total of 6357 Deep-tube Wells were installed and all are operating following own policy and system the authority.
This deepwater irrigation system has technology component and institutional arrangement with farmers. This irrigation system is backed by research, consultation and reality checking, pilot level intervention to check theoretical potential against actual potential, and policy advocacy.
Installation of deep tube-well Underground Water Distribution Line Construction of Water Distribution System
The project has targeted for 2250 water distribution plants.
Power Supply Network
Initially 2000 engines were targeted for electrification to minimize the cost of lifting water. Power Development Board was responsible for this programme. But unfortunately only 10 engines were electrified. Due to lack of integration among the Ministries, the project failed to reach the target.
6.2.4 What has been achieved?
A committee was formed integrating Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Seeds of BADC and Barind project to evaluate cropping pattern and results of the partial implemented project in the project area. The survey report of the committee reported the following achievements:
Achievements
• Total 6374 DTW were installed in the project area till June 2004
• Previously drought affected fallow lands are recently used for crop cultivation through irrigation and reducing drought affected area
• The cropping pattern has been changed tremendously. The dominance of T.aman crop has diminished while HYV boro became the most important crop. Also there has been considerable crop diversification with increase in acreage and production of wheat, potato, fruits, vegetables, spices, pulses, oil seeds etc. Area coverage and production of T aman, wheat, HYV boro, potato and maize expanded substantially while those of B. Aus, mustard, black gram and sugarcane decreased over the project areas.
Diversification of Agriculture Practices
• In the barind districts, the total production growth of food grain crops was phenomenal. Similarly, with availability of irrigation facilities the barind farmers switched from less intensive crop production to fertilizer responsive modern cultivation methods that have also raised the yielding abilities of the major crops. Boro yield increased from 3.2 to 4.24, T. Aman from 1.6 to 3.6, Aus from 2.1 to 2.4, wheat from 1.8 to 2.3 and potato from 13.3 to 18.1 tons per hectare over 1991 to 1999.
• Employment opportunity has been increased for marginal farmers and day labours. (Occupation pattern did not change much but income level increased because of increasing agricultural production, increased demand for labour and increased wage rate by eliminating poverty, income generation specially of women group)
• Wage rate of Agriculture labour in the project area was Tk. 25 to 35 for male labour in 1991 which has been increased to Tk. 50 to 80 in 1999-2000. Wage rate of female labour was as low as Tk.15 to 20 in 1991, which has been increased to Tk 40 to 60
• Socio-economic condition of the project areas have been improved by growing more food.
Irrigation facility in the Barind Tracts area has brought tremendous changes in the cropping pattern and production. The dominance of Transplanted Aman (T. Aman) Crop has replaced High Yielding Variety Boro (HYV Boro) Crop. There has also been considerable crop diversification with increase in acreage and production of wheat, potato, fruits, vegetables, spices, pulses, oil seeds etc. Expansion of coverage along with increase of production of T Aman, wheat, HYV Boro, potato and maize is substantial while area coverage under Broadcast Aus (B. Aus), mustard, black gram and sugarcane has decreased over the project period.
The total production and growth of food-grain is phenomenal in the Barind Tracts Area. Similarly, with availability of irrigation facilities farmers have switched from less intensive crop production to fertilizer responsive modern cultivation methods which has increased crop yield. Yield HYV Boro Crop has increased from 3.2 to 4.24, T. Aman from 1.6 to 3.6, Aus from 2.1 to 2.4, wheat from 1.8 to 2.3 and potato from 13.3 to 18.1 tons per hectare over 1991 to 1999.
Employment opportunity has been increased for marginal farmers and day labours. However, occupation pattern did not change much but income level increased due to increase in agricultural production, increased demand for labour and increased wage rate. Project has contributed to poverty alleviation and has improved socio-economic condition of the people living in the Barind Tracts.
6.2.5 Lessons learned
There is no doubt that use of DTW for irrigation has improved socio-economic condition
The Irrigation activities also reduced drought impact in the region and improved environmental condition tremendously
However, such a successful project was felt in threat because of Donors bindings and bureaucratic complexity
Relevant agencies and actors have to realize these situations for adaptation of the project activist to reduce adverse affect of climate change particularly drought in Barind region in Bangladesh.