Dhaka, – A new study supported by FAO will examine the impact of surface water management schemes on agricultural productivity and crop diversification. The results will lead to improved water infrastructure initiatives that will better help farmers.

Policymakers, practitioners, and academics met in Dhaka to share their insights at a consultation workshop ahead of the start of the study which will concentrate on the vulnerable southern coastal regions of Bangladesh which are susceptible to cyclones, storm surges, salinization, flooding, waterlogging, and land erosion.

The Smallholder Agricultural Competitiveness Project (SACP), a joint initiative of the Government of Bangladesh and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), is working in the region to increase farmers’ incomes and enhance their livelihoods. The project focuses on three core areas: enhancing the production of high-value crops and driving technology adoption; promoting the processing and marketing of these crops; and strengthening climate-resilient surface water management.

SACP is implemented by the Department of Agricultural Extension, Department of Agricultural Marketing, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute. FAO provides technical assistance to strengthen the capacity of the partner agencies to implement the project.

Under the third component of the project, led by BADC, smallholder farmers are supported through investments in surface water management, such as water storage and provision systems, which enables them to access supplemental or full-season water for their crops. Additionally, capacity development efforts are undertaken to ensure that households and farmer groups can effectively manage and utilize the water infrastructure.

The study will examine the impact of surface water management schemes being implemented by SACP, particularly with regards to agricultural productivity and crop diversification.

In doing so, the study will support more effective resource allocation and decision-making for future initiatives. Furthermore, the study will provide much-needed evidence towards incorporating resilience into irrigation infrastructure projects, ensuring that they are designed with climate change adaptation and risk reduction in mind. Additionally, the study will assist in the development of evidence-based training materials for water user groups, enhancing their ability to manage water resources and ensuring the sustainability of the schemes.

Attending the event, Nur Ahamed Khondaker, Assistant FAO Representative (Programme), emphasized the importance of assessing and understanding the realities faced by farmers when designing project plans and activities.

Katarzyna Czaplicka, Senior Technical Advisor, FAO, gave a presentation on the proposed approach and expected results of the study. She said: “Based on the findings, we will propose evidence-based solutions that address the most critical challenges faced by coastal zone farmers. We also plan to devise mitigation measures that address the unintended consequences of the water schemes.

A discussion moderated by Moin Us Salam, Senior Agriculture Sector Development Expert at FAO, took place following the presentation.

Rabindra Sri Barua, Additional Secretary, Extension Wing, Ministry of Agriculture, was chief guest. Muhammad Emdadul Haque, Project Director, SACP, and Md Rezaur Rahman, BADC, Component 3 Director, SACP, also spoke at the workshop. The event was chaired by Shibendra Narayan Gope, Chief Engineer (Minor Irrigation), BADC.

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