by Dr.Liz Humphreys & Team Presented at the GBDC Reflection Workshop,November 2013

1. G2 - Productive, profitable, resilient
agriculture & aquaculture systems
1

2. “HIGH SALINITY”
•Water “stagnation” 30-50 cm
several weeks in aman
•River water saline Dec-Jul
•High soil salinity in dry
season
“MEDIUM SALINITY”
•Water “stagnation” 30-50 cm
several weeks in aman
•River water saline mid-Feb-Jun
•Medium soil salinity in dry
season
North 24 Parganas
Polder 3
“LOW SALINITY”
•Water “stagnation” 30-50 cm
several weeks in aman
•River water fresh year-round
•Mild soil salinity in dry season
Polder 30
Patuakhali STU
South 24 Parganas
Polder 43/2/F
West Bengal, India
SW& SC Bangladesh
Andy Nelson

3. Objectives (5+1)
1. Rice variety evaluation
• aus (early rainy season) - low, medium
• aman (main rainy season) - low, medium & high salinity
• boro (dry season) - low, medium
2. Rice-based cropping system intensification
• Rice-rice-rice – low; rice-rice medium
• Rice-rice-rabi – low; rice-rabi medium
• Rice+fish - brackish water aquaculture - high
3. Homestead production systems analysis & options
• literature review & surveys - low, medium, high
• evaluation of options for increasing productivity, incomes
4. Year-round brackish water aquaculture systems - high
• Evaluation of improved management options
5. Technology & policy recommendations
6. Pilot community water management – CPWF Innovation Grant
• 6 ha “compartment”
3

4. SocioConsult
CPWF
Innovation
Project
Jahangir
Alam
4

5. 5

6. 6

7. Today’s presentation
Liz – Bgd
Sukanta - Ind
1. Improving rice–based agricultural cropping
systems
Saha – Bgd
Ashutosh - Ind
2. Improving year-round aquaculture & riceaquaculture systems
Manoranjan
Kabir
3. Community water management pilot
4. Women-led participatory action research –
homestead production systems
7

8. Predominant agricultural cropping systems in the
low & moderately saline regions of the coastal zone of Bangladesh
……........Fallow…………………...
Traditional Rice
(2-3.5 t/ha)
Sesame,
Keshari
0.5-1.0 t/ha)
....Fallow……
Traditional Rice
(2-3.5 t/ha)
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
8

9. With improved water
management, varieties &
intensification we have
achieved the following
…..on-farm…..in the polders
9

10. Cropping system intensification for low salinity areas
1. Aus-aman-boro (~16 t/ha)
M
J
J
A
S
O
Aus (100-105 d)
T. Aman (130-140 d)
1 Aug
D
J
F
M
A
25 Nov
20 July
1 May
N
5 Dec
M
5 Apr
Boro (140-145 d)
Successfully implemented on-farm for 2 years – 7th crop – polder 43/2F
HYV
Short duration
Salt tolerant
HYV
Medium duration
Submergence tolerant
Water stagnation tolerant
HYV
Medium duration
“Early” sowing
10

11. Cropping system intensification for low salinity areas
2. Aus-aman-rabi (~10 t/ha rice + 8 t/ha maize OR 3 t/ha sunflower etc)
A
M
J
J
A
S
Aus (100-105 d)
10 July
N
D
J
F
15 Nov
30 June
10 Apr
O
T. Aman (130-140 d)
M
A
1 5Apr
Rabi (130-140 d)
1 Dec
Successfully implemented on-farm for 2 years – 7th crop – polder 43/2F
HYV
Short duration
Salt tolerant
HYV
Medium duration
Submergence tolerant
Water stagnation tolerant
HYV
Maize
Sunflower,
Water melon
Chilli etc.
11

12. Cropping system intensification for medium salinity/water short areas
1. Aman-boro (~9 t/ha)
M
J
J
A
S
O
D
J
F
M
A
25 Nov
20 July
T. Aman (130-140 d)
1 Aug
N
5 Dec
Successfully implemented on-farm – polder 30
HYV
Medium duration
Submergence tolerant
Water stagnation tolerant
M
5 Apr
Boro (140-145 d)
HYV
“Early” sowing
Cold tolerant
12

13. Cropping system intensification for medium salinity areas
2. Aman-rabi (~5 t/ha rice + 7 t/ha maize, 2-3 t/ha sunflower etc)
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
J
F
15 Nov
10 July
T. Aman (130-140 d)
M
A
1 5Apr
Rabi (130-140 d)
1 Dec
HYV
Medium duration
Submergence tolerant
Water stagnation tolerant
HYV
Maize
Sunflower,
Water melon etc
Chilli etc.
13

14. Water mgt ingredients for a Green Revolution in the Polders
1. Separation of lands of higher & lower
elevation (mini-water mgt units)
Prevent accumulation of drainage in
lowlands – enable cultivation of rice/HYV
14

15. 6 ha pilot water management unit on polder 30
River
Drainage
canal
Road
Sluice
gate
Canal
(khal)
Drainage
outlet
Rural
road
15

16. Water mgt ingredients for a Green Revolution in the Polders
1. Separation of lands of higher & lower
elevation (mini-water mgt units)
Prevent accumulation of drainage in
lowlands – enable cultivation of rice/HYV
2. Strategic drainage during the rainy
season
Enables cultivation of HYV & earlier
harvest (mid-Nov)
16

17. Water mgt ingredients for a Green Revolution in the Polders
1. Separation of lands of higher & lower
elevation (mini-water mgt units)
Prevent accumulation of drainage in
lowlands – enable cultivation of rice/HYV
2. Strategic drainage during the rainy
season
Enables cultivation of HYV & earlier
harvest (mid-Nov)
3. Drainage shortly before aman harvest
(early Nov)
Enables soil to dry for early (timely)
establishment of rabi crops
17

18. Water mgt ingredients for a Green Revolution in the Polders
1. Separation of lands of higher & lower
elevation (mini-water mgt units)
Prevent accumulation of drainage in
lowlands – enable cultivation of rice/HYV
2. Strategic drainage during the rainy
season
Enables cultivation of HYV & earlier
harvest (mid-Nov)
3. Drainage shortly before aman harvest
(early Nov)
Enables soil to dry for early (timely)
establishment of rabi crops
4. Intake of water from rivers until they
become too saline for irrigation
In some areas lots of fresh water in the
rivers almost year-round - untapped
Polder 30 (Station-2, Pussur river)
16.00
Polder 43-2f (Station-2 (Out Side),Paira River)
24.0
Salinity (ppt)
20.0
12.00
4.00
-Aug-13
-Jun-13
-Apr-13
-Feb-13
-Dec-12
-Oct-12
-Aug-12
-Jun-12
-Apr-12
-Feb-12
0.00
-Dec-11
2-Mar
22-Nov
14-Aug
6-May
26-Jan
Date
18-Oct
10-Jul
1-Apr
23-Dec
14-Sep
6-Jun
26-Feb
0.0
-Oct-11
4.0
8.00
-Aug-11
8.0
-Jun-11
12.0
-Apr-11
Salinity (ppt)
16.0
18

19. Water mgt ingredients for a Green Revolution in the Polders
1. Separation of lands of higher & lower
elevation (mini-water mgt units)
Prevent accumulation of drainage in
lowlands – enable cultivation of rice/HYV
2. Strategic drainage during the rainy
season
Enables cultivation of HYV & earlier
harvest (mid-Nov)
3. Drainage shortly before aman harvest
(early Nov)
Enables soil to dry for early (timely)
establishment of rabi crops
4. Intake of water from rivers until they
become too saline for irrigation
In some areas lots of fresh water in the
rivers almost year-round - untapped
5. De-silting of khals
(CPWF phase 1)
..Increases storage capacity for irrigation
when river too saline
..Facilitates drainage
19

20. Khals within polders vary greatly in size, can store fresh water during the dry
season, but often heavily silted up (some no longer exist), blocked…
20

21. Water mgt ingredients for a Green Revolution in the Polders
1. Separation of lands of higher & lower
elevation (mini-water mgt units)
Prevent accumulation of drainage in
lowlands – enable cultivation of rice/HYV
2. Strategic drainage during the rainy
season
Enables cultivation of HYV & earlier
harvest (mid-Nov)
3. Drainage shortly before aman harvest
(early Nov)
Enables soil to dry for early (timely)
establishment of rabi crops
4. Intake of water from rivers until they
become too saline for irrigation
In some areas lots of fresh water in the
rivers almost year-round - untapped
5. De-silting of khals
..Increases storage capacity for irrigation
when river too saline
..Facilitates drainage
6. “Early” establishment of boro rice
after aman
(sow mid-Nov)
Reduces storage requirement for fresh
water to finish the crop off after the
rivers become too saline
Polder 30
- sufficient storage for 15-20% of land to grow boro rice
21
- desilting of khals  roughly double the possible boro ric

22. Water mgt ingredients for a Green Revolution in the Polders
1. Separation of lands of higher & lower
elevation (mini-water mgt units)
Prevent accumulation of drainage in
lowlands – enable cultivation of rice/HYV
2. Strategic drainage during the rainy
season
Enables cultivation of HYV & earlier
harvest (mid-Nov)
3. Drainage shortly before aman harvest
(early Nov)
Enables soil to dry for early (timely)
establishment of rabi crops
4. Intake of water from rivers until they
become too saline for irrigation
In some areas lots of fresh water in the
rivers almost year-round - untapped
5. De-silting of khals
(CPWF phase 1)
..Increases storage capacity for irrigation
when river too saline
..Facilitates drainage
6. “Early” establishment of boro rice after
aman
(sow mid-Nov – CPWF phase 1)
Reduces storage requirement for fresh
water to finish the crop off after the
rivers become too saline
7. High yielding/value rabi crops during
the dry season in water short areas
Only need 2-3 irrigations
22

23. Rice variety evaluation for West Bengal
Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI)
RRS Canning Town

24. Challenges in Indian Ganges Basin
• Rainy season
– Stagnant flooding (0.3-0.5 m for 1+ month)
• Dry season
– Soil salinty
– Lack of fresh water (some ground water pumping, but is it
sustainable? – salinisation of aquifer)
• Variety evaluation
– Rainy season (aman) – land elevation/flooding depth tolerance
– Dry season (boro) – salinity tolerance
• Cropping system
– Objective – reduce irrigation requirement for boro
• Timely aman establishment-early boro establishment
• Shorter duration

25. Study locations:of boro rice cultivation
Present scenario
20 km
Polder 3, BD
Sandeshkhali I
Non-availability of adequate number of varieties for different salinity
Sandeshkhali II
Canning
Delayed in seed bed preparation and planting
Often planting with old seedlings
Labour scarcity during planting
Basanti
Increasing expenditure on crop management especially water
Shortage of irrigation water during ripening phase
Exposing to hot weather during heading stage
Crop lodging due to high wind during post-flowering period
High cost involvement
Gosaba
Soil: Heavy texture
Land type: Mostly ( 84%) low lying & flat
topography
Salinity: 5-15 dSm-1

26. Aman Varietal Evaluation

27. Participatory Varietal
Evaluation

28. Improved varieties for Aman season in the Coastal West Beng
Variety/Line
Sandeshkhali II*
Highland
Yield
(t/ha)
Sabita (local)
Amal-Mana
CSRC (D) 12-8-12
Swarna sub 1
LSD (0.05)
Farmers’
choice
2.68
3.80
(42%)
3.52
(31%)
4.15
(55%)
0.38
Gosaba**
Medium land
Yield
(t/ha)
Farmers’
choice
3.15
2nd
1st
4.55
(44%)
4.15
(32%)
4.38
(39%)
0.39
Basanti***
Lowland
Yield
(t/ha)
Farmers’
choice
2.60
1st
2nd
4.40
(69%)
4.80
(85%)
4.20
(61%)
0.41
2nd
1st

29. Ground water use for Boro rice cultiva
Village: Kheria
Block: Basanti
Dist. : South 24 Parganas
Sample
Irrigation water
Field water
Soil
pH
6.77
6.97
7.03
EC
6.70
7.70
6.26

30. Groundwater irrigation at Daudpur

31. Daudpur (North 24 Parganas)
monitoring of tube wells used
for irrigation
500 m

32. Salinity dS m-1
Change in Ground Water Salinity
during dry season
8
6
4
2
0
January
Class
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
EC (dS m-1)
<1.5
1.5 – 3
3–5
5 – 10
>10
February
March
Quality characteristics
Normal waters
Low saline waters
Medium saline waters
Saline waters
High saline waters
April

33. Soil salinity ECe (dSm-1)
Changes in soil salinity during boro rice
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Sandeshkhali
Gosaba
07.01.12
02.02.12
16.03.12
20.04.12

34. Rice varietal trial during 2013 Boro season
FARMERS’ FIELDS (low to high salinity)
1
BRRI dhan 47
6
N. Sankar
2
BRRI dhan 55
7
S. Sankar
3
4
5
BINA dhan 8
Parijat
Bidhan-2
8 WGL-20471
9 Local 1
10 Local 2

35. 7
Soil Salinity 3.10 dS/m
Soil Salinity 7.15 dS/m
Grain yield (t ha-1)
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
155 d
155 d
145 d
145 d

36. On-station experiment for
evaluation of effect of duration & sowing date
on water use & water productivity
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
BRRI dhan 47
BRRI dhan 53
BRRI dhan 55
BINA dhan 8
CSR 34, CSR 22
IR 10206-29-2-1-1
CSRC (S) 50-2-1-1-4-B
Dates of sowing:
06.11.12 & 28.11.12

39. Grain yield & Duration of Boro Rice Varieties
(on-station boro trial 2013, low salinity)
7
180
6
160
140
4
3
2
Days to maturity
Grain yield (t ha-1)
5
120
100
80
60
40
1
0
20
0

40. Water use & WUE of Boro rice Varieties
45
160
40
35
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
WUE (kg/ha-cm)
Irrigation water used (cm)
140
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

41. Average of 8 varieties
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
06.11.12
28.11.12
No. of irrigations
Amount of irrigation
water applied (cm)
17% Less irrigation water required by early sowing crop due to
utilization of residual soil moisture & earlier maturity in cooler
weather

42. Thank U All

43. Resilient Intensified and
Diversified Agriculture and
Aquaculture System
Bangladesh

44. Output 2: Rice-aquaculture
for high salinity zone
Output 4: Aquaculture for
high salinity zone

45. Rice-aquaculture: Salinity fluctuates from
high in dry season to low in rainy season
BANGLADESH
Aquaculture: Salinity fluctuates from
high in dry season to medium in
rainy season

46. Research Objective
Improved management for enhanced productivity, profitability &
resilience in rice-aquaculture & aquaculture systems
407-870 m2
24 mini-ghers for rice-aquaculture
866-1463 m2
12 mini-ghers for aquaculture

47. Before
Drain/Intake canal
Around every gher
Construction
Ponds
47

48. Aquaculture Treatments in 2013
3 aquaculture treatments in BOTH systems (4 reps) :
1. Farmers’ mgt
: Polyculture
Shrimp+ several fish spp, multiple stockings & harvests
2. Improved mgt 1: Rotational monoculture
Dry season - shrimp (2 short crops)
Wet season - monoculture tilapia; monoculture cat fish
3. Improved mgt 2: Rotational polyculture
Dry season - shrimp+tilapia (2 short crops)
Wet season - polyculture tilapia + carp + catfish
Catfish (3 spp)
Shrimp
Singh & Magur
Tilapia
Carp
……………….Wet
Nona tengra
……………Dry

49. Some tradeoffs for rice & aquaculture system
Saline water needs to be drained in July to allow leaching of salt by
rainfall prior to rice transplanting
Higher brackish water aquaculture production if saline water is kept
for longer
Need shallow water after transplanting rice (<20 cm)
This is very shallow for aquaculture (importance of trenches)
Better rice productivity with shallower water
Better aquaculture productivity with deeper water
Rice-aquaculture system
Therefore 2 water depth treatments (50 cm, 70 cm) in rice-aquaculture
system, both seasons

50. Management
Practice
Liming
Farmer’s Practice Improved 1 & 2
200 kg ha-1
200 kg ha-1
Water filtering
Water depth
Predatory Fish
Fertilization
Shrimp seed
Feed
Water replenishment
Post stocking
fertilization
Fish seed
Unfiltered
Lower
Not eradicated
No fertilizer
Not PCR tested
No feed
When needed
Very insufficient
Some wild
Filtered
Higher
Eradicated
Fertilizer & dolomite
PCR tested
Feeding
When needed
When primary
production is low
All from hatcheries

51. Timeline (Output 2 & 4)
Dry season (DS)
March
Shrimp
& fish
Stocking 1
April
May
Wet season (WS)
July
Aug.
Harvest 2
Stocking - WS
Harvest 1
Stocking 2
Rice
transplanting
Sept.
Nov. Dec.
Rice
harvest
Fish harvest
Complete
draining

52. Water salinity (2012 versus 2013)
Rice-aquaculture
1
Salinity (ppt)
FP(70 cm)
Mono(70 cm)
Poly(70 cm)
2012
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
15 28 42 56 70 84 98 112
Days of culture
FP(50 cm)
Mono(50 cm)
Poly(50 cm)
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Mono (50 cm)
FP (70 cm)
Poly (70 cm)
Salinity (ppt)
FP (50cm)
Poly (50 cm)
Mono (70 cm)
2012
FP
Mono
Poly
1 15 28 42 56 70 84 98 112
Days of culture
2013
FP
Mono
Poly
30
Salinity (ppt)
Salinity (ppt)
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Aquaculture
25
2013
20
15
10
5
0
1
14 28 42 56 70 84 98 112
Days of Culture
1
14 28 42 56 70 84 98 112
Days of Culture

53. Findings – Rice-aquaculture

54. Depth of water during dry season
2013
80
Water Depth (cm)
70
60
50
40
30
20
FP(50 cm)
Mono(50 cm)
Mono(70 cm)
Poly(50 cm)
10
FP(70 cm)
Poly(70 cm)
0
1
7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 63 70 77 84 91 98 105112119
Days of Culture

55. Dry season 2013 production (kg/ha) rice-aquaculture
Culture
pattern
1st crop
2nd crop
(Shrimp 70 days, (Shrimp 52 days,
Fish 55 days)
Fish 41days)
Shrimp Tilapia Shrimp* Tilapia*
Total DS
(March-July)
Shrimp
Tilapia
135 kg/ha shrimp
165 kg/ha fish to September
(complete harvest December)
Farmer’s
practice
Mono
(50 cm)
388 ±22
-
271 ±52
-
659
-
Poly
(50 cm)
361 ±60
1625 ±56
255 ±67
775 ±23
616
2400
Mono
(70 cm)
501 ±132
-
309 ±17
-
810
-
Poly
(70 cm)
381 ±57
1624 ±62
255 ±75
652 ±61
636
2276
* 2nd stocking delayed 15 days due to unavailability of quality seed shrimp & tilapia

56. Economics of dry season rice- aquaculture production
Tk X 1000/ha
Culture
pattern
Mono
(50 cm)
Poly
(50 cm)
Mono
(70 cm)
Poly
(70 cm)
Total
Variable
cost
Total
Return
Gross
margin
175
277
102
320
475
155
178
340
162
296
472
176

57. Progress of wet season production
Water drained out for rice transplantation
T-aman was affected by salinity from
seepage from adjacent ghers &
groundwater influx
Transplantation of rice
Tilapia harvesting

58. Findings - aquaculture

59. Depth of water during dry (March-July) season
80
FP
Mono
Poly
2013
60
40
20
0
1
7
14
21
28
35
42
49
56
63
70
77
84
91
98
105
112
119
Water depth (cm)
100
Days of culture

60. Dry season 2013 production (kg/ha) aquaculture
Culture
pattern
1st crop
(Shrimp 70 days,
Fish 55 days)
Shrimp
Farmer’s
practice
Tilapia
2nd crop
(Shrimp 52 days,
Fish 41days)
Shrimp*
Tilapia*
Total DS
Shrimp Tilapia
73.19 kg/ha bagda, 13 kg/ha harina, 144 kg tilapia
and 8.61 kg/ha to September. (complete harvest
December)
Monoculture
565±31
Polyculture
373±27 1744 ±212
-
291±124
-
856
-
193±64
777±47
566
2521
* 2nd stocking delayed 15 days due to unavailability of quality seed shrimp & ti

61. Economics of dry season aquaculture production
Tk X 1000/ha
Culture
pattern
Monoculture
Polyculture
Total
variable
cost
Total
Return
Gross
margin
180
359
179
293
464
171

62. Progress of wet season production
Partitioning of 4 ponds
Tilapia disease due to lack of water exchange
Stocking of new cat fish
Tilapia harvesting

63. Knowledge Sharing
Labor group meeting
Farmer group meeting
Participation in seminar/workshops

64. Key challenges
Markets
• Scarcity of quality shrimp and fish seed
• Lack of quality feed in local market
Aquaculture management
• Prevention of escaping cat fish through dikes
• Aquatic weed control
Community
• Poor feeder canal for gravitational water
exchange (need community system)
• Poaching risk increases (need to increase
productivity of all ghers to lessen predation of
individual gher – share the predation more
evenly!)

65. Lessons Learned
• Short duration shrimp production
appeared as less risky.
• High demand for big size fingerlings in
the locality – an expanding industry

66. Other improvements
You can make your saline gher dike green and environment
friendly by adding trees

67. Other improvements
Vegetable can be grown on saline gher dikes during wet season

68. Other improvements
Local variety of grass grows very well on saline gher dikes
which can be used as fodder

70. Output 2: More productive, profitable, resilient &
diversified rice-based cropping systems
Paddy- Fish Culture in
South 24 Paraganas, West Bengal, India
In collaboration with CSSRI ,Canning

71. How India and Bangladesh work is different ?
Bangladesh
Rice and fish in the same gher
(large, shallow “pond”
e.g. 0.5-5 ha)
India
Deep pond at one end
Rainy season – fish in pond & rice crop
Dry season – fish in pond only; rice irrigated from pond

72. Paddy-Fish calendar
Jul Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
DEC
Wet season
Jan
Feb
Mar
May Jun
Apr
Wet
Dry season
[
Bangladesh
India
Rice+fish+prawn
Rice
Fish in field & pond
Shrimp+fish
Dry season
Boro rice
Fish in pond
Jul

73. Objectives
1. to evaluate pond area/agricultural land area ratio
(what size pond is large enough to grow boro rice in Dry
Seasons ?)
2 treatments - 20% (current practice; not enough for boro rice)
- 30% (enough for boro rice?)
2. to evaluate harvesting method
2 treatments – single harvest in Mar
- phased harvesting (monthly, Dec- Mar)

74. 2 Experimental sites
Kakdwip Block: Vill – Shibkalinagar
Namkhana Block: Vill- Madanganj,

75. Experimental location and treatment
Locations 1 & 2
2 pond areas
(20%, 30% of total field)
2 harvesting treatments (single, phased)
3 replicates

76. Before excavation of pond
After excavation of pond

77. DESIGN LAYOUT OF PADDY CUM FISH CULTURE (KHARIF)
Paddy Cultivation Area
Fish Culture
without phase harvest
Partition of pond and paddy field by Net
Fish Culture
with phase harvest
Earthen
Embankment
Dyke cropping with horticultural crops
Variety-1 (Amalmana)
Trench
Paddy
Pond area

78. Catla
Catla ,Rohu ,Mrigala and Scampi
Scampi
Catla,Rohu,Mrigala and Scampi

79. Monitoring of pond water and fish
• Inputs
(Lime, Feed, Fertiliser, advance
fingerlings)
• Water quality fortnightly
- Temperature,
pH,
dissolved
Oxygen,
salinity,
total
alkalinity,
ammoniacal–
N, nitrate–N, phosphate
• Growth & survival fortnightly
• Feed intake weekly
• Production

80. Sampling
Weighing of fish
Plankton sampling
Weighing of prawn
Taking length of fish

81. Monitoring of rice
•
•
•
•
Inputs e.g. Fertiliser
Growth, development
Grain & straw yield
Yield components

82. Rainfall (mm)
2013
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
October rainfall 538 mm – long time average 130mm

83. At the time of paddy plantation
Mid way stage
Present stage

84. •All parameters similar except salinity
•Conditions were within the optimum range for fish growth at all sites

85. Growth of fish in different pond area

86. Future Plan
Will continue for 2014 dry & rainy seasons & 2015 dry
season if possible
• Harvesting rainy season rice
• Start fish harvesting in December.
• Nursery raising for boro rice December
• Transplant boro rice Feb 14
• Final fish harvest March 2014.
• Restocking of pond
• Water budgeting

87. THANK YOU

88. Implementing community level
water management in coastal
Bangladesh
Manoranjan Mondal, Elizabeth Humphreys
T P Tuong and Alamgir Chowdhury
SCL

89. Low Saline Area: Aus-Aman-Boro
A
M
J
Aus
J
A
S
O
N
Aman
Rainfall-River Water w/Suppl Irrigation
D
J
F
M
Boro
Irrigation
A

90. Low Saline Area: Aus-Aman-Rabi
A
M
J
Aus
J
A
S
O
N
D
Aman
Aus
Aman
J
F
M
Rabi
Terminal Drainage
Rainfall-River Water w/Suppl Irrigation
Residual Moisture
A

91. Moderate Saline Area: Aman-Rabi
M
J
J
A
S
O
Aman (140 d)
15 July
N
D
15 Nov
J
F
M
A
Rabi (120-140 d)
Dec/Jan
Terminal Drainage
Rainfall-River Water
Residual Soil Moisture
M
30 Apr

92. Moderate Saline Area: Aman-Boro
M
J
J
A
S
O
Aman (140 d)
N
D
15 Nov
J
F
M
Boro (150 d)
10 Dec
15 July
Rainfall-River Water
Irrigation
A
M
30 Apr

93. High Saline Area: Shrimp-[Aman+Fish]
J
F
M
A
M
J
Shrimp+Tilapia
J
A
S
O
N
Rice+Fish
D
J

94. Main causes of low productivity
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
T. Aman (140-160 d)
1. Prolonged water logging ~ 30 cm water depth at the
beginning of aman season
prevents adoption of HYV rice
cultivation
D
J
F
M
A
M
J
Rabi (130-140 d)
2. Delayed
establishment
of rabi crops
3. Pre-monsoon rainfall

95. Can the problem of water too deep for HYV rice solved?
YES – by
• Systematic operation of the sluice
gates (open at low tide, close at
high tide)
• Separation of lands of different
elevation with small levees
• Strategic investments in
infrastructure e.g. culverts under
polder roads blocking natural
drainage lines
• Desilting drainage canals (khals)
BUT
• Need community participation

96. Gravity drainage - an example of polder 30
Kazibacha river
High tide water level 2.9 m
Area (Percent)
0
40
60
80
100
4
Average water level 1.3 m
Area-Elevation
curve
3.5
Land level (mPWD)
Low tide water level 0.0 m
20
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0
10
20
30
40
50
Area (sqkm)
Lower-Shalta river
High tide water level 2.7 m
Average water level 1.0 m
Low tide water level -0.50 m
Elevation (above
mean sea level, m)
<0. 2
<0.6
<1.0
<1.2
<1.6
<1.8
%
0
15
61
80
95
98
60

97. What we have done to improve productivity of coastal BD?
• Obtain the agreement of a group of farmers to create a
hydrologically separate pilot watershed area on polder 30
and operate the sluice gate systematically
97

98. 6 ha pilot water management unit on polder 30
River
Drainage
canal
Road
Sluice
gate
Outlet
Canal
(khal)
Rural
road
98

99. What we have done to improve productivity of coastal BD?
• Obtained the agreement
of the farmers to grow
– HYV rice
– High value and
traditional rabi crops
in the watershed area
• Provided seed & training
in recommended
management for rice and
rabi crops
• Provided year-round
coaching
99

100. What we wanted to achieve?
M
J
J
A
S
O
HYV Aman
July
N
D
J
Nov
F
M
HYV Rabi
Dec/Jan
Terminal Drainage
Residual
soil water
River water
EC 1-4 dSm-1
A
M
Apr

101. What We Achieved & Lesson Learned

102. • Only about 50% farmer
cultivated HYV
• Reasons
– ~50% leasing land: tenant
has to bear all expenses,
crop share is only 1/3rd;
pressure from land owners
for traditional rice
– Lower price of HYV in local
market at that time
– Need cash to buy inputs:
fertilizer, pesticide
– Higher cost of transplanting
HYV due to closer spacing.
Farmer cultivated rice (%)
Lesson 1: HYV rice cultivation
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
HYV
Local

103. Lesson 2: Drainage during aman season
• Constructed internal
drains/bunds to separate high
and low land & outlet
• Installed drainage outlet
• The crop was submerged twice
• 8-14 August 2012: 264 mm
rainfall, drained out within 4
days.
• 3-5 September 2012: 246 mm
rainfall, drained out within 3
days.
• With this drainage network,
watershed farmers successfully
drained excess water.

104. Drainage during aman season
• Farmers operated the sluice gate systematically to
quickly drain out excess water during the rainy season
• BUT couldn’t drain on time for rabi establishment
because of late maturing traditional varieties

105. Rainfall & Water depth (mm)
Lesson 3: Late drainage at the end of wet season- soil too
wet for early rabi crop establishment
240
220
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Target drainage time – but irrigation!
because local variety late maturing
Transplanting
Surface water gone but
weather cold, foggy, soil
too wet for tillage

106. Lesson 4: Rabi crop establishment
• Early establishment of rabi crops possible by dibbling
– 2 farmers established sunflower by dibbling on 1 January
2013, harvested before the cyclone.
– BUT dibbling cultivation requires more labour to spade
the land, increasing production cost. (if not cultivated,
how to apply fertilizer? soil cracks leading to root
breakage, irrigation water loss down cracks-need small
scale mechanization)

107. Effect of LATE establishment of rabi crops

108. Sesame seeds were broadcast during 14-28 February
2013

109. Mungbean and sesame in pilot watershed on 18 May
2013

110. 264 mm rain (19-31May 2013) flooded the crop field

111. Flooded (0.3 m deep) sesame field on 23 May 2013

112. Damaged sesame field in pilot watershed on 25 May
2013

113. Damaged mungbean field in pilot watershed on 31 May
2013

114. Effect of EARLY established rabi crops

115. Sunflower established on 1st January 2013, harvested
before cyclone (yield = 1.5 t/ha, well-irrigated, no
fertiliser)

116. Maize established on 24 February 2013 was in late grain
filling at time of rains & farmer harvested 5 t/ha (~ 1/2
fertiliser )

117. Aman 2013: Rice-Fish
HYV Rice
(Re comme nde d mngt)
Traditional + HYV Rice
(Farme rs’ mngt)
Stocke d FISH in 6 ha –
both are as
(Tilapia, Mola)
117

118. Aman Rice in 2013: ~ 5-6 t/ha from HYV

119. 31-Oct
24-Oct
17-Oct
10-Oct
3-Oct
26-Sep
19-Sep
Rainfall (mm)
120
12-Sep
140
5-Sep
29-Aug
22-Aug
15-Aug
8-Aug
1-Aug
Rainfall & Water Depth (mm)
Paddy water depth in 2013 aman season
180
160
Water depth (mm)
100
80
60
40
20
0

120. Future potentials of
community water management
• Community water management is the key to outscaling
improved agricultural technologies for food security of
the communities living in coastal polders of BD.
• Productivity & income could be increased integrating
small indigenous fish with rice in the watershed area.
• This will
– Improve food & nutrition
– More home consumption
by children & women.
– Increase aquatic
agricultural diversity.

121. THANK YOU
SCL

122. Women led participatory action research on
homestead challenged pond aquaculture

124. Objectives and research questions
Objective
to increase productivity, improve nutrition & income and empowerment of
women
Specific research questions:
1.
2.
How to increase productivity, income and household consumption of
fish from small shaded ponds without hampering regular household
pond water uses ?
How women’s capacity of decision making and control of resources can
be improved through their involvement in shaded pond fish farming?

125. Locations & new partners – under umbrella of G2
Farid
pur
Jess
ore
Polder 3: G2, AAS
Region 2: Non SalineBari
sal
Polder 30: G2, AAS
P39
Polder 43: G2, FtF-Aq
P30
P3
P5
Region 1:Saline
Polder 5: SmartFarm
P43
Polder 39: SmartFarm
Barisal: CSISA
Faridpur: CSISA
Jessore: CSISA

126. PAR Process & team building
Research team (RT): experts under different themes from participating projects
Implementation monitoring team (IMT): Respective PO/TS/ADO of concerned project
at each site
Women’s groups: <1 ha land and pond with >60% shade throughout the day

127. Designing the research: Community consultation
Identifying resources and opportunities
Prioritizing farmers preference
Understanding gender and nutrition status
Defining women role in participatory
technology development

128. Participatory Mapping of HFS

129. Water availability in homestead ponds, use pattern
and preference

130. Women are Interested in Aquaculture research

131. Fish Preference by Women

132. Fish Feed Preference by Women
Commercial
Feed
Home made
feed
Kitchen
waste
Insects &
other
naturally
available
feed

133. Women Preference for
Participating Different
Activities of
Aquaculture
Fish sale
Fish feeding
monitoring
Fish harvest
Fish stocking

134. Summary of community consultation output and individual farmer
interview result were considered in designing the research

135. Experimental Design
Region: Two regions (saline & non saline)
Treatments: Polyculture with 3 different species composition
for each region focused on regular fish consumption and
increased income
Replication: 4 replications
Control: Monitoring of 10 shaded pond in each area
Management: Low cost feeding & management
Monitoring:
• Baseline & impact survey
• Record keeping in WF record book
• FARMER GROUP MEETING TWICE IN A MONTH
• Collecting WQ & BW sampling data monthly

136. Empowering women by building awareness & research Capacity
Technical
Support
Gender &
nutrition
awareness
Women farmers
have improved
research interest
& capacity and
more empowered
in decision
making &
accessing
resources

137. Empowering women by building awareness & research Capacity

138. Empowering women by building awareness & research Capacity

139. Current status:
– Tilapia started breeding in ponds
– Fish growth & survival satisfactory
Lessons learned:
– Timely implementation of planned activities depends on
national political stability
– Need to develop local quality input suppliers
– Success depends much on field staff motivation &
sincerity

140. Outcomes so far:
– Farmers started regular harvesting & consumption
– To date no problems regarding pond water use in other
household activities.
– Women farmers are highly motivated for action research
(solving their problems: e.g. less or no productivity from
shaded ponds)
– Women farmer researchers already getting more
importance in their families and communities
Future plans:
Continue for next couple of years focusing on total pond
ecosystem, natural recruitment, connectivity with open
water, monoculture/commercial aquaculture culture

142. Plans to closure late 2014
1. Research activities
• 2014 boro & aus variety trials in farmers fields (polders 30, 43/2/F)
• continue cropping system demos to end of boro/rabi (30), aus (43/2/F)
• continue pilot watershed to end of rabi 2014
• participatory adaptive trial of brackish water aquaculture technologies in
• women-led participatory action research in 2014
• data analysis & writing
2. Outscaling activities - partnership with BRAC in
• community watershed pilots
• brackish water aquaculture outscaling
• outscaling of agricultural cropping system intensification
3. Dissemination materials
• scientific papers
• brochures, videos for farmers & extensionists
• presentations to high level officials, policy makers, donors
4. Seek opportunities/develop proposals for funding to build on
achievements
142

143. Research questions for the future (many)
Common across aquatic-agriculture systems:
1. How can we implement improved community management to demonstrate
the benefits of improved production systems? (about water & much more;
agricultural cropping systems, aquaculture systems)
2. Is implementation of improved drainage/water management systems in polders
economic?
3. Nutrient cycling in rice-shrimp systems
Many others specific to:
• rice varietal improvement (e.g. short duration, cold tolerant boro)
• homestead production systems (e.g. pond-ecosystem approach)
• sustainability of groundwater pumping for boro rice
• establishment of rabi crops
• aquaculture in saline areas
143