Increasing diversified agro production through smart use of water and land in Saline affected climate-vulnerable southwest Bangladesh.

Short description of Project:

Bangladesh is predominantly an agricultural country around 72% populations is involved with agriculture and contributes 18.4 % in national GDP. The Southwest Coastal Region of Bangladesh is situated at the interface of saline seawater and the freshwater brought down by the upstream rivers.  It’s also a part of flood-plain of the Ganges river with a brackish water regime and is vulnerable to natural disasters. Through successful addressing of natural disasters and optimum use of natural resources especially, land, water and forest that the local culture and civilization has developed through centuries. But agriculture is the principal occupation of 66% population livelihood in this region. Due to adverse impact of climate change and unnecessary human causing reduced fresh water flow, riverbank erosion and silting up, increased salinity in water and soil, and frequency and intensity of natural disasters. Beside, lack of adequate knowledge on crop zoning, water management, use of agro chemicals, diversified agriculture practices, which have combined to make vulnerable situation of local agro system. Now farmers cultivate only single crop during the monsoon (June-November).  Rest of the year

approximate 70% of land have uncultivated for lack of fresh water and high salinity. Hence, there is very limited opportunity to cultivate diversified crops in round year. Mention factors are increasing scarcity of safe food, nutritious and chronic poverty in this region. Those are major challenges to increase safe food production and improve the standard of lives and livelihoods.

In this situation, AOSED generated a new idea and implement a pilot project inLoubove Village, of Loudove Union, Dacope Upazila (sub District) of Khulna Bangladesh.

Objective of the Project:Enhance access to secure food and nutrition for the vulnerable communities and eradicate extreme poverty through diversified agriculture extension.

Activities of the pilot project:

Farmers group formation, Educational materials develop and awareness campaign, Linkage building with LGIs, CSOs, relevant Govt. departments, and Educational institutes, periodic group meeting, various level of experience sharing meeting, exposure visit, and issue based training, Excavated canal for fresh water reservoir, developed embankment, soil and water quality test, land demarcation for crop zoning, fertilizer dosage selection, cultivated HIV and local variety rice, fruits and vegetables and local fish species,

Achievement:

Enhance skill and capacity of farmers on fresh water perseveration and optimum utilization, crop zoning, diversified cultivation.  They get knowledge and techniques for preparing soil and water quality test, fertilizer dosage selection, paste management, and reduced crop damage.

20 Acre saline affected single crop land turned in to diversified cultivation in round year and successfully cultivated variety type of rice, fruits and vegetable. Besides, developed fresh water reservoir of 4.8 Acre land by excavate canal which become full of aquatic life gradually in natural way, including plankton and various local species of fishes with flora and fauna.