Multiple production systems boost pro-poor benefits from the floodplains |
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| Better Options for Integrated Floodplain Management: Uptake Promotion in Bangladesh | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
An integrated management system that presents a new take on systems that provide multiple products, especially fish and crops, is improving the livelihoods of both farmers and fishers. Floodplains are under threat from overexploitation and degradation, and in the past management has often put more stress on rice production at the expense of fisheries and other natural resources on which the poor depend. The new model aims to maximize the joint benefits of crops and fish for all stakeholders. These options are used at two sites in Bangladesh, Narail and Tangail, where the community has independently adopted the ideas. The practices have spread to adjacent areas, and have since been introduced at three more sites in the country. Project Ref: NRSP03:
Research Programmes: Natural Resources Systems Programme Relevant Research Projects: R6756 (Resource Use Pattern in Floodplain Production System)
R7562 (Consensus Building)
R7868 (Joint benefit from multiple resource use in Floodplains)
R8306 (Better options for IFM: uptake promotion)
R8486 (Promotion of FMSP guidelines for floodplain fisheries management and sluice gate control)
R8223 (PAPD)
R8195 (IFM Institutions)
This cluster of outputs focused on: firstly understanding the dynamics of floodplain production systems and complex resource use patterns among the multiple stakeholders in Bangladesh and South Asia, secondly identifying, demonstrating and promoting improved approaches for pro-poor and integrated management of multiple production systems specially fish and crops, and thirdly learning from past projects and promoting enabling institutional arrangements. Floodplains are diverse resource systems that have supported the livelihoods of millions of poor people over centuries, but are under threat of overexploitation and degradation. Management and policy has tended to emphasize agriculture (especially rice) at the expense of fisheries and other natural resources upon which the poor depend. Without improved resource management based on consensus and integrating all forms of production, the opportunities for ensuring sustainable pro-poor benefits from floodplains will be very limited. These RNRRS cluster outputs addressed these complex issues and suggested methods and approaches to overcome the barriers. R6756-Resource use pattern in floodplain production system and socio-economic methodology (1997 to 1999) helped understand the dynamic and complex production systems and sub-systems in floodplains and tested consensus building methods with multiple resource users that paved ways for setting further actions. This led to the present cluster of projects and outputs and to the PAPD cluster which later fed back into the testing of IFM options. R7868-Joint benefit from multiple resource use in Floodplains (2000 to 2001) built on the outcomes of R6756 and other (non-NRSP) projects and developed a management model to identify possible options for balancing water use to maximize joint benefits of crops and fish from floodplains thus benefiting both farmers and fishers. FMSP project R8486 (2005) offered technical and social findings on modification of sluice gate operation to mitigate fisheries impacts of embankments without adversely affecting crop production, which has helped inform IFM and complemented R7868. The potential benefits from IFM have been demonstrated in two floodplains through community initiatives involving cropping changes, water management actions, and fishery management through R8306 (2003-2005) and the lessons promoted to government. Lessons on appropriate institutions and institutional monitoring have been drawn (R8195 2002-04), stakeholders informed (R8495 2004-05), and some examples taken up through R8306 and through influence on non-RNRRS initiatives. This offers an alternative to the history of sectoral and fragmented resource management in Bangladesh and elsewhere that has damaged the resource base and deprived the poor of benefits from the floodplain common pool resources (CPRs).
Major Commodities Involved: The outputs are focused on floodplain production systems and associated commodities with special focus on balanced production of fish and crops. Hence the outputs are not commodity specific but rather ecosystem specific in terms of IFM options and interactions, and are more general in terms of the institutional process and communication tools. The outputs continue to be used and CNRS has applied these outputs in natural resource management and disaster preparedness projects.
Farming Systems:
Potential for Added Value: Several RNRRS cluster outputs relevant to management of floodplain natural resources are already dovetailed and complement one another including this IFM-related cluster. For example, in addition to building on R7868, R8306 used the outputs of the FMSP sluice gate project R8210 (2003-2005) in demonstrating a system approach to enhancing the total returns from floodplain resources and ensuring a more equitable distribution of benefits by promoting IFM in Bangladesh. Moreover the PAPD approach, developed and tested and communicated by projects R6575, R7562 and R8223, has been used with modification in R8306 to build on existing resource management practices and institutions and help stakeholders, including farmers, plan and review changes in practices according to the needs of different floodplain stakeholders. The four IFM options as recommended by R7868 have not been found equally feasible in all settings (land retirement, for example is not acceptable to farmers, but shorter duration rice and other dry season crops are attractive. IFM options must be tailored to the local setting but the prospects for modifying crop management to optimize water use and enhancing natural fisheries through local institutions and participatory planning has been demonstrated. Similarly a non RNRRS wetland project (Management of Aquatic ecosystems through Community Husbandry (MACH) project, USAID supported 1998-2006) has demonstrated watershed restoration activities integrating with wetland NRM and offers lessons and practices that could be packaged with this RNRRS output cluster. Overall this cluster relates to three areas of RNRRS related outputs: IFM options (including crop, fish, watershed and water technologies) and a floodplain systems approach; good practices for local institutional development; and participatory planning (PAPD) to enhance decision-making and institutional sustainability. This output may also relate to aspects of the FMSP clusters "Floodplain fisheries management" and "Enhancement of inland fisheries". How the outputs were validated: The main purpose of R8306 (Integrated Floodplain Management) was to maximize joint benefits of crops and fish by testing different options recommended in R7868 (Joint benefit from multiple resources use in Floodplains). At the local level, there has been field validation by community stakeholders (especially farmers and fishers) in their support of alternative IFM practices by local officials and extension workers in the two pilot sites in Narail and Tangail. At the primary stakeholder level, farmers and fishers are continuing the practices of alternative cropping in these two areas along with other options developed in the project. Crucially, the IFM options are being practiced outside the project area and the level of local uptake is gradually growing. The approaches and findings were communicated with different levels of stakeholders, creating a demand among them. Uptake has occurred with a wide range of stakeholders who have transferred the outputs vertically and horizontally. Policy stakeholders from the fisheries and agriculture sectors and their line agencies (Department of Fisheries, Department of Agricultural Extension, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute and Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute), District and Upazila level government officials, practitioner farmers, NGOs and projects have acknowledged the usefulness of the resulting IFM options. As a result the practice of alternative (less water demanding) cropping options has continued since the end of R8306 and in sites under other projects such as CBFM (Community Based Fisheries Management - DFID), MACH (Management of Aquatic ecosystem through Community husbandry - USAID) and LEAF (Livelihood, Empowerment and Agro-Forestry - Swiss Development Cooperation-Inter Cooperation). CNRS is involved with these three projects, but the other partner NGOs of LEAF project are also extending alternative cropping. Other validation includes commitment to future uptake within programmes now coming on line. The DOE (Department of Environment) CDMP (Comprehensive Disaster Management Program) is a project of DRR/DMB (Department of Relief and Rehabilitation/Disaster Management Bureau of Government) which has a component named CCC (Climate Change Cell). An agreement between CCC and CNRS has been signed to undertake an action research project on adaptive cropping to address the consequences of climate change. The proposal that CNRS has developed was based on output of IFM project and commissioned by the CCC. Although the tenure of MOUs signed between CNRS and DAE, BRRI and BARI under R8306 is now over, many related activities are continuing. These include: testing deep-water aman rice with BRRI; producing a video documentary and transmitting that by the national TV media with AIS (Agricultural Information Services) of DAE and; testing vegetable gardening opportunities in the north east haor region of Bangladesh with BARI. There
is recognition of several of the research outputs in the recent (2006) ICFS
(Inland Capture Fisheries Strategy) of DOF. The ICFS recommends combined
effort control, establishment of fish sanctuaries, habitat restoration and
wise use of dry season water. Where the Outputs were Validated: Recommended options from R7868 were piloted and validated in Bangladesh through R8306 in Narail district southwest Bangladesh and Tangail district central Bangladesh. As noted above further validation has been in scattered project sites and in north-east Bangladesh. The outputs are relevant to the land-water interface production system for floodplains where fish and rice are major products. Under the alternative IFM system, the focus is diversification of dry season crops in a rice-based farming system, and changing use and preservation of surface water for capture fisheries have been a priority, cross-cutting interests through the water resources sector. The livelihoods of large numbers of traditional fishers in Bangladesh are dependent on inland capture fisheries. However, through their ownership of land and influence over public water management policies, farmers are the most influential stakeholders in rural Bangladesh and control floodplains systems. Cultivation of irrigated dry season rice became increasingly popular among the farmers from the late 1970s and now contributes a major share of rice production followed by two wet season types - Aman and Aus. Dry season rice is a water hungry crop that needs about 800 mm water/ha as irrigation, this causes dewatering of perennial water-bodies in the floodplains resulting in reduced fish production and loss of biodiversity. The livelihoods of professional fishers are threatened and typically fishers are functionally landless and poorer than other primary stakeholders. The outputs here target both the fishers and farmers to create a win-win situation. In testing options such as alternative cropping, women were directly involved in culturally suitable activities such as vegetable gardening. Women played a key role in decision-making in the Narail site, especially where CBFM2 adopted a women-led approach while in the Tangail site it was fishers-led. Who are the Users? Use of outputs of R8306 is related to behavioural change in the user community, i.e. farmers, fishers and women. Although the outputs were validated and found beneficial for the practitioner communities, these behavioural changes take time to become institutionalized (formally and socially/culturally). However, it is evident that the community members in the two sites at Narail and Tangail are still practicing the outputs where the project (R8306) tested the options. Moreover, these practices have been spreading in adjacent areas. MACH and CBFM-2 project beneficiaries at the community level have been practicing the outputs at other sites and the LEAF project has been practicing the outputs through its partner NGOs. The Department of Fisheries has incorporated the concept and options into their newly formulated ICFS for the country. Other organizations and projects also have incorporated the concept and their field staffs are implementing activities. These include about 280 staff of Department of Fisheries and NGOs has been trained on IFM and its options. DoF, DAE and many NGO staff including their participants have made field visits, and shared ideas with farmers and the facilitating staff involved. DOF has agreed, in principle, to incorporate the IFM training manual within their central training programme. DOF will require support for simple modifications to fit this into the ongoing training programme, however. An
action research project has been developed based on the output of the R8306
and commissioned by the CCC/DOE (a component of DFID/UNDP funded CDMP
project, September 2006 to August 2007). Where the outputs have been used: Policy and Institutional Structures, and Key Components for Success: Several policies, programmes and approaches within government have assisted with the promotion and/or adoption of the outputs proposed. Government policies are shifting towards conservation based management (for example, fishing effort control) of natural resources instead of those that encourage resource mining. Crop diversification is the mandate of several relevant government agencies and it has been possible to motivate and involve government structures in supportive activities. The importance of effective communication is recognized by the project partners for promoting the whole theme to all IFM stakeholders. Better approaches to ensure inclusion and participation in local planning are now available. In addition, projects and programmes that can form institutions for local resource users to take up R8306 outputs and help change the attitudes of different agencies and organizations are also critically important. Participatory Action Plan Development (PAPD) has been found an essential tool for developing widely-supported plans in multiple resource use systems viz. the floodplains and IFM activities for alternative cropping, for instance. In the context of Bangladesh, Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and Department of Fisheries (DOF) are the key national level institutions who can take responsibility to implement the outputs at the national level. Both the Departments are convinced about the output. Some progress has been achieved at the DOF level as the ICFS has been approved by the government. Project team members had active participation in the formulation of the ICFS and successfully incorporated IFM related outputs in the ICFS. However, further effort is required to institutionalize the outputs so that they become widely applied. In addition, there is still little active cooperation between these two departments and between the other agencies associated with water management. The outputs have been found suitable for farmer and fisher communities and they have shown that primary stakeholders can tailor the outputs to fit the local context. The principles and practice can be sustained among the present users but wider uptake remains quite limited. In addition to greater awareness at government level, further dissemination to prospective beneficiaries is required at local level. Lessons Learned and Uptake Pathways Promotion of Outputs: Currently, promotion is only occurring in Bangladesh. CNRS is promoting the outputs of R8306 with project-related communication materials (video clips for TV broadcasting, training manual for DOF, DAE and NGO staff, policy briefs, script for folk theatre groups), power point presentation, and CD copy of the FTR. All of these materials are available from CNRS and distribution of the materials has continued since the project ended. At community level, CNRS has formed and trained five folk theatre teams under the CBFM-2 project and the NGO Banchte Shekha has developed a special IFM script and specialist team CNRS is involved with other projects as implementing partner in Bangladesh. Some of these projects are quite large in terms of geographic coverage and resources. The projects with which CNRS is involved are CBFM-2 (DFID/WorldFish/DOF), MACH (USAID/Winrock International), SHOUHARDO-Strengthening Household Abilities to respond to Development Opportunities (CARE/USAID), LEAF (SDC/IC), Adaptive Cropping (CCC/DOE), LDRRF-Local Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (CDMP/UNDP/DFID). These projects are dealing with livelihoods issues, food security, community conflict, local level institutions involving the poor, disadvantaged and women. These primary stakeholders are highly dependent on floodplain resources and CNRS has promoted appropriate outputs of R8306 within each of these projects. Potential Barriers Preventing Adoption of Outputs:
How to Overcome Barriers to Adoption of Outputs:
Lessons Learned: Uptake of these outputs is enhanced by making use of existing local community organizations or institutions that are already perceived to represent the poor and are seen as legitimate. Participatory planning can work through these institutions to discuss and initiate IFM options. This has required inputs and support from both NGO facilitators and government agencies. Although the staffs of a range of agencies have been sensitized to IFM options and issues, they are limited by their subject focus. Despite this, direct exposure through visits by community representatives and officials has been effective. DAE, DOF, BWDB and LGED are the key government players in floodplain management but Union Parishads also have an important role. DAE and DOF were sensitized about the outputs during the project period and evidence derived through the project should help influence departmental policy makers of the relevance of the outputs. A comprehensive communication strategy, over an extended period with suitable institutional linkage to government stakeholders, is required to achieve a common approach and understanding of floodplain development and management through participation. Other conditions that would ensure these outputs are used by the greatest number of poor people include:
Poverty Impact Studies: Studies undertaken during the project period revealed that the cluster of outputs helps poor fishers (traditional and part time) strengthens access to natural assets. In addition, the outputs enhance social capital among the different community groups dependent on the floodplain resources. The studies also revealed that the outputs are beneficial for both farmers and fishers. In these floodplain sites, fishery benefits were accrued to poor households because the poor gain most from secured access to the fishery. The outputs have been adopted in other projects such as CBFM and MACH. With respect to human capital, the CBFM 2 project conducted a baseline and impact poverty monitoring at one of the project sites (Tangail), where both IFM and CBFM had been active and revealed that the calorific intake has improved among the poor communities. Studies:
How the Poor have Benefited (including gender and other poverty groups): The project (R8306) started in 2003 and was completed in November 2005 and so large quantifiable impacts are not yet recorded. However, during the project period a qualitative survey (MSC-Measurement of Significant Changes) was applied to track developments with respect to capital assets. Social capital: surveys captured the perception of target beneficiaries revealing that conflict between farmers and fishers over the use of dry season water at Charan Beel was reduced. In Narail, the community enhanced its access to advice and services from government to solve problems that it had identified, via new community organizations. Human capital: increases in knowledge were reported and new technology has been transferred to the participating communities. Natural capital: fisheries data from CBFM-2 revealed that the yield of fish has been increased at both the sites. Data from Narail showed a reduction in water abstraction and an increase in surface water. Financial capital: crop and farmer surveys showed that several of the alternative crops gave returns that exceeded those of irrigated rice. Physical capital: in Narail, the community shared the cost of enhancing water flow between two areas. A poverty impact survey revealed that the livelihood status has been improved and the process has contributed in empowering the poor. R8306 was piloted in CBFM sites. The outputs have been adopted by the CBFM and MACH projects. Target beneficiaries in both those projects are mainly the extreme vulnerable poor (the traditional fisher community) and moderate poor (marginal farmers and part-time fishers). The fishers benefited from higher catches and extended fishing periods. In Tangail these beneficiaries are men, in Narail both men and women fish. Farmers (mostly male and either moderate poor or non-poor) benefited from crops with lower production costs and from subsistence fish catches and greater access to fish in local markets. R8306 impacted directly and indirectly about 500 households in Narail and about 400 in Tangail. However, to the extent that CBFM-2 and MACH have encouraged adoption of the outputs of IFM, the communities supported by these projects benefit about 23,000 households in CBFM-2 and about 180,000 using MACH wetlands. Although there is some evidence of improvements in food security, fish catches and income, percentage increases cannot be estimated over this period due to variability in these natural systems. Positive qualitative change in the livelihoods assets has been recorded, however. Direct and Indirect Environmental Benefits: With respect to institutional partnerships, the DoF has included the concept and options in the national open water fisheries strategy (it is expected that the future DoF open water projects will implement the concept and options) and DAE and NGOs are interested in adopting the IFM options. Environmental benefits:
Adverse Environmental Impacts: Coping with the Effects of Climate Change, or Risk from Natural Disasters: The IFM options for alternative cropping patterns and management reduce risks associated with natural disasters, especially from flash floods which commonly occur and are responsible for crop damage every year. By growing crops that are harvested before water rises and fish migrate, the harvest is completed before flash floods occur, and livelihoods are safeguarded. Fisheries resources are benefited from conservation measures and reduced water use, increasing the security of communities and fishers that depend on these resources for food and financial income. There is evidence that climate change is accelerating the arrival of rains and that overall rainfall patterns are changing. PAPD is the tool proven to be workable at community level enabling the competing resource users (both poor and rich, fishers and farmers, men and women) come up with a consensual plan for rational use of resources including scare water in the dry season would address the effect of climate change at rural setting. Communities that can access information relating to diversification and alternative land management practices from service providers should be more resilient in the face of increasing environmental uncertainty. Relevant Research Projects,
with links to the
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For relevant research projects, with links to further information Geographical regions included: Bangladesh,  Target Audiences for this content:Crop farmers, Livestock farmers, Fishers, |
