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On Farm and Off Farm Resilient Livelihood - Experience from Islamic Relief Activities in Coastal Belt and

Haor Area of Bangladesh

Abu A. M. Ekramul Ahsan

Islamic Relief Bangladesgh abu.ekramul.ahsan@gmail.com

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• LIVELIHOOD ANALYSIS

• DETERMINATION OF CLIMATE ADAPTIVE LIVELIHOOD OPTION (CALO)

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Presentation Outline

• Quick Overview of Previous Studies in Selected Projects in Coastal Belt and Haor Area

• Consideration for Development of Resilient Agriculture Based Livelihood

4 Objective & Methodology Objective of study was

(i) identification of on-farm and off-farm options for the community,

(ii) development of area based adaptation matrix, and

(iii) suggest measures for capacity development of staff stakeholders and community.

Area of the study: • The Study Unions, Upazilas and Districts:

• District: Satkhira, Upazila: Shyamnagar, Unions: Gabura and Ramjannagor,

• District: Khulna, Upazila: Koyra, Unions: Koyra sadar, Moheshwaripur

• District: Potiuakhali, Upazila: Golachipa, Unions: Panpatty, Golkhali

• District: Sunamganj,Upazila: Sulla, Unuons: Anandapur, Bahara

Study period : 5th May 2014 to 15th July 2014.

Methodology: (i) literature (document) review, (ii) key informant survey of selected individuals and (iii) focus group discussion, and (iv) households ample survey.

Livelihood is conditioned by

• Local Agro-Climatic Characteristics

• Infrastructure

• Essential Services – Appropriate Technology-Cultivation & Post-harvest

– Inputs

– Market

– Communication/Transportation

– Health

Pre-requisites for Resilient CALO

• CALO should be location specific

– Crop Agriculture

– Livestock

– Fisheries

• Understanding of Agro-Climatic Characteristics

of the Location

Physical and Climatic Considerations

• Soil- Moisture, Salinity

• Rainfall/Irrigation/Water Management

• Day Length

• Inundation- Depth (5-10m) & Duration (6 months, May to October)

Institutions Involved

• Research Institutes- NARS Institutes, Universities

• Local Instituions- Upazila level & Union Level – Govt. Institutions, Public Representative Bodies, Climate

Related Organizations (DMCs, CDMP, CBO)

• Extension Departments & Service Providers – DAE, DLS, DOF, Forest Dept.

• Inundation- Depth (5-10m) & Duration (6 months, May to October)

Findings

Shyamnagaor and Koira Agricultural prospects are

constraints by • Inadequate residual moisture in

soils during the dry season. • High salinity in soil and water • Shrimp culture with long

duration of saline water • Damage of fruit trees

(cocoanut, betel nut, jackfruit mango) due to high salinity even around the homestead areas.

Upazila Golachipa

Agricultural prospects are constraints by the following • Basically rain fed. •Irrigation is very limited because of salinity. •The crop land remains fallow in the Rabi and Kharif 1 seasons respectively. •Transplanted Aman rice has been the predominant crop.

•Flooding during Kharif season •Late cultivation condition (land becomes suitable for cultivation late) •Inadequate residual moisture in soils during the dry season. •High salinity in soil and water •Lack of sweet water

Findings

Sulla, Sunamgonj

Commonly practiced cropping patterns- Boro-Fallow-T.amam Mustard/groundnut-B.aus-T.aman Fallow-B.aus- T.aman Boro-Fallow-Fallow Constraints to agricultural prospects:

• Occasional flash floods

• Very heavy rainfall and persistent cloudiness in the monsoon season, which hamper harvesting, drying and storage of boro and aus paddy.

• Predominance of heavy soils with a compact cultivated layer and plough pan which hamper cultivation of dry land rabi crops.

• Slow drainage of basin centres.

• Poor road communications throughout the year.

Findings On Farm CALO, Coastal

CALO

Fisheries

Fisheries is the major livelihood including shrimp cultivation and other

fish under captive fisheries technology.

Crab culture and fattening

Monosex Tilapia culture

Nona Tengra culture

Livestock

Rearing native breed of sheep

Preservation of straw and green grass

Forestry

Forestation with mangrove forest species

Community Forestry

Provision for sweet water sources

Crop Cultivation

Salinity tolerant (Variety BR 41) for Aman season cultivation

Salinity tolerant (Variety BINA 8) for Aus, Aman and Boro season

cultivation (Photoperiod neutral variety)

Short Duration (Variety BINA 7) for Aman season, can be harvested

early

Photoperiod Sensitive Variety (Variety BR 46) for Aman season. This

variety can be even grown quite late but grains can be harvested in time.

Cropping Pattern and Mangement technology

T. Aman rice (Variety BINA 7) followed by Short Duration Mustard

Variety (BARI Sharisha 9, 14 & 15)

Other crops

Oilseed cultivation (Saline Tolerant)

Ground nut (Variety BINA 5 and BINA 6)

CALO

Fruits

Coconut- suitable for coastal area, saline tolerant

Sapota (Variety BARI Safeda 1, 2,3)-for coastal area, saline tolerant

Palmyra Palm (Taal)- popular opinion as suitable for coastal area but no scientific

reference

Tamarid- popular opinion as suitable for coastal area but no scientific reference

Fruits and Vegetables

Watermelon- cultivated in the coastal area in large scale, tolerant to moderate salinity.

Squash (Variety BARI Lau 2)- tolerate to waterlogged condition, heat tolerant

Brinjal (Variety BARI Begun 4)- tolerate high temperature

Bitter Gourd in Saline soil

Sweet Gourd in Saline Soil

Ribbed Gourd in Saline Soil

Lady’s Finger in Saline Soil

Vegetables along Pond Sides

Technologies for vegetable cultivation

Cultivation in Dhap (under waterlogged situation)

Pitcher irrigation

Small pond in the crop field.(reservoir for supplementary irrigation)

Mulching

Livestock

Beef fattening with UMS (Urea Molasses Straw)

Straw Preservation in wet season for saline area

Green Grass preservation for saline area

Grass cultivation in saline area

Sheep rearing

Tree plantation

Mangove species along the coast line and road side along embankment: Sundari, Bain,

Kakra, Shingra, Kholshi, Goran, Amir, Garjan, Gewa, Keora, Chherla, Poshur, Hemfil.,

Kirpa, Golpata

On Farm CALO, Haor

Adaptation Matrix for Haor Area

Sector Suggested CALO

Other Crops Grain crops-Wheat, Maize

Oil seeds-Soybean, Mustard

Pulses-Lentil, Mungbean, Kheshari

Vegetables Potato, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Carrot, Brinjal, Tomato, Squash (Variety BARI Lau 2

tolerates waterlogged condition), Gourd, Sweet Gourd

Spices- Onion, Garlic, Chili, Coriander

Homestead vegetable cultivation Seasonal vegetables as listed

Technology for Vegetable Cultivation Vegetable cultivation in Bag,

Vegetable cultivation on the sides of pond

Compost making on polyethylene layers in pit

Crop Intensification Transforming single cropped area to double cropped area by introducing short duration

crops ( potato with local variety Chollisha, red amaranths, radish, Spinach, mustard,

pulses,) followed by traditional practice of boro rice cultivation

Fruit Trees around Homestead Mango, Jackfruit, Sapota, Pomegranate, Coconut, Betel nut Zuzuba

Erosion Protection tree Korosh

Fisheries Promote capture fisheries in pond

Cage fish culture

Livestock Beef fattening with UMS (Urea Molasses Straw)

Straw Preservation in wet season

Sheep rearing

Poultry rearing- Faomi and Ias Brown Breed

Duck rearing- Khaki Cambel, Zinding, Indian Runner Breed

Off farm CALO

Adaptation Matrix for Haor Area

Specific Livelihood Location Specified

Self-employed

Rickshaw/ van operator All locations

Key repairer All locations

Shoe repairer All locations

Tailoring All locations

Repair of agri. Machinery All locations

Boatman (owner) Most relevant in haor area

Dry fish making Most relevant in coastal area

Rice mill All locations

Puffed/flattened rice maker All locations

Small shop owener (tea stall, sweet shop, All locations

Tea seller-hawker All locations

Handicraft All locations

Sarre/ Lungi seller (hawker) All locations

Firewood seller All locations

Flower seller All locations

Hawker of miscellaneous items (hair band, ribbon, hair clip, cosmetic items etc.) All locations

Fruit shop All locations

Trading recycling materials All locations

Agricultural commodity trader (vegetables, fish, milk etc.) All locations

Off farm CALO

Adaptation Matrix for Haor Area

Specific Livelihood Location Specified

Non-farm worker

Transport worker All locations

Worker in salt pan, coal depot etc. Relevant for coastal area

Worker in Chatal (Rice drying and milling) All locations

Worker in brick field Relevant for coastal area

Workers in small factory (leth shop/ other repair shop) All locations

Worker in different store All locations

Fish drying worker All locations

Worker for earth digging and carrying All locations

Migratory worker All locations

Recommendations

Recommendations

•Research-extension system should be made easier so that farmer,

researcher and extension worker can work together to identify the

solution of the observed problems due to climate change.

•Farmers Field Laboratory concept could be strengthening to enable the

farmers to test different agricultural technologies using their indigenous

knowledge and skill .

•There is need for short duration/early maturing rice variety which can be

harvested early to avoid the flood.

•With development of irrigation facilities more profitable cropping pattern

can be introduced in relatively medium to medium high land.

•This calls for development of market system as a challenge and needs

appropriate intervention and institutional support

The New Initiative: Farmers Field Laboratory

•Field trials of some selected technologies are being conducted on farmer’s land by some 88 beneficiaries (lead farmers) of the project.

•Under the existing MOU between Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) and

Islamic Relief Bangladesh (IRB), BARI has agreed to share and disseminate their

established technology addressing climate change issues. BARI has also been providing

technical assistance for capacity building of IRB field staff and farmers.

Pic. Dr. Abdul Aziz, Chief Scientific Officer and Head Agronomy Division, BARI, Bangladesh and Dr. Abdur Razzaque, Chief Scientific Officer and Head of Irrigation Division, BARI, Bangladesh visited project areas in Sunamgonj and Potuakhali.

Initiative taken

Reddish + Palmkin+ Bitter gourd using ‘Kanda’ in Haor Masterd cultivation to introduce new cropping pattern

Wheat introducing for low irrigation using ‘Kanda’ in Haor Garlic zero tillage introducing in ‘Kanda’ in Haor

Initiative taken

Testing: Hen rearing, Closed method , Indigenous variety

Improve technology of sheep rearing Pigeon rearing closed method

Wild fish into culture

Pitcher Irrigation

Growing Lady’s Finger- A Successful Vegetable Garden

Infrastructure Development: Building Road network and Road Side Tree Plantation with Improvised System of Watering from Bottle

Crab Fattening in Pond: A profitable Livelihood Option (CALO)

Sheep Rearing- A prospective Livelihood Option (CALO)

Tailoring: Off Farm Livelihood Option

Community Vegetable Cultivation: Prospect of Group Based Income Generation Activity

Vegetable Production and Rice Production : A Feasible CALO

Sample of a Good Quality Crab in Sundarbans Water for a Good price

Swan Rearing: An Appropriate Livelihood in the Sundarbans Water Bodies (CALO)

Raised Platform for Deep Hand Tube Well; Facilitating Better Quality of Living with Safe Drinking Water and Rice Cultivation

Thanks

Abu A. M. Ekramul Ahsan

Islamic Relief Bangladesgh abu.ekramul.ahsan@gmail.com