Study on effectiveness of command area development in Pabna irrigation and rural development project

Abstract

Command Area Development Project in PIRDP was implemented during the financial years 1996-97 to 2002-03. In this study the effectiveness of Command Area Development Project (CADP) was investigated. Hydraulic, agricultural and institutional aspects were considered for this purpose. The impacts of CADP on the performance of the project were assessed by comparing the values of selected indicators for the post and pre conditions of CADP considering all the factors mentioned above. The hydraulic indicators were used to compare the relative water supply and water level for some selected canals under pre (1997) and post (2007) CADP condition. The agricultural indictors directly reflect irrigated agricultural system. Irrigated area, yield and production have been used as agricultural indicators. The dyke of the main canal was not sufficiently strong. Therefore, FSL could not be maintained. Existing drainage canals were mostly used as irrigation canal in the project, which were not in accordance with the design cross section. This makes the main as well as the secondary canals hydraulically inefficient. Moreover, gradient of secondary canals are irregular, some times even reverse which reduced design velocity and hindered water level to reach FSL. A further constraint to the efficient operation of the system is the shortage of control regulators. All these make the CAD project ineffective. Beside the structural defaults water management was not properly practiced. To achieve better water management Water Users Groups were formed in CAD Project. However, the attempt was not very much effective due to internal conflict, leadership crisis, improper guidance from the department and lack of trust. Beside, improved water management, some structural development are required. At some places, raising of main canal dyke as well as re-sectioning of some secondary canals are necessary to ensure smooth flow of irrigation water through gravity. Moreover, at some places, new turnouts and field channels need to be constructed so that irrigation water reaches land at higher elevations. Infrastructure development and proper O&M of the project can make CADP effective. Active participation of water management organization can take the project long way to be a successful one.