Performance evaluation of selected Command Area Development (CAD) subprojects

Abstract

Most of the people of Bangladesh are directly involved in agricultural work which has a great impact on the economy. Without the development of agriculture it will not be possible to develop the country. In root level, LGED undertook Small Scale Water Resource Development Sector Project phase-1 (SSWRDSP-1) in 1995 jointly funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Netherlands (GON). The main purpose was to alleviate poverty through agricultural and fisheries development and environmental mitigation measures. With the successful completion of phase-1, LGED undertook the phase-2 (SSWRDSP-2) in 2002 for the same purpose and funded by the same donors. After completion of SSWRDSP-2 in 2007, the third phase is going on in the name of "Participatory Small Scale Water Resources Sector Project (PSSWRSP)" from January-2010. On the other hand, JBIC funded Small Scale Water Resources Development Projects (SSWRDP) is going on in 15 Districts in greater Mymensingh, Sylhet and Faridpur areas of Bangladesh in the period from July-2007 to June-2013. In SSWRDSP, the beneficiaries are directly involved with the subproject activities, by investing 3% for earth work and 1.5% for structural work entirely for O&M through membership of WMCA committee. The present study evaluates the performance of selected five CAD subprojects in Chapainawabganj district. Command Area Development (CAD) Subproject is the project in which on-farm development works like field leveling, sump, field channels, field drain, siphon, aqueduct, turnout etc are constructed for delivering the water to the farmers' field. The approach used for this evaluation is "pre and post project approach". The indicators which have been used for this evaluation are hydraulic, agricultural and non-agricultural. The hydraulic indicator i.e. the water supply performance increased by 181%, 200%, 30%, 125% and 289% for Mohammadkhani SP, Nayagola-Mohananda SP, Dariapur SP, Palsha Mahespur SP and Agrani CAD SP respectively. Among agricultural indicators, the Irrigation area performance increased 260%, 283%, 78%, 176% and 525% and yield of boro crop increased by 52%, 53%, 40%, 33% and 43%, for the above subprojects respectively. Among nonagricultural indicators, the member enrollment status of WMCA is satisfactory of each subproject. The increment of member enrollment in each year is not significant; because maximum beneficiaries initially became members in concern WMCA. On the other hand, the meeting occurrence number in each subproject is more than the proposed number during 2008-2010. In conflict resolution, water management and infrastructure maintenance the performance of WMCA is more than 70%. In microcredit activities, the WMCA are doing well in credit disburse and credit recovery. The loan recovery percentages of Mohammadkhani SP are 70.06%, 75.60% and 52.60%, in Nayagola- Mohananda SP are 92.90%, 93% and 76%, in Dariapur SP are 59.95%, 55.01% and 58.54%, in Palsha Mahespur SP are 100%, 100% and 100%, in Agrani Irrigation SP are 100%, 100% and 100% in 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively. The socio-economic performance, such as the wage rates and land value of the subproject areas increased significantly. There was no remarkable change of environmental conditions in after CAD condition compare to before CAD condition regarding. Regarding O&M performance, it is seen that the subprojects are financially self sufficient. The ix percentage of fund collection efficiency of Mohammadkhani SP are 99.98%, 100% and 99.00%, of Nayagola-Mohananda SP are 99.99%, 99.89% and 99.96%, of Dariapur SP are 98.31%, 82.35% and 95.11%, of Palsha Mahespur SP are 99.99&, 100% and 70.75% and of Agrani CAD SP are 95.61%, 91.96% and 92.93% in 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively. The main source of income of the people of this area is agricultural production. From the beneficiaries opinion it is known, farmers get one crop per year. In dry season the area become dry and farmers do not get water easily for irrigation. By the implementation of these subprojects, the farmers get surface water to irrigate their land. Now they cultivate three crops per year.