Evaluation of instutional and technical aspects of Barisal irrigation project in relation to its performance

Abstract

In Bangladesh, irrigation is a practice used to promote agricultural production. A number of projects of different sizes have been implemented by Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) to provide flood control and drainage facilities and irrigation water supply. Barisal Irrigation Project (BIP) was designed to provide irrigation and improved drainage on a command area of about 106883 ha in seven upazilas in the vicinity of Barisal. The present study identifies the present (first stage) and past (second and third stages) institutional and technical setting in BIP through participatory approaches (FGDs, Interviews, Institutional mapping etc.). Three stages of management in BIP have been identified from this study. Time period in three different stages of the project are from the year 1975-1988, 1994-2003 and 2004-2010 for the first, second and third stages respectively. A timeline has been drawn to find out the effects of major events throughout the irrigation project. This study also provides an understanding of how technical and institutional setting in an irrigation project affects its performance. The special management pattern as recommended for the first stage of project by the World Bank became most ineffective due to the dearth of proper co-ordination among the executing agencies. Considering this, the second stage of the project had been designed under the unique management of BWDB as sole executing agency. Stakeholder analysis identified that there were lapses in proper organization and management, proper leadership and coordination among the implementing agencies. A significant increase in percentage of irrigated area (around 35%) was found from the irrigation season 2004-05 (Present stage) compared to its first stage (about 5% of the area) due to well-designed management system (detailed management procedures, job descriptions, information and monitoring systems). The irrigation equipments are performing well at the present stage of the project compared to its first and second stages as a result of improved irrigation system (adequate closed dams and structures for draining out of water). Crop yield against the target yield at the first stage of the project was very low and it was only 25%. But at the present stage it is 62% which is much higher than the first two stages of the project. Use of fertilizers, pesticides and most importantly irrigation affected the crop yield. Percent of fee collection is higher at the present stage compared to its first two stages. A questionnaire survey has been carried out to asses the farmers’ perception on the performance of the project at different stages. The total performance score obtained at the first stage of the project is +210, whereas it is +400 and +490 at the second and third stages, respectively. Technical analysis suggests that there is a surplus of water resources in the study area. The present study reveals that proper management is the main factor to improve the project performance. Effective management and technical set up in BIP was found to have an impact on its irrigated area coverage and fee collection rate.