A team from FAO Bangladesh met with Ms. Matia Chowdhury, MP, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture on Wednesday, 11 February, 2015 to present the findings of an FAO study into waterlogging in South West Bangladesh – causes and possible measures to be taken. The work is just one part of FAO’s technical support to the Master Plan for Agricultural development in the Southern Region.

Mr. Md. Eunusur Rahman, Secretary, MoA, chaired the meeting. The main presentation was given by Dr Wais Kabir former chairman, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, and leader of the study team. He described the causes of “waterlogging” – defined as poor drainage of monsoon rain, frequently affecting thousands of households in the area of Satkira, Jessore and Khulna – as a combination of: siltation in the river system, and manmade obstructions to drainage (roads without taking account of drainage needs; illegal construction and land grabbing; unplanned aquaculture).

Preventing future episodes of waterlogging will require a long term commitment and coordination of many different stakeholders, with programmes for tidal river management, dredging, and removal of obstructions to drainage. But of particular interest to the Ministry of Agriculture team were suggestions of livelihood improvement to help people cope with the phenomenon when it arises. Examples were given of adapted varieties; use of marginal land for cultivation of vegetables; floating bed vegetables; and combined aquaculture and cropping practices in areas with lower levels of salinity. These are practical suggestions which can boost resilience of the community in the face of the waterlogging threat.
FAO – with support from donors – is preparing a programme to bridge the gap between relief and development for affected people in the South West, in which the department of agricultural extension will be a main partner.

More on the Presentation: Attached file