Irrigation Practice in Rice Cultivation and Its Sustainability in Bangladesh: Issues and Challenges

Abstract

The goal of the research is to examine the present irrigation practices in rice field and its sustainability to prevent water scarcity for future generation. The research objectives are intended to examine the irrigation policy, methods and manuals, present practices, adverse impacts on society and environment, measuring the ground water table, legal and ethical issues etc; in respect of the level of sustainability. Two villages of Sirajganj Sadar Upazilla under Sirajganj district and three villages of Godagari Upazila under Rajshahi district are selected as the study areas to collect required primary data for addressing the study objectives. Total number of samples is 180. After conducting a preliminary visit and observation researcher prepares a complete list of 340 numbers of households of the study villages from which 180 respondents are selected through simple randomization. Households of study villages are stratified into three groups in accordance of land ownership and amount of land cultivate for rice production in Kharif-1 season. Both qualitative and quantitative data have been used for the research work. Both the data come from primary and secondary sources are used for this research. Data from secondary sources has been collected through deskwork and content analysis. Primary Data has been collected through questionnaire survey, in-depth and in-formal Interview, focus group discussion, ground water table measurement and KAP model study. Socioeconomic situation of both the study areas is not so good because there are still landless farmers who cultivate land with share crop or taking lease from other farmers. Moreover, seasonal unemployment is one of main problems faced by small and marginal farmers that show the poverty features of the study areas. Laws and policies associated with irrigation are not properly implements by the government that needs to enforce immediately to conserve and sustainable use of water resources for future generation. In both the study areas, though there are some rivers, canals, small ponds and other water bodies but water is not found during irrigation in dry season. Farmers depend on groundwater for irrigation though some land stands beside the river or canal. Most of the farmers prefer cultivation of rice though they state that it does not increase income and is not profitable but rice fulfills food requirements. Excessive irrigation has adverse impacts on other crops, environment, human health, and fresh water fishes etc. Surface water bodies dry up due to excessive groundwater harvesting. Chemical fertilizer and pesticides pollute local water bodies along with irrigation water decreasing fishes and aquatic animals and due to excessive groundwater extracting for irrigation the water soluble metals like iron, arsenic, lead, cadmium etc., found in tube wells’ water are harmful for the humans as well as other animals. People have not much knowledge about water use from traditional and religious point of view but they agree that by following traditional and religious beliefs irrigation water misuse can be minimized. Economic sustainability is seen quite balanced in the study areas. Social sustainability is not well enough because there is safe drinking water scarcity in dry season. People state that groundwater level is decreasing day by day. Data of static groundwater level collected from both the study areas shows that day by day and every year gradually groundwater level is decreasing disturbingly, which is not good sign for future availability of groundwater resources. 24 years data of groundwater table collected from Barind Multipurpose Development Authority of Godagari Upazila shows that decreasing level of groundwater is around 36 to 46 feet. Therefore, it can be assumed that environmental sustainability is in danger at present. Government should take immediate steps for conserving water resources. An in-depth investigation is required further to measure the level of sustainability of present irrigation practice in rice cultivation.