Performance evaluation of selected small scale water resources development sector sub projects of lged in Sylhet

Abstract

The Small Scale Water Resources Development SecUr Project (SSWRDSP) aims to ensure sustainable agricultural production in about 190,000 hectares of cultivated land and to alleviate poverty through income generation in the western half area of Bangladesh under Phase-I. Because of improving performances of Phase-I sub projects Phase-II of the SSWRDSP is being implemented in the eastern districts of Bangladesh. The project is under implementation by Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) and is jointly funded by the Asian Development Bank (AD B), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IF AD) and the Government of Netherlands (GON). These schemes are demand driven and are identified by the people based on local water related problem. The scheme planning, design and construction are done in consultation with stakeholders towards achieving sustainable agricultural growth. Beneficiary contribution amounting to 3% of earthworks (dykes and channel re-excavation) and 1.5% for water control structures of the investment costs has been made mandatory. This arrangement has developed sense of ownership among the beneficiary farmers and they are taking responsibility in maintenance for longer-term sustainability of the completed system. This study evaluates five selected SSWRDSP-II sub projects of LGED in the North-Eastern District of Sylhet. Two types o[ sub project were selected namely, Water Conservation type & Flood Management type. Agricultural, Participatory, Socioeconomic and Environmental performance indicators were used in this study. Irrigation area performance indicator showed 80%, 50% & 60% of target achievement in Boromchara, ChirChirChara & ShialiChara water conservation type sub projects respectively. While flood management performance indicator showed 55% & 46% of the targeted area protected from flash flood in BaghaBeel & DuliaSatbila flood management type sub projects respectively. Production performance indicator reveals considerable increase in production in post project condition(2008) compare to pre project condition(2005) and they are 45%, 193%, 147%, 140% & 40% increase in production for BaghaBeel, BoromChara, ChirChirChara, DuliaSatbila & ShialiChara sub projects respectively. On the other hand, participatory management performance showed poor performance regarding regularity in attendance [or the members' of the WMCA. Even though Guideline for Participatory Water Management was followed regarding committee formation but activities of WMCA were not found satisfactory. There was no change found in land holding pattern for the farmers in the selected sub project areas but moderate change in wage rate & crop land value was found in post project condition (2008). Environmental performance indicators did not showed adverse effect but it will be too early to comment regarding this. 0 & M responsibility of the sub project was not being handed over to the respective WMCA even though stipulated time has already been over and therefore the main objective of the SSWRDSP was not addressed so far. Eventually micro credit activities run by the WMCA become the main interest of the beneficiaries rather than sustainable 0 & M. So, long-term sustainability is sti II unproven, because not much time has elapsed for the O&M arrangement to be properly tested. Majority of the people of Sylhet region are expatriate and that is why they are not dependent on the agricultural production for their livelihood rather remittance plays important role in the local economy. Therefore the overall performance of the selected sub projects in this region is not impressive.