The government has undertaken steps for a climate smart farming system to improve food security by enhancing climate resilience and productivity of irrigated agriculture and fisheries.
For this, the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Fisheries and Livestock is going to take up a project titled “Climate Smart Agriculture and Water Management Project”.
The Project will rehabilitate and modernise public Flood Control, Drainage, and Irrigation (FCDI) infrastructures.
Flood control and drainage systems play a critical role in ensuring agricultural productivity and growth, experts said.
They said repairing and upgrading of the selected schemes will improve their capacity to regulate the excess water during the monsoon and water deficits in the post-monsoon period.
However, the total cost of the project has been estimated at Tk 1,182.55 crore. Of this, Tk 332.55 crore is from the government's own funds and Tk 850 crore from the World Bank assistance.
In this regard, Ramendra Nath Biswas, a member of the Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Institutions Department of the Planning Commission in charge of the project, said, “If the project is implemented, it will be possible to reduce the risk of floods, river erosion and increase agricultural production through effective water management. So the project is approvable.”
Mercy Tembon, World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, said, “In Bangladesh, more than 70 percent of the population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood but their exposure to climate change and natural disasters makes them vulnerable.”
“Climate-resilient water management provided in this project combined with increased agricultural productivity will ensure income growth, protect livelihoods and build resilience of the local communities to climate change”, she added.
An official of the Planning Commission said a meeting of the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) was held on November 19 last year after receiving proposals from the Ministry of Water Resources, Fisheries and Livestock and Agriculture.
After implementing the recommendations made at that meeting, it was recommended to present it at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), he mentioned.
Once approved, the project will be implemented from this year to June 2026 by Bangladesh Water Development Board, Department of Agricultural Extension and Department of Fisheries.
According to sources, more than 80 percent of the population of Bangladesh lives in rural areas.
They make a living through agriculture and fish production. Due to the adverse effects of climate change, high rainfall during the monsoon season causes severe flooding in the lower parts of the country.
Water flow in the river increases and river erosion is seen. Besides, drought is seen in the northern part of the country during the dry season.
In both cases there is a severe crop loss and agricultural production is reduced. As a result, the livelihood of the people dependent on agriculture is threatened.
Effective water management can reduce the risk of floods, river erosion and other disasters and increase agricultural production.
The Water Development Board (BWDB) has implemented about 625 flood control and drainage (FCD) and flood control, drainage and irrigation (FCDI) project sub-projects across the country for structural development of water management.