Staff Correspondent:
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has organised a national dialogue exploring the need for policy and institutional reforms to improve water resource management and enhance community resilience, essential for building sustainable agrifood systems in the coastal regions.
The National Policy Dialogue titled “Water Management Challenges in Coastal Polders of Bangladesh: Rethinking Institutions and Policies” was held on Tuesday at BARC, Conference Room 1 at Farmgate, Dhaka.
Coastal polders in Bangladesh play a vital role in the food security and livelihoods of millions. Coastal farmers in Bangladesh face climate change impacts and are victims of a complex set of water management challenges, requiring institutional reforms for sustainable solutions.
To address these challenges, through the mandate of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Water Management Groups were formed composed of farmers and other local stakeholders but currently, most of them are inactive with no clear guidance from any concerned government agency.
The poor functioning of Water Management Groups caused poor water management and low agricultural productivity in the polders. The dialogue aimed to disseminate findings and insights from field studies in Po 34/2P and 43/2, foster stakeholder engagement to address critical water management challenges, and advocate for necessary institutional changes.
Under the CGIAR Initiative on Asian Mega Deltas (AMD), the International Rice Research Organization (IRRI) hosted the dialogue in collaboration with the IDSS Institute of United International University. The dialogue brought together around 50 representatives from the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), LGED, Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), CIMMYT, CIP, Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), representatives from Water Management Groups (WMGs), Water Management Associations (WMAs), farmers, and other stakeholders.
Polders, large water catchments protected by dikes and sluice gates, were initially built to prevent flooding and are now vital for agriculture in southern Bangladesh. However, the operational capacity of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), responsible for maintaining the polders, has been inadequate over the years, due to a lack of necessary resources.
As a result, the polders now face various water management, infrastructural, institutional, and governance challenges, affecting the intended beneficiaries. Water Management Groups, mandated under BWDB, also do not receive the necessary support. Inter-institutional coordination is lacking for effective water and agriculture management. Despite the critical role of the DAE and the Department of Fisheries (DoF) in agriculture, they have no authority or control over water management decisions, hindering effective water resource utilization and agricultural productivity
Chief Guest to the National Policy Dialogue, Executive Chairman of BARC Dr Nazmun Nahar Karim said, “We can assess the current situation of polders, availability of resources, structure, and the current need. According to the assessment, the Department of Agricultural Extension or Department of Fisheries can take up the lead in the concerned polder for sustainable agriculture.”
IRRI Representative to Bangladesh and Chairperson of the Policy Dialogue Dr Humnath Bhandari said, “Agriculture in coastal areas is critical and requires effective water management to enhance agricultural productivity and resilience. It is essential to empower and strengthen community-level water management groups. Additionally, coordinated management among government agencies must be ensured to improve water management and promote sustainable agriculture.”
Additional Director General of BWDB and Special Guest Md Zohirul Islam said, “Participatory Water Management can be made more inclusive by coordinating with other government agencies.”
IRRI Scientist Dr Ahmad Salahuddin, said, “We must move towards an institutional reform. Water management organisations formed by farmers should be at the center of these efforts, with engaging local government agencies. DAE must be empowered to take the lead in areas where agriculture is the primary activity. In areas where fish farming is more dominant, the Department Fisheries should take the lead.”
A farmer from Amtali, Abu Bakkar Siddiq, said “We are going toward agricultural modernisation, but climate change is a significant issue for Bangladesh. Yet, our methods in water management are still traditional. We have a water crisis during the dry season and water logging in the rainy season. No government agency is taking water management responsibility.”
The discussions emphasised the need for a coordinated, multi-agency approach to overcome these challenges. Participants proposed empowering Water Management Organizations (WMOs) through better support, resources, leadership, and active policy support.
The dialogue concluded with a commitment to holistic coordination among government offices and stakeholders, integrating efforts from BWDB, DAE, DoF, and BADC. It called for policy adjustments that prioritise agriculture, empower WMOs, and create long-term water management plans to ensure sustainable development in coastal regions.
About International Rice Research Institute (IRRI):
IRRI is dedicated to abolishing poverty and hunger among people and populations that depend on rice-based agri-food systems. Through its work and partnerships, IRRI aims to improve the health and welfare of rice farmers and consumers, promote environmental sustainability in a world challenged by climate change, and support the empowerment of women and the youth in the rice industry.
