Abstract
The study was conducted in four Upazilas (Nachole, Tanore, Godagari and Niamotpur) under Barind tract for a period of four months (September’08 to December’08) with a view to exploring the potentials of khas ponds and kharis towards the sustainable rural livelihood in the face of climate change. Diversified irrigation based farmers were the focus point of this study. In addition to the exploratory visits and FGDs, a total of 1200 farmers were purposively interviewed for this study. Maximum respondents were found as landless (44.25%) and share cropper (59.50%) with education level varied from illiterate (34.33%) to below S.S.C. level (53.92%). Majority of the farmers were found within poor (64.67%) to very poor (14.67%). 65.08% farmers reported the deep tube well as prime sources for irrigation. Farmers of 58.08%, 54.50% and 73.08% reported for the production of Boro, Aus, and Aman in Rabi, Kharip-1 and Kharip-2, respectively. Crop production of 3 times per year by 55.42% farmers reported was found to be dominant over the one time per year (21.83%) and two times per year (22.75%). A total of 6323 khas ponds (3355 acre) and 64 kharis were found and their constraints were identified. In case of khas ponds and kharis, the common constraint was found with no easy access by the poor to the waterbodies. This study also recommends for further research on (a) exploring the economics of rice and fish based farming in khas ponds and kharis, (b) feasibility of integrated agriculture-aquaculture practices in irrigated land towards the increase in water productivity and (c) livelihood impacts of integrated farming under diversified irrigated ecosystems.
Citation: Hossain MA, Mohsin ABM, Galib SM, Alam R and Samad
AOMA (2009) Potentials of Khas (Public) Ponds and Kharis (Canals) in
Barind Tracts: Sustainable Rural Livelihoods in the Face of Climate
Change. Bangladesh Journal of Progressive Science and Technology 7(1): 49-52.
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