REPORT ON AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTSTRATEGY FOR RANGAMATI

Prepared by:Kazal Talukder, Consultant

Tapan Kumar Paul, Associate Consultant

Agriculture & Food Security ProjectRangamati Hill District Council

Date: 03 March 2013

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Honourable Chairman Mr. Nikhil

Kumar Chakma and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Mohammed Erfan Sharif of RHDC.

All the appreciation goes to UNDP-CHTDF of Rangamati for cooperation & providing

transport facility during visit, study & workshop in different upazilas for finding the

agricultural strategy for Rangamati Hill District.

The authors show their utmost gratitude and appreciation to the Agriculture Extension

Officers, Livestock Officers and Fisheries Officers for providing their valuable support

during selection of participants and arranging the focus group discussion for collecting

information. Also thanks to the national consultants of FAO who gave us all helps in

preparing this agriculture strategy.

We also appreciate the local Headman, Karbari, NGO representatives, crop farmers,

fishermen, livestock farmers for their cooperation in discussing about the agricultural

study in their areas.

Above all, we give the special thanks to Mr. Tukumoni Chakma, District Agriculture

Expert of RHDC for all time providing linkage support with relevant departments.

Authors

Kazal Talukder

Tapan Kumar Paul

Table of content

Serial no Title Page no

List of acronyms 04

1 Introduction 06

2 Methodology 06

3 Current socioeconomic, poverty, nutrition and foodsecurity status

07

4 Brief analytical perspective of current productivity

status

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5 Major Challenges5.1 Crop Related5.2 Livestock Related5.3 Fisheries Related

14

6 Development potentials (Focused areas) 17

7 Strategic Action Plan/Activities7.1 Crop Related7.2 Livestock Related7.3 Fisheries Related7.4 Other Interventions/Opportunities7.5 Activities, methods/approaches, time frame &responsibilities to implement strategic plan

18

8 Implementation framework 34

9 Annexure 44

List of acronyms

ADB – Asian Development Bank

AI – Artificial Insemination

AICC – Agriculture Information & Communication Centre

AIS – Agriculture Information Service

ATI – Agriculture Training Institute

BARI – Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute

BFDC – Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation

BRRI – Bangladesh Rice Research Institute

BSCIC – Bangladesh Small & Cottage Industries Corporation

BSRI – Bangladesh Sugarcane Research Institute

CDB – Cotton Development Board

CHTDB – Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board

CHTDF – Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Facility

DAE – Department of Agriculture Extension

DFO – District Fisheries Officer

DLS – Department of Livestock

DOF – Department of Fisheries

FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization

FD – Forest Department

FFS – Farmers Field School

FRI – Fisheries Research Institute

FYM – Farm Yard Manure

ICM – Integrated Crop Management

IPM – Integrated Pest Management

LCC – Leaf Color Chart

MOCHTA – Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs

MSTL – Mobile Soil Testing Laboratory

NGO – Non Government Organization

PDC – Para Development Committee

RC – Regional Council

SRDI – Soil Resources Development Institute

VFA –Veterinary Field Assistant

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1. Introduction

Under the supervision of the RHDC and UNDP, CHT in Rangamati we Kazal Talukder andTapan Kumar Paul were appointed as consultant for Development Agricultural Strategy forAgriculture and Food Security Project of RHDC for a period of four months. The assignmentwas to review the existing policies and strategies to agricultural activities of Bangladesh /CHT and to develop the CHT agriculture strategy in line with national policies and providenecessary supports to RHDC in developing the implementation plans of the strategy with aclear indication of resources required. Consultants had to conduct consultation workshops atupazila level & validation workshop at district level to identify agriculture related issues,challenges & recommendations in relation to the development of agriculture strategy.

The consultants had to look and suggests for institutional capacity building and staff capacityto enable them for better planning and implementation of the project.

The primary responsibility of the local consultant - Agriculture and Food Security Project isto contribute in the consultative workshop at different level to develop agriculture strategyfor Rangamati. To do this, they coordinate with CHTDF experts/consultants, FAO consultantteam, review secondary documents and guide the workshops accordingly. The consultantsdiscussed with all the key stakeholders - the farmers, the GoB line departments, researchinstitutions, NGOs, Upazila and Union Parishad, Traditional Leaders, Local Elite Persons,Development Practitioners, Local Graduates ( Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries) etc. in theconsultative process to obtain maximum outputs.

2. Methodology2.1 Objective of the assignmentThe overall objective of this assignment is to promote sustainable agricultural interventionparticularly for upland practices and coordinating to the designing of CHT AgriculturalDevelopment Strategy.

The objective of the CHT agriculture and food security initiative of UNDPs Chittagong HillTracts Development Facility (CHTDF) is to improve living condition of poor, marginal andsmall farmer’s households through an enhanced, integrated and sustainable agriculturalproductivity. The strategy, considering the issue of climate change and sustainable ruraldevelopment, will focus on how to maximize sustainable land use, increasing yield andimproved quality produced, adding values at community level, marketing ago-products,identify best indigenous / local practices and preserving them, ultimately the farmers arebenefited.

2.2 Time frameInitially the duration of the program was for three months from November 2012 to January2013. Next the time was extended for one month.

2.3 Information collection toolsUnder the direct supervision of Chief Executive Officer of the RHDC, expertise on uplandagriculture / rural development and policy issues were considered to make the strategic plan.Participating in different related workshop, consultation with other consultants was followed.

By conducting consultation workshop & validation workshop with stakeholders at upazilaand district level to identify agricultural issues and challenges were the important method.

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Using many ways, different data/information was collected from various types andrespondents of GOs and NGOs.

To make a comprehensive strategy, a lot of discussion was held at district and upazila level.All ten upazilas of Rangamati districts were covered to collect primary data/information. Atupazila level discussion was held with different local government organization (UpazilaChairman, Vice-chairman, Union Parishad Chairman, Members and Female Members of UPetc). GO (UNO, UAO, ULO, UFO etc), NGO (Hilley Hilly, Taungya, Caritas, Greenhill etc),Bangladesh Krishi bank, Para Development Committee (PDC), Farmers representative (crop,fish, livestock sector), Local Elite persons and Traditional Leader (Headman, Karbari) etc.

At district level discussion was conducted with GO (DAE, DLS, DoF, SRDI, DAM etc),agriculture related NGOs (CIPD, CODEC, Green Hill etc), Research institution (BARI-Raikhali), Hill Agriculture Research Centre (Khagrachhari), Sericulture Research Project(Baroghonia-kaptai), Project of Small Holding Tea Cultivation in CHT (Bandarban),Horticulture centre, etc. Besides these different review reports, research report wereconsidered to make the strategy. Two consultative workshops were conducted at upazilalevel (Baghaichari and Rajasthali) by which many challenges, recommendations wereidentified (Annexure table 1 & table 2).

3. Current socio-economic, poverty, nutrition and food security statusRangamati Hill District lies to the south east of Bangladesh. The area of the district is 6,116sq/km or 6, 11,600 ha. There are ten Upazilas in the district. Many types of ethnic people livehere; such as Chakma, Marma, Tripura, Tanchangya, Lushai, Khyang, Pankhoa, Kuki etc.

The area covers vast forest land, wide range of hills and alluvial valley bottoms. Cultivableplain land is scarce in CHT region. Land suitable for intensive field crop cultivation is lessthan 5% of the total area. The traditional agricultural economy is based on the growing ofpaddy and other crops in the valley bottom land. The utilization of hill slopes by shiftingcultivation locally known as jum. Beside this, due to construction of Kaptai dam in 1960 forhydroelectricity project, 60,000 acres of cultivable plain land was submerged in Kaptai Lake.

Parallel to the government administrative system, there is a traditional system in this region.The region is divided into 3 circles, each of them corresponding more or less in theirboundaries with the current districts. Each circle is divided into number of mouza leaded by aHeadman and each mouza again subdivided in para (village) which is leaded by a Karbari.

The economy of the area is mainly based on agriculture and main source of livelihood of theCHT people. The traditional shifting cultivation is based on rain fed condition which is calledjum cultivation is the most common practice in the CHT region. The main crops generallygrown in jum include rice, sesame, chili, ginger, turmeric, cucurbitaceous (sweet gourd,marpha, chinal, bitter gourd etc), maize, banana, aroids, cotton, okra etc. Along with jumcultivation, the upland area is also cultivated for other single crop like turmeric, zinger andaroids or covered with fruit garden, forest trees in rain fed condition.

Rural poverty among the CHT communities varies with ethnicity, location, remoteness andgender. The indigenous peoples are in general poorer than the Bangalees. The UNDP study(2009) showed that the average income for indigenous people is about taka 62000 per year,while that for Bangalees is taka 71000, as against taka 84000 per rural household inBangladesh as a whole.

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Among indigenous peoples, the hill dwellers, and thus mainly jum cultivators are poorer thanthe valley dwellers. Again those who are more distant from main roads, and thus markets,worse off than those who are nearer to main roads and markets.

In addition women of all communities, indigenous and Bangalees are worse off than men ofthese communities. There is a substantial difference in calorie consumption and decision-making power (UNDP 2009) between women and men of all communities.

Along with poverty incidence being higher by location (hill or valley) and remoteness thereis also the difference in the nature of agricultural systems. As pointed out hill dwellers aremainly jum cultivators, while valley dwellers rely mainly on plough agriculture. Additionallyremote hill communities, who find it difficult to market their goods, rely much more onrelatively non perishable commodities, such as cotton, ginger and turmeric for theircommercial production. On the other hand, hill communities on main roads rely much moreon perishable products; such as fruits for their main commercial production. Valley dwellerscultivate perishable vegetables as commercial crop.

Along with remoteness or nearness to markets, another factor affecting the development ofhorticulture and other tree crops is the absence of natural security. A large part of the land ofindigenous peoples is unregistered and liable to be lost to immigrants; particularly whereroad networks are developed insecurity of tenure reduces the incentive in medium to longterm investments, such as in horticulture or timber. Instead insecure promotes short-terminvestment in seasonal crops, which may neither provide the highest income for thehouseholds nor be environmentally beneficial.

3.1 EthnicityThe hill people try to preserve and maintain the individual culture owned by them. They haveindividual languages, alphabets and book also. Due to scarce of practice, the writinglanguages is loosing day by day. RHDC is trying to develop/gear up language practices of theschool teacher by training them. RHDC prepared some alphabet books and supplied those toprimary school recently.

The women are very interested to put on their individual cloths, ornaments of their culture.The songs and dances also heritage by differently each tribes. The Chakma have gangkholisongs by the special singers which are sometime presented in different cultural program. TheTripura have the bottle dance during the spring season. The Marma also have a beautifulwater festival which they observe during their new year called Saigrai Ri Long Baiy. Lushaihave bamboo dance which is very attractive. Almost all the tribes have individual culture intheir livelihood.The tribal people like dry fishes and vegetables in their every day food. They also collecttheir foods from nearby forest such as bamboo shoots, tara, some spices. They preferaromatic and sticky rice which are produced in jum.

In jum they cultivate about 30-40 types of fruits, vegetables and spices. So as a whole jumcultivation some times called food bank of the tribes. Round the year hill people collect theirday foods from nearby jum. Even jum produces are sold to the market on the hat day.

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3.2 Climate conditionThe region experiences a subtropical monsoon climate with the mean maximum andminimum temperature range 26.6° – 34.2°C and 12.4° – 25.3° C. The 80% rainfall takesplace in May-September and the rest months of the year remain nearly dry.

3.3 BiodiversityRangamati district has a unique biodiversity with flora and fauna. The hills, valley, forest,lake, water stream, waterfall, birds, animals etc. are playing a vital role in maintainingbiodiversity.The Kaptai Lake has a large area which preserves huge water all the year. In lake there aremany types of aquatic animals. In winter, some seasonal birds come from outside the countrywhich attracts the tourists also.

Bamboo is one of the major forest products. Bamboo plantation and conservation helps tokeep the environment eco-friendly. It absorbs more carbon than any other trees. Deer,monkeys, elephants, bear, snakes are the major wild animals of Rangamati. Some animalsand birds come to jum during ripening stage and sometimes damage it.

3.4 EnvironmentKaptai Lake is the largest source of water in Rangamati. This water has multipurpose use likeelectricity generation, fish production, navigation, irrigation etc. Due to some activities likespading the hill for agricultural activities; soil erosion may cause a hazard. Deforestationactivities have a bad impact in environment. To prevent this impact, massive plantation andconservation program should be taken with the participation of local community.

Some social forestation activities are going here at different community level by a local NGOnamed Taungya. The community creates a reserve forest of 200-500 acres of land where theytake care of it. If necessary, community people can buy any forest item from this forest andthis fund will be use for development of forest again. It would be a good model for hill area.Some motivational and awareness building activities should be taken to protect environmentnear the source of water, water stream, waterfall etc.

3.5 GenderThe hill women are very hard working in the home and outside. Almost 80% women workedduring jum cultivation-from plantation to harvest. Every woman prepares their cloths byweaving in handloom in home. They prepare threads from their own produced cotton. Theyalso make color of the cloths from the cultivated jum plants, seeds and bark etc. In case ofhandicrafts they make food preparing materials from bamboo, leaves and woods. Theplantation and intercultural management of field crops are also done by the woman labors.

They bring hygienic drinking water from the different chharas and kua at the bottom of thehills. They also take care of homestead poultry, pig, goat and the cattle rearing. They carrytheir product to the nearer market and sell it to the consumers. It is true that the women arethe only money saver member of the family in most cases.

3.6 Food situation and populationAccording to the population census 2011, the total population of the district is 5, 95,979among which male 3, 01,376 and female 2, 82,903. The total number of households is 1,28,496 and the average size of household is 4.6. The population growth rate is 1.58 and

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population density per sq. km is 97. The area for cereal crop cultivation is not adequate. Soevery year the scarcity of food remains in the district.

The annual food requirement, production status of the district is given below:Year Population Demand

(m.ton)Depreciation

(m.ton)Total demand(m.ton)

Production(m.ton)

Surplus(+) /deficit(-)(m.ton)

2009-10 569027 101149 11713 112862 69722 (-)431402010-11 596000 105942 12268 118210 73773 (-)444372011-12 603986 107362 12433 119795 69804 (-)49991

Table: Food situation (DAE, Rangamati-2011-2012/2012/2013)3.7 Food consumption, food security and povertyRice is the staple food for all households in CHT. Food habit reflected in food itemsconsumed by the CHT people is almost similar to the plain land people except very few itemslike nappi (a special type of dry fish), bamboo shoots and dry vegetables. The physicalquantity of daily food intake per person in CHT is about 718 gm.

Over 50% food intake comes from rice followed by vegetables (30%). According to CBNmethod, it has been found that overall slight less than three-fourth of the households (74%)live below the lower poverty line (<taka 866/person/month) and 86% households live belowupper poverty line ( taka 1025/person/month). Poverty status of woman in rural CHT is agrave concern. Almost all women in CHT (94%) are living below the absolute poverty lineand about 85% below the hardcore poverty line.In terms of energy intake of food, people living in rural CHT, use to have 1798 kcal per day.This is less than the level of the hardcore poor (below 1805 kcal). The CHT people are moreor less secured in relation to availability of food round the year. However Ashar (June-July)and Shrabon (July-Aug) are the two food unsecured months common for almost all thecommunities except Bangalees.(Annexure table 3, 4,5,6,7 & reference: Socio-economic Baseline Survey of CHTs, April 08,2009, CHTDF, UNDP.)

3.8 General informationRangamati Hill District lies to the south east of Bangladesh. The area of the district is 6,116sq/km or 6, 11,600 ha. There are ten upazilas in the district. The total population of thedistrict is 5, 95,979. Many types of ethnic people live here; such as Chakma, Marma, Tripura,Tanchangya, Lushai, Khyang, Pankhoa, Kuki, khumi etc.

Chakma Marma Tanchangya Others Total2,60,445 51,235 27,052 17,421 3,56,153

Table: Ethnic population(Population Census 2011, BBS)

The economy of the area is mainly based on agriculture and main source of livelihood of theCHT people. The traditional shifting cultivation in rain fed condition which is called jumcultivation is the most common practice in the CHT region. The main crops generally grownin jum include rice, sesame, chili, ginger, turmeric, cucurbitaceous (sweet gourd, marpha,chinal, bitter gourd, sweet gourd etc), maize, banana, aroids, cotton, okra etc.

According to the DAE, the total cultivable land of the district is 69534 ha & the currentfallow land is 11052 ha. The land under single cropped, double cropped & triple croppedarea are 35630 ha, 11738 ha, 1874 ha. According to the DAE report only 13.9% of the total

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area is under irrigation facility. By increasing the irrigation facility, the area under cultivation& yield per unit area may be increased.

The total farm family of the district is 68544 among which small farmers are the largestgroup which is 20883. The farmers under marginal & landless group are 16655 and 10957respectively. The area of the Kaptai Lake is 68000 ha & during dry season a part of land oflake rise up which is called fringe land. The cropping intensity of the district is 131 % whichmeans there is a scope of increase cultivable land with the help with irrigation & somemanagement measures.

1. Total area 6116.11 sq/km(611600 ha)

15 Temporary fallow 11052 ha

2. No. of upazila 10 16 Permanent fallow 5262 ha3 No. of union 49 17 AEZ no. 294 Agricultural block 165 18 Annual rainfall 2622 mm5 No. of villages/para 1555 19 Fertilizer dealer 236 No of mouza 162 20 Retails dealer 907 Total population 5,95,979 21 Insecticide dealer 1528 Population density 97/sq.km 22 Power tiller 829 Forest area 473916 ha 23 ATI 110 Reserve 214489 ha 24 Agriculture research 111 Unclassified 249206 ha 25 NGO (Agriculture based) 612 Total land 137684 ha 26 Government nursery 613 Cultivable land 69534 ha 27 Non govt nursery 2514 Cultivated land 58482 ha

Table: General information(DAE, Rangamati-2011-2012/2012/2013)

3.9 General Agricultural informationKharif 1 26317 haKharif 2 10250 haRabi 12675 haHorticultural crop 20292 haSingle cropped 35630 haDouble cropped 11738 haTriple cropped 1874 haTotal cropped area 64728 haCropping intensity 131%Kaptai lake area 68000 ha

Fringe land 13552 haTable-Land utilization / use

(DAE, Rangamati-2011-2012/2012/2013)

1 Large (>7.5 ac) 30212 Middle (2.5 – 7.49 ac) 170283 Small (1.5 – 2.49 ac) 208834 Marginal (0.05 – 1.49 ac) 166555 Land less (0.00 – 0.049 ac) 109576 Total 68544

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Table-Farm family(DAE, Rangamati-2011-2012/2012/2013)

4. Brief analytical perspective of current productivity status4.1 Department of Agriculture ExtensionThe district is covered mainly by different types of hills. So the area under plain cropcultivation is few. The main cropping pattern in the district is fallow-fallow-T.aman, boro-fallow-T.aman, boro-fallow-fallow, fallow-aus (jum)-fallow, winter vegetables-fallow-T.aman, ginger, turmeric, pineapple. The main crops are rice, maize, winter vegetables,summer vegetables, potato, sugarcane, ginger, turmeric. On the other hand mango, jackfruit,litchi, pineapple, banana, papaya, water melon, orange, pomelo are the main fruits. There aremany other fruits which grown in the district. Due to many reasons the yield of all types offruits are not satisfactory. There is a huge gap of the existing yield & the potential yield of alltype of crops & fruits (annexure table 8, 9, 10).The yield of different types of crops like rice, vegetables, maize, potato, ground nut, pulse isgiven below.

Crop variety Area Ha Yield(ton/ha) Production(ton)HYV 1250 2.25 2807Local 4685 1.30 6067AusTotal 5935 8874

HYV 9950 2.8 27859Local 300 1.6 480T-AmanTotal 10250 28339

HYV 6040 3.83 20443Hybrid 2710 4.48 12144BoroTotal 8750 32587

Rabi 470 5.66 2660Kharif 260 3.45 898MaizeTotal 730 3558

W. vegetable 4445 14.21 63144S. vegetable 2850 15.17 43234

S. potato (local) 380 12.89 4898Potato 360 14.50 5220

Mustard 270 1.06 287Sugarcane 258 42 10836W. melon 181 44 7964

Ground nut 60 2.04 122lentil 30

Table-Major crops(DAE, Rangamati-2011-12/2012-13)

4.2 Livestock departmentThere is a scope of increase livestock production in the district. There is a governmentpoultry farm, a duck farm and a pig farm in the district. There are also some private livestock

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farms e.g. dairy (141), goat (36), layer (54) and broiler (102). All government livestock farmsare located in the district headquarter. There is no government farm at upazila level. InRangamati there is a good scope of pig farming. The local ethnic people prefer pork verymuch. So some activities may be taken to increase the production of pig. There is anopportunity of rearing local cattle & poultry.

District Livestock Office 01 UL Hospital 10District Livestock Hospital 01 AI Sub-centre 10

District Pig Farm 01 Livestock treatment sub-centre

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District AI centre 01 Govt. Poultry Farm 01ULO Office 10 Govt. Duck Farm 01

Cattle 184654Buffalo 11470

Goat 142457Sheep 2897

Pig 74028Duck 112837

Poultry 483994

Table: Livestock population(DLS, Rangamati-2012-2013)

4.3 Fisheries departmentRangamati district is rich by the presence of all concerned fisheries departments under theMinistry of Fisheries and livestock. Department of Fisheries is playing an important rolethrough technology transfer, fish act implementation although, the culture fishery is verylimited in compared to the other parts of the country. Rangamati district is one of the fishsurplus producing districts of the country and main source of the fishes are from Kaptai Lakewhich is managed by BFDC (Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation). A reverendsubstation of Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute is carrying out different research onfish production improvement. Kaptai Lake is the largest water body in the district whichoccupying the 33% of the total closed water bodies of the country. There are also some smallponds, cricks, rivers here. The production of the fish is not sufficient.

Dairy Goat Layer BroilerRegistered 73 25 43 86

Unregistered 68 11 11 16Total 141 36 54 102

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Area 68000 ha number 12Kaptailake production 8421 ton

Cageproduction 0.48 ton

Number 1176 number 13Area 327 ha Area 17 ha

Ponds

production 660 ton

Rice cumfish culture

production 8.48 tonnumber 729 fish 81 ton

area 540 haOthers

shrimp 0.15 tonCreek

production 791 ton number 6number 30

Riverproduction 340 ton

area 46 ha number 1Pan

production 56 tonCanal

production 1.82 tonFloodplain production 127 ton

Table: Information of DoF (DoF, Rangamati-2012-2013)

5. Major challenges5.1 Crop related5.1.1 Irrigation and water management:Most of the crops in CHT are cultivated rain fed condition in the season of kharif-1 andkharif-2. Some times supplementary irrigation is needed for valley rice cultivation. Thewinter valley crops (rice or vegetables) are cultivated with irrigation. For better yield invalley crops (either paddy or any other crop) irrigation plays a vital role in winter season. Inwinter, water source is mainly from different cross dam, chhara, jhiri, using LLP orgravitational flow of hilly water. On the other hand, jum cultivation method is fully dependson rain water or rain fed condition. In the hilly crop cultivation (mixed or solo fruitproduction, spices etc) water scarcity is a major problem specially the months from Octoberto March. In many places there is no facility like irrigation channels, water source forirrigation. The water source is far away from the crop field. Due to inadequate irrigationchannel they can’t irrigate the crop. So area under irrigation is not increasing significantly.The existing irrigation channels are not maintained properly. There are a few facilities forirrigation in the slope area. More over the farmers are not solvent to make irrigation facilityby using many irrigation machineries.

5.1.2 Horticultural cropsIn Rangamati, in some places, there is a problem of availability of quality seed or seedlingfor horticulture crops. There is no horticulture centre in many upazilas. Again there are manyproblems of the existing horticulture centres like manpower, budget allocation etc. There aresome places like Farua (Bilaichhari), Sajek (Baghaichhari) which are potentials forhorticulture crop. But there is no sell centre of different saplings. There is also a problem ofsuitable land for horticulture crop cultivation. The productivity of the existing horticulturalgarden is poor. Most of the farmers are not aware about different improved agriculturalmanagement practice. Irrigation facility is another problem of gardening. Poorcommunication system is another major problem for increasing horticultural garden.Additionally in many places there is no credit facility in many places. Poor market system,lack of post harvest knowledge, capital is also a problem for fruits & spice production.

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5.1.3 Availability of Seed and Fertilizer:Seed is the single vital event for better crop production. BADC and other governmentnursery provide some quantities of quality seed or saplings. The rest are of farmers’ source.In the open market, some traders sell different types of rice or vegetables seed or fruitseedlings. But there is no assurance or authenticity about the quality of the seed or seedlings.Some times the price is also higher and the supply of seed is not sufficient to fulfill localdemand. There is no BADC sub sell centre in each upazila.

Fertilizer is another important input for successful crop production. The government hasappointed fertilizer dealers and retailer at upazila level (total #23) and union level (total #90)respectively. For this management, the availability and price of chemical fertilizer is undercontrolled.

5.1.4 Harvest and post harvest managementThere is no improved method of fruits harvest or collection. Most of the fruits are collecteddirectly dropping from the trees. For this it causes some quality problem. Some fruits andvegetables are perishable in nature. These should be marketed to consumer as early aspossible after harvest. Most of the fruits and vegetables are made available in market within alimited period. During the peak harvesting time, a big amount of the produce is madeavailable in the local markets. As a result the growers or the farmers do not get the properprice of their product. Sometimes a large number of the products are wasted due to microbialinfection, transportation, storage, processing and marketing.Various marketing limitations may be found here - lack of farmers or growers association orcooperative, limited volume of produce due to small farm size, seasonal production,immediate need of cost return, inadequate and under developed transport system, highcharges in the form of local tax and tolls, lack of physical facilities like road or watercommunication, poor market channel, lack of market information, absence of storage andprocessing facility, government interventions etc. Moreover the roles of middlemen dominatethe marketing system seriously. For this the growers don’t get the real price of their products.

5.1.5 Jum cultivationJum cultivation is subsistence farming where the farmers produce different types of crops fortheir daily living. The main problem of jum cultivation system is poor productivity. Theseeds are not of improved variety & their yield potentiality is not high. More over the farmersdo not follow different improve management practice like weeding, fertilizing, pestmanagement etc. For this the jum farmers don’t get good harvest. The scarcity of land isanother problem of jum. During jum hill preparation, burning destroys all types of livingorganisms and herb & shrubs. So it disturbs the biodiversity. If the farmers use spade forcultivation then it may cause soil erosion during rainy season.

5.1.6 Soil fertilitySoil is the main supplier of plant nutrient. Soil of the CHT is less fertile compare to otherparts of Bangladesh because they mostly originated from the weathering and erosion of bedrocks. Moreover, the soils formed over unconsolidated sedimentary rocks containingsignificant amount of kaolinite clay, which provides a low capacity to retain nutrients. Thefertility further declines due to sustainable resource management practices. The soils oversiltstones and mudstones are better in this respect, because they have mainly illitic clays,which have higher nutrient buffering capacities. Due to leaching effect during high monsoonrainfall the N and K are washed out. One important cause of soil erosion is the cultivation of

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some tuberous crops like ginger, turmeric, aroids etc. During seed sowing & harvesting timethe soil is spaded twice which causes soil erosion.

Nutrient status of soilMajorland type

SoilpH

SoilOM N P K S Ca Mg Zn B Mo

Highland(92%)

4.1-7.1

L-M

VL-L L L-M L-M L-M L-M L-M L-M

L-M

Table: Fertility status of Northern & Eastern Hills (Source: DAE)

Another reason of less fertility is no or poor use of organic manure in the crop productionsystem. Sometimes the farmers use only urea as chemical fertilizer and few amounts of otherchemical fertilizers which causes soil infertility. In most cases farmers uses differentfertilizer without analyzing the soil nutrient status.

5.1.7 DeforestationIt is a significant problem to keep a natural and pollution free environment in Rangamati HillDistrict. New settlement is developing in the deep forest areas. For the subsistence oflivelihood people intervene the forest and cut down the valuable trees beyond the knowledgeof Forest Department. Some areas have already become barren for habitation in the forestareas. Chharas and waterfalls in the hill dry up within few years. Water flow of small chharaswhich are used for irrigation in crop fields became a problem for sustainable crop production.Monoculture of timber trees like teak, rubber, eucalyptus etc. causes natural hazard.

5.1.8 TobaccoA discordant note in the development of commercial crops is the spread of tobaccocultivation, largely in the valleys while providing substantial income. There is a largeelement of environmental degradation involved in tobacco cultivation, as wood from forestsis used for drying and curing tobacco. The tobacco companies provide money in advance tothe farmers for tobacco cultivation. The land become unfertile & decreases nutrient status.The fertile lands are used for tobacco cultivation.Reasons of tobacco cultivation are

- credit facilities from tobacco company- technical support (seed bed preparation, curing)- guarantee of marketing

Disadvantages are- negative implication on health- deforestation- deflation of soil nutrients- woman & child labors

5.1.9 Fringe landIn the dry season vast agriculturally potential lands rise up where the people produce rice,different vegetables etc. This land is called fringe land. The rule curve helps them forproducing these crops in this fringe land. But every year the farmers are not sure whether thefringe land will rise up or not. So there is an uncertainty of crop production. Due to problemof irrigation facility & some other management practices the production of the fringe landcrops is not satisfactory. Water hyacinth is another problem of Kaptai Lake for navigation.There is no activity to check it.

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5.2. Livestock related5.2.1 Fodder crop/ Feed /grazing landCow, pig, goat, poultry, buffaloes are the common & important animals of farmers. Most ofthe animals are left open for grazing. They move here and there for their food. In summerand rainy season there is no scarcity of fodder crop. But in dry season, there may be aproblem of fodder crop or grazing land for the livestock. The farmers are also not awareabout fodder preservation or production. But for successful commercial farming, fodder cropproduction and preservation is very important. There is no genuine source of livestock feedeven at upazila level.

5.2.2 Deworming program: The main reason of malnutrition & ill health is infestation ofdifferent types of worms. People are not aware about deworming activity. For this theylivestock suffer from malnutrition. Thus the production of livestock decreases day by day.

5.2.3 VaccinationThere are some problems for vaccination activities. Due to poor communication facility, thevaccination program is not followed properly. The carrying, preservation of vaccine is a greatproblem. Due to lack of vaccination program the health of livestock is not good. Sometimesthey suffer from different diseases. In some upazila due to problem of electricity supply,preservation of vaccine/medicine faces problem. Sometime inadequate supply of vaccine isanother problem for vaccination.

5.2.4 Veterinary health service: Most of the technical posts like ULO, VS or field workerare vacant in many upazilas which causes a major problem of veterinary health service.There is also no disease diagnosis laboratory in the district. The supply of different medicineis not adequate to fulfill the demand.

5.2.5 Quality breedThe quality of different livestock breeds are not improved one. Most of the breeds are oflocal breed. For this the productivity of meat, eggs, milk is not high. There is no governmentlivestock farm at upazila level. Moreover the farmers are not aware about the quality breed.For this they are not interested in AI program for breed development of cattle. Poorcommunication facility is also a problem for conduct AI program by the field worker toimprove quality breed.

5.3 Fisheries related5.3.1 Scarcity of ponds / water bodiesThe largest water source in the district is Kaptai Lake. Besides this, there are some ponds,water stream in the district, most however are seasonal. Due to hilly area there is a lack ofwater bodies / ponds for fish culture. Again the fish farmers do not take care of existingponds or do not follow the proper management for the improved fish culture. So theirproductivity decreases day by day. On the other hand, BFDC does not permit for pen/cageculture in the lake area which causes less production.

5.3.2 Quality fingerlings/fish feedAvailability of quality fingerlings in the district is a problem. There is a government hatcheryat Kowkhali upazila which is the only government source of fingerlings in the district andanother hatchery is not functioning in the district which was running under a project. There isno nursery at upazila level. Most of the fingerlings are collected by the farmers from outsidethe district. So the price of fingerlings is high and the quality is not genuine. Fish feed

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availability is also a big problem for the fish farmers. There is no authorized dealer of fishfeed. The knowledge of fish feed preparation is not known to most of the people, whichresult less productivity of fish.

5.4 Capital / agricultural creditFor successful & commercial livestock farming (dairy, pig, poultry or any other) it needscapital investment. Most of the farmers of this area are not solvent for commercial farming.More over, for commercial farming, the livestock loan processes needs some documentswhich is not available to the local farmers. For this process system, sometime they do not feelinterest to have a loan. Moreover the farmers are not aware about loan facility.

6. Development potentials (Focused areas)The following are the major focused areas which are identified for strategy formulation. Theyare classified as crop related, livestock related, fisheries related & other opportunities.6.1. Crop relatedThese issues are related to production or management of crop in the valleys or in the hills.- Improved jum cultivation- Irrigation and water management- Develop & use of watersheds /catchments- Post harvest management (Including communication, marketing, storage and processing)- Fringe land utilization- Increase horticultural crop production (Fruits and spices)- Soil conservation- increase seed & fertilizer availability- Afforestation6.2. Livestock relatedThese issues are related to livestock production or related to it.- Increase quality breed and feed availability- Provide animal health care- Development & establish of farm6.3. Fisheries relatedThere are some potential which are related to fisheries production.- Management of Kaptai Lake- Development/ repair of new / existing pond, crick- Increase quality fingerlings / fish feed6.4 Credit facility- Motivation activity- Coordination

6.5 Other intervention and opportunitiesThere are many other potentialities or activities which are working or which have prospectsin the district. These issues are- Establish herbal garden- Increase Sugarcane production- Replace tobacco cultivation- Increase mushroom production- Provide ICT facility- Increase pulse & oil seed production- Cotton production- Off farm activity

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- Agriculture credit- Tea plantation- Sericulture

7. Strategic action plan (Interventions need for improvement)7.1 Crop related7.1.1 Improved jum cultivationEarlier an average jum cycle ranged from 12 to 15 years to allow sufficient vegetation duringthe interval. In 1961 after the construction of the Kaptai dam the jum cycle was shortened to3-5 years. At present the cycle has further shortened to 2-3 years with serious implication onsoil quality and yield. By preventing or reducing soil erosion, proper management practicesshould be followed for sustainable jum cultivation. To maximize the production of jum;quality seed of jum rice, vegetables have to make available. These varieties should bedraught resistant, accepted to jumia people and locally adapted. Regional Agriculture or JumResearch station should be established to develop quality jum crops seed and suitable &sustainable jum production technology.

BRRI recommended draught tolerant rice variety (BR-24, BRRI dhan-27) for upland jum inaus season. In the recent past, BADC has supplied some draught tolerant rice varieties;narika-1 and narika-10 to DAE in CHT for demonstration in jum field. The performance ofthe variety needs more trial and monitoring.

At present some jum farmers use fertilizer in jum cultivation method. Most of the farmers donot use balanced dose of different fertilizer in jum crop. If the farmers use fertilizer in jumcrop, the yield of rice will be increased. In jum fertilizer should be applied in dibblingmethod. The residual effect of different fertilizer should increase the yield of other jum crops(vegetables, spices, fruits etc). To determine the requirement of nitrogenous fertilizer for rice,leaf color chart (LCC) may be used. Some integrated pest management (IPM) and weedmanagement activities should be followed for better production. For identifying thebeneficial & harmful insects, nature of damage & life cycle; one pest museum may beestablished in each upazila. Zero tillage or minimum tillage necessary to reduce soil erosion.

As jum is a temporary or shifting cultivation method, it would be better to convert or developa jum hill into a mixed orchard or fruit garden after harvesting the jum crops. For this shortterm, mid term and long term fruit tree varieties should be selected considering the socio-economic condition of the jumia. For short term banana, papaya, pineapple, guava; mid termorange, malta, pomelo and for long term mango, jackfruit, litchi may be selected. Sometraining activities followed by distribution of saplings, fertilizers among the jumia farmersmay be taken. For better performance, some awareness building activities and materialsshould be provided among the farmers.

Due to scarcity of jum hill and increase of population, jum hill will be allocated for the jumiapeople in a small scale so that all small or marginal farmers can produce jum crop.

7.1.2 Improve Irrigation and water managementBy using irrigation water the land under cultivation should be increased. The production ofexisting crops will also increase by proper irrigation management. By making new irrigationchannels and repairing the existing channels and culverts, the single cropped area may beconvert to double cropped area and the double cropped area to triple cropped area. At the

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same time diversified crops should be cultivated (field crop) like oil seed, pulses, tuberouscrop, vegetables or any other cash crop.

For irrigation some low lift pump (LLP), irrigation pipes, drip irrigation machinery may besupplied among the farmers group at a subsidized rate by the RHDC or from any othersource. Rain water harvest also may be a source of water for hill cultivation. It should bestored on the hill top by making tank, reservoir, small pond covered with polythene sheet onthe surface etc. for using rain water in the dry season. By making crick/cross dam betweentwo adjacent hills, gravitational flow of water should be stored for irrigation which should beused in the winter crop or rice cultivation & for other multipurpose use like fish culture, duckrearing. With the help of pump machine, lake water may be used for irrigation wherepossible. Wastage household water may be use for homestead orchard/kitchen gardenirrigation. The soap water also helps to neutralize the hilly acidic soil (Ref. Hill AgricultureResearch Station, Khagrachhari). Some motivation & training program like mulching &other moisture conservation may be taken.

A watershed is the upslope area that contributes flow of water to a common outlet asconcentrated drainage. It can be part of a larger watershed and can also contain smallerwatersheds, called sub-basins. The outlet is the point on the surface at which water flows outof an area. This is usually the lowest point along the boundary of the drainage basin. Theboundary between two basins is referred to as a drainage divide or watershed boundary.

The area upon which water falls (i.e. rainfall) and the network through which it travels to anoutlet are referred to as a drainage system. The flow of water through a drainage system isonly a sub set of what is commonly referred to as the hydrologic cycle, which also includesprecipitation, evapo-transpiration and ground water. The development of watershed focuseson the movement of water across a surface.

In the CHT the main source of surface water is rainfall and accumulated water in streams,chharas and lakes. Delineation of watershed/catchments requires good quality of spot heightswith very detail topographic information

The important purpose of a watershed is to reserve or harvest rainwater. Thus this water canbe used for multipurpose. It may be used for fish culture, duck rearing and irrigation forvegetables, orchard and other field crops of the downward of the watershed.

7.1.3 Harvest & Post harvest management(Including marketing, storage and processing)The fruit harvesting system should be improved. One device made of a metallic ring with anet is used for fruit collection in plain areas. It may be introduce, improve & extend hereamong the farmers. Some motivational activity may be taken for good harvest.The post harvest technology or facility is a great problem in the CHT. To prevent thisproblem some measures should be taken in consideration. For better marketing and price ofagricultural products, farmers of a particular area may produce same fruits or vegetables. Atthis the traders will be interested for purchasing the commodities.Depending on the transport or communication facility, the type of cultivable fruit orvegetables should be determined. Where good or easy communication or transport facilityprevails, perishable products may be produced (like tomato, pineapple, mango etc.). On theother hand non perishable agricultural products have to be grown or cultivated in poortransport or communication facility area.

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Some awareness building activities to reduce post harvest loss of different fruits orvegetables should be taken. These activities are like grading, washing, curing, packaging,labeling etc. Some training activities may be taken by DAE or Bangladesh AgricultureResearch Institute (BARI) to minimize post harvest losses.

Agricultural marketing point or temporary agricultural products storing shed may beestablished at different community level depending on the potentiality of fruits or vegetablesor spices. The growers’ community will be responsible for its management. Additionally acentral purchasing and selling centre may be established at upazila level. The governmentcooperative department with the assistance of different NGO and farmers association shouldbe responsible for its operation.Some small scale agro processing centre (public + private jointly) may be establish on thebasis of available local fruits (banana, pineapple, mango, jackfruit etc.) or vegetable (tomato,potato, mushroom etc.) or spices (turmeric, ginger, chili etc.) production. Thus the growerswill get more prices for his products. By this employment opportunity, poverty alleviation,adding extra value to agricultural commodities should be confirmed.

Market promotion:CHT based centre for promotion of marketing:

- Make available timely market information to producers in the region.- Organize growers and traders in the production areas and ensure their whole-hearted

participation.- Establish linkages with multi-functional house at Chittagong and Dhaka and with

private exporters and exporting NGOs (like BRAC) to enter major local and overseasmarkets.

- Promote and streamline credit schemes for traders, processors and other associates inthe business.

Development of road infrastructure:Road linkage should be developed properly, so that different markets can be inter-linked. Itwill make a balance between the areas of surplus and deficit. Beside this, for transportation indistance market refrigerated carrier may be arranged.

Expand boundary of seasonally:Most of the fruits and vegetables are available to a particular period and rest of year those arenot available. This character of seasonality can be modified by use of chemicals, hormones,photo-insensitive varieties and genetically altered varieties, appropriate storage facilities.Technologies have been developed in this respect; eg. production of summer tomato andcauliflower. Small and marginal farmers will get an opportunity to earn in the lean periods byusing trans-seasonal planting materials both in the field and the homestead productionsystem.

Provide market information system:Market information is a prerequisite for taking decisions in agribusiness. Therefore,marketing information like marketing cost, margin, price spread and marketing problems atdifferent levels are the important consideration. At present infrastructure there are a little orno facilities to obtain such information easily and quickly in hilly area. If the producers cometo know about the price of their produce in different markets (both local and export), it willhelp them a lot to fix their sell rate. There will be less scope for exploitation by the middle

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man. Government support is necessary to provide that information to the prospectivemarkets.

7.1.4 Fringe land utilizationOne of the important opportunities of using Kaptai Lake is to use fringe land in the month ofJanuary to May for crop production like boro rice, winter vegetables, water melon, groundnut, chili etc. For successful or assured fringe land crop production, the rule curve of theKaptai Lake should be followed or maintained properly. More over quality seed, irrigationfacility, intercultural practices should be followed properly for better yield. The total area offringe land in Kaptai Lake is about 13552 ha.

Rule curve is information to the fringe land cultivators from which they will know the waterlevel of Kaptai Lake maintained by the authority. If the fringe land farmers can know the rulecurve they can ensure crop harvest. They will be able to secure their crop.

Month Water height(foot MSL)

January 102February 96March 90April 91May 83June 76July 76

August 89September 100

October 107November 109December 106

Table: Rule curve of Kaptai Lake(Source-DAE, Rangamati)

Another prospect of Kaptai Lake may be floating agriculture using the water hyacinth. Inrecent years some floating beds, made of water hyacinth, were established for differentvegetable production. Thus water hyacinth which is a major problem for navigation in theKaptai Lake is used to prepare bed for vegetable cultivation. It may keep the lake free foreasy navigation with many upazilas and villages.

7.1.5 Increase horticultural crop production (Fruits and spices)Fruit trees are mainly concentrated in and around homesteads and in the hills. Banana,pineapple, papaya, jackfruits, pomelo, lemon, litchi, mango and orange are major fruits. Thecommercial fruit gardens are mainly concentrated with mango, litchi, papaya, lemon,pineapple, orange and jackfruit. But a number of other fruit crops are grown in scatteredareas. Farmers hardly follow plant spacing, proper application of different fertilizers and theirmethods of applications in terms of dose and time, crop care (weeding, training, pruning,mulching etc.) and protection of crops from pests and diseases.

Many fruit gardens in CHT were established by the project support of DAE. The fruit treesare in bearing stage or producing fruits. But many farmers don’t follow the improvedmanagement practice. Therefore the farmers do not get good harvest. A few farmers whomanaged their gardens properly are getting good harvest. Same scenario has been observed in

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CHTDB supported orange gardens. To increase the yield of existing mixed orchard,management practices should be taken like training/pruning, irrigation, fertilizermanagement, pest management and post harvest technology. Just by following thesemanagement practices the potentiality of fruit garden will increase significantly.

There is a vast scope to increase production of fruits through establishing national and locallevel demand /need based new fruit gardens in suitable areas. Rangamati district has thehighest potentiality in mixed fruit garden (annexure table 11).

Existing (ha) Potential (ha) Total(ha) Potential forincrease (%)

18018 39256 57274 218Table : potential area of fruit orchard (source – DAE, 2012)

For establishing new fruit garden quality seedling is essential. For this each governmenthorticulture centre or nursery should produce local demand based seedling at a reasonableprice. For making quality seedling available, new government horticulture centre have toestablish in Rajasthali, Kowkhali, Baghaichhari, Bilaichhari, Jurachhari & Barkal upazila.

Some spices like ginger, turmeric are very common & important in the CHT as a cash crop.Though there is a problem of market price of it, yet the area under these crops is about 5650ha in Rangamati. According to SRDIs recommendation, any tuberous crops like ginger,turmeric should be cultivated in valley or on the hill of gentle slope with proper mulching.There is also a prospect of cultivating cassia leaf, black pepper, coriander, cinnamon, bilatidhania (leafy). So some training & motivation activities with input supply will increase thearea & production of spices.

7.1.6 Soil conservationSRDI has recommended some component technologies for soil and water conservationfarming system. Contour, across cultivation and hedgerow system of cropping are suitablealternative to current practices jum have been recommended. Planting should be done acrossthe hill slope, one row hedge crop in between ten rows of rice crops.

To prevent soil erosion, crop should be selected according to the slope of the hill. In gentleslope vegetables, spices; in moderate slope mixed orchard, agro forestry; and in the highsteep forest tree can be cultivated. Hill surface should always be covered with greenvegetation to reduce soil erosion.To maintain soil fertility, sufficient organic manure (cow dung, FYM, green manure etc)should be apply to the soil. For this training & demonstration activities should be takenregularly. Fertilizer calculation should be determined after analyzing the soil nutrients status.For this one soil testing laboratory should be established at district level. MSTL should visitall the upazilas frequently.

7.1.7 Increase seed & fertilizer availabilityTo increase the availability of seed some steps should be taken. BADC should take necessarysteps to supply quality rice seed on the basis of local demand in time. To increase theavailability of the quality rice seed, some seed exchange program like demonstration,preservation and distribution activities should be taken with the help of DAE. For availabilityof quality vegetables seed, BARI, BADC can supply it at upazila level. At present most of

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the source of vegetable seeds is retailer in the market. The monitoring activity to control thequality in the open market should be strengthened. For increase the availability & use ofchemical fertilizer some incentive may be given to the farmers.

7.1.8 AfforestationPlantation and conservation of forest is the best way to mitigate the loss of deforestation.Participatory plantation program should be conducted with social mobilization. Differentawareness building activities like training, motivation activities and fair should be conductedregularly. Instead of monoculture mixed plantation should be encouraged to conservebiodiversity & ecosystem. The species should be selected according to the slope of the hills,soil type & environment friendly.

7.2 Livestock related7.2.1 Increase quality breed and feed availabilityThough the CHT has a prospect of livestock rearing, but the quality of breed is not good.Different types of breed (poultry, cattle, goat, pig) should be available locally. For thisartificial insemination (AI) program should be conducted efficiently & effectively so that thebreed of cattle would be developed. Regular training & motivation program should beconducted for successful AI program. CHT has also a good prospect of pig farming. For this,for quality piglets, pig farm should be established in each upazila. The improved variety ofpig may be imported from neighboring countries. After rearing, which meat (pork) may beexport abroad. Some training program should be conducted on fodder crop cultivation, silagepreparation, grazing land preparation by DLS. One livestock dealer should be appointed atupazila level (may be the fertilizer dealer) for quality feed.

7.2.2 Provide animal health care serviceRegular vaccination and deworming program should be conducted at community level. Thevaccine and the medicine should be made available at upazila & community level.Motivation program for vaccination & deworming should be taken to create awareness of thelivestock farmers. Some young people should be given training for vaccination at communitylevel by DLS.

7.2.3 Development & establish of farmMore motivation and training program for establishing new farm should be taken. Specialtraining for the beef fattening should be conducted. Credit facility and electricity supply willenhance the farm extension activity. Special program on dairy cow rearing may be a scopefor milk production. Mini plant to preserve the milk should be established in some places onthe basis of prosperity & feasibility of milk production. Some training program on pig, goat,duck, sheep rearing should be conducted for better performance.

7.3 Fisheries7.3.1 Management of Kaptai LakeThe aquaculture has a vital economic consideration in CHT. Fish culture in Kaptai Lake aswell as other water bodies in this district has a good prospect. Kaptai Lake is about 68000 hain the monsoon and 58000 ha in the dry season. The annual production of fish from this lakeis only 130 kg per hectare, which is far below of its potential. The fish captured from KaptaiLake, almost entirely goes outside the district.

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Fish production from Kaptai Lake needs some management review of the lake e.g. stockingsize still poor relative to its area, number of sanctuaries is few etc. Off course, there are manychallenges like water height become extremely low before the breeding season as waterresource is mainly consumed by hydroelectric power authority and brood fishes becomevulnerable to be captured.

To increase the fish production of Kaptai lake pan and cage culture can play a vital role.Cage/pan culture in the lake and its ghonas has a good prospect. Low cost feed developmentat the community level is also important. This specific intervention needs some precondition.

a) Identification of villages and communities who live along the shore of the lake and arewilling to undertake cage/pan culture.

b) Selection of farmers, preferably women, for piloting cage/pan culture.c) Training of selected farmers/beneficiaries on stoking, low cost feed production and

management.d) Technical and financial support for preparing, installing and maintaining the cage/pan.

Duck rearing in the Kaptai Lake, may be another opportunity of poverty alleviation andfulfillment of nutrition demand. DLS and DOF/BFDC can jointly perform this activity withsome selected beneficiaries.

The administration of Kaptai Lake is conducted by the BFDC and DC should be reviewed.BFDC does not allow any type of pan/cage culture in the lake. DC leases it every year toBFDC. Though the license of fish harvest is given by the BFDC the numbers of fishermenare not known. So monitoring activity should be followed properly. There may be anopportunity for the fishermen for pan/cage fish culture in the Kaptai Lake.

7.3.2 Development/ repair of new / existing pond, crickDuring field visit and workshop at different upazilas it was found and suggested by theparticipants to make necessary step for repairing the existing water bodies or ponds. Somemotivation & training program should be conducted for improvement of existing ponds byrepairing, fertilizing and liming. Some steps may be taken to create new ponds for fishcultivation where it should be possible. In the district there is a scope of making crick forpreserve water. This water can be used for multipurpose.

7.3.3 Increase quality fingerlings / fish feedFor successful fish cultivation good quality fingerlings and fish feed should be available. Theactivities of existing hatchery should be strengthened. Some demonstrations will createawareness of the fish farmers. Due to lack of quality finger lings the fish growers do not gethigh yield. One mini nursery may be established in each upazila. To make fish feed availablea dealer may be appointed in each upazila. Training for preparing low cost fish feed shouldbe conducted for the fish growers.

7.4 Other intervention and opportunities7.4.1 Establish herbal gardenThe CHT is a unique place where most of the people have no easy access to get healthcareservices from the government hospital or clinic. For this they depend on traditional treatmentmethod. The person who gives this type of service is called baidya. Baidya uses differenttypes of indigenous or local herb/ shrub/ trees for making medicine or giving treatment.Some of these species are also used for preparation of pharmaceutical medicine. As there isno step of identifying or expansion activities of these local medicinal plants, some of them

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are going to be extinct. For this some research and extension activities may be taken byRHDC.For the extension of herbal plants garden, appropriate hill may be given lease (long term) orsettlement to the interested person. Then technical support, input supply (seed/seedling) andcredit facility may help them for successful garden. For marketing of this product, there is alocal demand of it. On the other hand, the pharmaceutical companies buy these types of rawmaterial for preparation of modern medicine.

7.4.2 Increase Sugarcane productionNow sugarcane has become a cash crop which may compete with tobacco. Sugarcane hashigh market demand with good price. Vegetables (French bean, radish, cabbage, tomato,cauliflower, etc) are grown as intercrop that fetches more income per unit of land. Pilotproject for extension of sugarcane cultivation in Chittagong Hill Tracts under the MOCHTAis providing technical and demonstrative logistic support to farmers.Advantages of sugarcane cultivation are

- market demand with high price- additional return from intercropping- non perishable nature of the product- technical support from DAE and BSRI- available fallow land in Rangamati- Less pest/disease affects.

Limitations are- long duration- no financial and inputs support from respective departments- no credit facility- hard to handle (plantation, harvesting and transportation)

More over there are two scopes of using sugarcane – chewing purpose and gur preparation.BSRIs pilot project has introduced many good quality chewing type varieties in the CHT.They have also provided two crusher machines for extracting juice from sugarcane by usingimproved and hygienic method. For expansion of sugarcane as cash crop some trainingprogram and supply of inputs (like sugarcane set, fertilizer, insecticides) support activitiesmay help the local farmers. By increasing irrigation facility, the area under sugarcanecultivation may be increased. To prepare gur more crushers may be supplied among thedifferent farmers’ group. The extension of sugarcane may replace the tobacco cultivationwhich is alarming for CHT.

7.4.3 Replace tobaccoTobacco is grown as a mono crop in the rabi season under the direct supervision andtechnical support from private tobacco companies. Tobacco farmers get handsome amount ofcredit from the companies which are repaid later through adjustments with sales proceeds.

Tobacco may be replaced by other cash crop like sugarcane, chili, pulses, oilseeds, wintervegetables, maize, watermelon. For this training program with input supply, making marketfacility can motivate the tobacco farmers. Motivation program to create awareness among thetobacco farmers may be taken. If necessary, some regulatory steps like selling of fertilizers,cutting of fire woods for curing tobacco leaf, more tariffs may be impose on cultivation oftobacco.

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7.4.4 Increase mushroom productionit is one of the very popular vegetable among the local ethnic people for year after year. Toincrease the mushroom production, a sub centre was established at Asambasti, Rangamati.They produce some mushroom spawn packet for selling to the mushroom growers. But thereis a huge demand of spawn. So the centre cannot fulfill this demand. To make mushroomspawn available, mini size mushroom spawn producing centre may be establish in eachupazila. Moreover some training activity like mushroom production, processing andpreservation may be conducted for better production. By this Rangamati Hill District may betreated as mushroom zone or mushroom district.

7.4.5 Provide ICT facilityInternet based agriculture information and communication centre (AICC) may be establishedat community level (in PDC/FFS/IPM club/ICM club) with well equipped ICT materials. Itmay be establish to make all types of information available to the farmers/growers. An ICTlaboratory should be established at district level to provide.

- seasonal /crop wise update mobile messaging- free /toll free call centre- training for interested farmer/person.

Community radio or rural radio can play a vital role in disseminating local need basedinformation considering local language, culture, cultivation method etc. In Rangamati thereare many types of ethnic people with different language. This type of radio can help to makeinformation available.

7.4.6 Increase pulse, oil, wheat, maize productionThe area under pulse, oil crop are decreasing day by day. Instead of cultivating pulse or oil

seed the farmers are growing paddy. So some crop diversification activities should be taken.Quality seeds, some fertilizer may be distributed among the interested farmers with training.The storing quality of pulses, oil, Wheat or maize seeds are good. Moreover the localvarieties of different crops should be replaced by improved varieties. Training on stored grainpreservation should be taken for the farmers.

7.4.7 Cotton productionOnce upon a time, CHT was familiar as karpas mahal. The local people cultivate cotton injum for their own use. Surplus cotton is sold in the market. Now a day they produce cotton asmono crop/solo crop in the valley. High yielding variety and hybrid varieties have high yieldpotentiality. They farmers can sell it to CDB and can produce inter crop / vegetable withcotton. Cotton is a deep rooted crop which has multipurpose use likes fibre, fuel, edible oil,oil cake etc. area under irrigation & financial condition of the farmer is a problem. Lack ofknowledge of improved production method is also a problem. Ginning equipments is anotherproblem for separating seed & fibre. To increase cotton production research activity, loanfacility, training cum demonstration, supply of hand ginning machine & establish of newginning station will enhance cotton production. Ginning station may be established atRangamati Sadar, Kaptai, Baghaichhari & Bilaichhari upazila.

7.4.8 Off farm activityThe local people produce many house hold materials, showpieces from bamboo, cane. Theproduction of bamboo/cane is decreasing day by day. It effects the environment also. Someplantation program should be taken. Awareness building should be follow to conserve it.Some training program on making different attractive items and credit facility may be givento them. HDC and BSCIC can take necessary step.

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7.4.9 Agriculture creditThere are many scheduled banks who are giving agricultural loan/advance to farmers inalmost all types of agricultural sectors (crop, livestock, fish etc). Total target of loandisbursement in 2012-13 is about 32 crore 66 lakh taka. Up to first week of April of this year,total amount of disbursed loan by all banks is about 22 crore 20 lakh taka while BangladeshKrishi bank has given 16 crore 80 lakh taka which is almost 70% of total loan disbursement.Loan recovery rate is 62 % of BKB. More farmers / growers have to be motivated to enjoyloan facility. Moreover coordination among the loan giving agencies like Sonali bank, BKB,BRDB & other NGOs (micro credit) should be strengthen to avoid overlapping & recoveryof loan.(Reference: Regional Office, BKB, Rangamati Region). The jum farmers should becovered under loan facility.It is a matter of hope that RHDC is providing non interest loan to small farmers, woman forhandicrafts, weaving, pig rearing, beef fattening, fish pan culture and mushroom production.The non interest loan has been distributed through district and upazila line departments andBSCIC.

7.4.10 Tea plantationThere is a prospect of tea plantation in CHT. Bangladesh tea board along with the help ofCHTDB, RHDC, DC can help for establish & extension of tea garden. At present a projectcalled “Small Holding Tea Cultivation in CHT” under Bangladesh Tea Board is working inBandarban district. They are providing production technology, sapling supply, loan facility,marketing facility etc. to the interested growers. So tea plantation may be extended in thehilly areas of Rangamati district.

7.4.11 SericultureIn the CHT there is an opportunity of silkworm production. The fallow land, road side, hillvalley can be used for mulberry cultivation. The sericulture board can supply egg/larvae ofsilkworm, mulberry seedling, training and management practice knowledge among thefarmers. The female /women can do the job successfully in between their daily householdchores. The sericulture board helps for selling the silkworm cocoon.

There is also a Sericulture Research Centre at kaptai (Baroghonia). They have a germplasmcentre with 32 varieties of silkworm. They provide training program (7 days and 30 days) forthe farmers. Silkworm rearing is a less labor production technology. Multidimensionalactivity may be done like production of leaves, rearing of silkworm, riling, weaving, fuelsupply etc.

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7.5 Activities, methods/approaches, time frame & responsibilities to implement strategic plan

7.1.1 Jum cultivationActivities Method/Approaches Time

frameResponsibilities

Develop & use ofquality rice/

vegetable seeds

- Selection & extension of local/indigenousvariety & technology- Establish Regional Agriculture/Jumresearch centre for development of Jum &modernization of traditional practices- Training & demonstration on seedproduction, preservation, distribution

1-5years

RHDC, DAE, BARI,BRRI, SRDI

Improvedmanagement

practice

- Training on weeding, fertilizing, watermanagement with input supply (e.g. LCC)- Establish pest museum in each upazila

1-5years

RHDC, DAE

Landownership/settle

ment

- Settlement of land 1-5years

RHDC, Headman

Establish mixedorchard

- Land settlement for mixed orchard- Training & motivation on mixed orchardgardening with input (sapling, fertilizer)supply (short, medium & long term)

1-5years

RHDC, Headman, DAE,

7.1.2 Irrigation & water management

Activities Method/Approaches Timeframe

Responsibilities

Preparation of newirrigation channel

- Survey, planning, estimation &preparation

2-3years

RHDC,CHTDB,LGED, ADB, DAE

Repair/management ofexisting irrigationchannel/culvert

- Selection for repairing 1-2years

RHDC,CHTDB,LGED,ADB

Making of crick/crossdam/watershed to preserve

water

- Survey, planning, estimation&preparation- Training on fish culture, duckrearing, irrigation

2-5years

RHDC,CHTDB,BARI, ADB, DAE,

DLS, DoF

Supply of LLP /pipes/irrigation equipments at

subsidized rate

Planning, budgeting 2-5years

RC, RHDC,CHTDB,BARI,BADC,ADB,

DAEUse surface water (rain

water harvest, lake water,household wastage water,

ponds, stream)

Individual, planning, budgeting 1-5years

Individual, RHDC,DAE,BARI

Mulching & moistureconservation

Training, motivation 1-5 years

RHDC, DAE

30

7.1.3 Harvest & Post harvest managementActivities Method/Approaches Time

frameResponsibilities

Crop zoning - Motivation, group discussion on feasibility,crop selection

1-5years

DAE, DAM, NGOs

Reduce postharvest losses &agro processing

- Motivation, use & extension of harvestingdevices- Training to minimize post harvest loss- Training on agro processing- Credit facility- Enterpreneur development for agro processing (public, private, public + private)

1-5years

CHTDB,RHDC, DAE,BARI, Banks, BSCIC,NGOs (micro credit)

Storage facility - Establish temporary storage/shed atcommunity level- Establish cold store in district

2-5years

CHTDB,RHDC,ADB, NGO

Marketingfacility

- Training & motivation- Create growers-buyers linkage- Growers association

1-3years

RHDC, DAM,Cooperative Department,

Rangamati Chamber

Improvecommunicationinfrastructure

- Establish link roads in rural areas- Maintenance of existing roads

1-5years

CHTDB,RHDC,ADB, LGED

7.1.4 Fringe Land UtilizationActivities Method/Approaches Time

frameResponsibilities

Fringe landcultivation

- Follow rule curve- Training & motivation for quick harvest- Supply of short duration crop seeds & other inputs

1-5 years RHDC, DeputyCommissioner,

DAE7.1.5 Horticulture crop (fruits & spices)

Activities Method/Approaches Timeframe

Responsibilities

Establish newfruit garden

- Land selection/planning/budgeting- Training with input supply

1-5years

CHTDB, RHDC, DAE

Management ofexisting gardens

Training & motivation program 1-3years

RHDC, DAE

Increase theproduction of

spices

- Planning for cultivation with training, inputsupport

- Training on processing technology- Marketing facility

1-3years

RHDC, DAE, BARI

Supply of farmmachineries

- Procurement & distribution of farmmachineries

1-2years

RHDC, CHTDB, DAE

Increaseavailability of

quality seedlings

- Strengthening activities of existinghorticulture centres- Establish new horticulture centres

1-5years

RHDC, CHTDB, DAE

31

7.1.6 Soil conservationActivities Method/Approaches Time

frame Responsibilities

Soil conservationplanning

- Preparation of soil conservation map &methodology

1-5years

SRDI, DAE

Use of organicmanure

- Training & demonstration on OM preparation& use

1-5years

RHDC, SRDI, DAE

Soil analysis fordetermining soilnutrient status

- Training & motivation on soil collectionprocedure & use of balance fertilizer (IPNS)- Frequent program of MSTL- Establish soil testing laboratory in district

1-5years

CHTDB, RHDC, SRDI,DAE

Crop selection &cultivation

method in hills

- Suitable crop selection- Training & motivation on productiontechnology

1-5years

RHDC, SRDI, DAE

7.2.1 Quality breed & livestock feedActivities Method/Approaches Time

frameResponsibilities

Improvement of livestockbreed

- Regular AI program- Motivation for AI- Training on AI

1-5 years DLS, NGOs

Availability of qualitypiglets

-Planning for establish pig farm atupazila level

3-5 years RHDC,CHTDB,DLS

Fodder crop production -Training on fodder crop cultivation &supply of seed/cuttings- Training on fodder preservation

1-3 years RHDC, DLS, DAE

Availability of livestockfeed

- Appoint livestock feed dealer atupazila level

1-2 years DLS

7.2.2 Animal health careActivities Method/Approaches Time

frameResponsibilities

Vaccination &deworming

program

- Regular program- Adequate supply of vaccine & medicine

1-5years

DLS, NGOs

Veterinary healthservice

- Training & motivation activities- Adequate supply of medicine

1-5years

RHDC, DLS,NGOs

32

7.2.3 Establish new livestock farmActivities Method/Approaches Time

frameResponsibilities

Cattle farming - Training on dairy cow rearing- Training on beef fattening- credit facility- Mini plant for preserving dairy milk

1-5 years RHDC, DLS

Goat rearing - Training on goat rearing with input supply- credit facility

1-5 years RHDC, DLS

Pig & quail rearing - Training on Pig & quail rearing withinput supply- credit facility

1-5 years RHDC, DLS

Sheep rearing (meat &wool purpose)

- Training on sheep rearing with inputsupply- credit facility

1-5 years RHDC, DLS

7.3.1 Management of Kaptai LakeActivities Method/Approaches Time

frameResponsibilities

Increase fishproduction

- Use HYV fish species- Improve management practice- Organize farmers

1-5 years BFDC, FRI, DoF

Pen/cage culture - Rules of BFDC should be modified forpan/cage culture- Training for fishermen with input supply

1-5 years RHDC, BFDC, FRI,DoF

Duck rearing - Supply of high quality duck variety- Training & credit facility

1-5 years RHDC,BFDC, DLS

7.3.2 Development/ repair of new / existing pond, crickActivities Method/Approaches Time

frameResponsibilities

Improvement ofexisting ponds

- Training & motivation- Demonstration with input supply(fingerlings, fertilizer, lime etc.)

1-5 years RHDC, DoF, NGOs

Digging of newponds

- Support & motivation activity- Provide credit facility

1-5 years RHDC, DoF

33

7.3.3 Quality fingerlings & fish feedActivities Method/Approaches Time

frameResponsibilities

Increase availability ofquality fingerlings

- Establish nursery ponds in upazila- Strengthen existing governmenthatchery

2-3years

CHTDB,RHDC,DoF

Increase fish feed supply - Training on low cost feedproduction- Appoint fish feed dealer

1-3years

RHDC, DoF

7.4.9 Agricultural credit facility

Increase use of loan - Motivation program for growers touse loan- Coordination among loan givingagencies- Easy loan process- Necessary steps to give loan for jum

1-5years

Localbanks,DAE,DLS,DoF, BRDB,NGOs(microcredit)

7.4.3 Replace TobaccoActivities Method/Approaches Time

frameResponsibilities

Replace tobacco - Motivation & training on winter cropcultivation with input supply- Regulatory acts on tobacco cultivation

1-5years

RC,RHDC,DAE

7.1.8 AfforestationPlantation &conservation

of forest areas

- Technical committee to select appropriate species- Plantation of mixed forest species- Rules should be followed during cutting wood

1-2years

RHDC, Forestdeptt, DAE,

NGOs7.4.7 Cotton

Activities Method/Approaches Timeframe

Responsibilities

Increase cottonproduction

- Training, demonstration with input supply- Seed distribution- Marketing facility- Establish new ginning station- Supply of hand ginning machine

1-5years

CHTDB,RHDC,CDB,DAE

7.4.6 Increase oil, pulse, wheat, maize seed

Increase area &production

of oil & pulseseeds

- Training & demonstration with inputpackage- Irrigation facility- Training on stored grain pest management

1-5years

RHDC, DAE,BARI

7.4.2 Sugarcane

Increase area &production

of sugarcane

- Training & input(set, fertilizer, pesticide etc.) supply- Irrigation facility_ Credit facility- Support for gur preparation & marketing

1-5years

CHTDB,RHDC,DAE, BSRI, Banks

34

Activities Method/Approaches Time frame Responsibilities7.4.1 Herbal garden

Establish herbalgarden

- Training on gardening with input supply- Land settlement- Marketing facility

5-10years

CHTDB,RHDC, Headman,

NGOs

7.4.4 Mushroom cultivationIncrease mushroom

production- Training on production ,Processing &

preservation- Strengthening existing mushroom centre- Mini lab at upazila level- Marketing facility- Research on local/indigenous varieties- Develop private entrepreneurship

1-5years

CHTDB,RHDC, DAE

Activities Method/Approaches Timeframe

Responsibilities

7.4.10 Tea cultivation

Establish teagarden

- Land settlement, planning- Training on production & plucking with

package support- Mini factory for processing- Provide credit facility- Market linkage with the help of Tea Board

/NGOs

1-7years

CHTDB, RHDC,Bangladesh Tea Board,Headman, NGOs

7.4.8 Off farm activity (Bamboo & cane)

Plantation &use of

bamboo &cane

- Plantation & conservation- Training on making handicrafts- Use in furniture making, construction

1-5years

RHDC, BSCIC,NGOs

Activities Method/Approaches Time frame Responsibilities7.4.5 ICT

Access toinformation

- Information centre at community level- ICT lab at district level- Community / rural radio- Toll free call service- Printing & distribution of different

information- Use mass media

1-5 years RHDC, AIS, Linedepartments, InformationMinistry

7.4.11 Sericulture

Increasesilkworm

production

- Training on production technology withinput supply

- Marketing facility- Motivation & awareness buildup- Strengthening research activities

1-5 years CHTDB,RHDC,Sericulture Board, NGOs

35

8. Implementation framework8.1 Roles and responsibilities of departments and local government bodies8.1.1 Institutions: working at present in RangamatiGovernment agencies : The CHT Development Board (CHTDB) was established as a leadinginstitution to plan and implement development activities in the region. It has a regional set up,as well as office at the district level.Public agencies are a major service provider in various field of agriculture; among these presentin the CHT is the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Department of Fisheries (DOF),Department of Livestock (DLS) and Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation(BADC) have office at the district and upazila level. DAE also have union level extension staff.Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) is located in Rangamati, whichmanages the Kaptai Lake. Among NARS institutes are the Bangladesh Sugarcane ResearchInstitute (BSRI) and Soil Resources Development Institute (SRDI), which are based in districtheadquarters. There is a research station of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI)at Raikhali (Kaptai).

Private sector: Private sector is expanding in almost all spheres. They are contributing in theconstruction of road infrastructure (as contractors), production (agriculture, agro-processing)and services (sale of seed, fertilizers, pesticides, tools and value chain management) andservices (marketing, etc). There is a Chamber of Commerce in Rangamati.

NGOs: Many NGOs are active in Rangamati. There are some national NGOs who haveactivities in the CHT. Beside this many local NGOs are registered with different authorities.Some of them have programs in the field of agriculture.

In Rangamati district local NGOs help in local mobilization for many farmers field schools aspartner of CHTDF. FFSs are run by the RHDC. Presently CHTDF has 13 NGO partners underits community empowerment project (CEP).

The institutional setting has been presented in figure.

LocalGovt. Privet

sector

Traditionalinstitution Government agency Traditional

institution

Regionalcouncil

UnionParishad

HillDistrictcouncil

UpazilaParishad

Village

CHT Dev DAEFD

CircleChief

Karbari

headman

DAE,DOF, DLS,BADC

BFDCFDNARSInstitute

DAE

DAE,DOF, DLS

Chamber ofcommerceandindustries,traders,associationetc

Localnational

36

Figure: Institutions in CHT

8.1.2 Roles & Responsibilities

Different departments and local government bodies which are working in the districts havetheir own activities according to different citizen charter. Different line departments haveproduction, extension or research plan & they execute it accordingly. Here some of theactivities of different local government body, extension & research organizations are givenbelow:Rangamati Hill District Council (RHDC)

The administrative system of three Hill Districts including Rangamati is different from other 61districts of Bangladesh. 22 departments are transferred to the Hill Districts & other 11departments are yet to hand over. All development works are placed for implementationthrough Hill District Council. Each councilor is responsible to look after about 3-4 departmentsalso act as the convenor of the departments. Major responsibilities of RHDC:

- Strengthening agriculture development & extension- Development & extension of fisheries & livestock activities at district & upazila level- Conservation & development of environment- Recruit, transfer, promotion and disciplinary action of 3rd & 4th class staff of transferred

departments

Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE)- Provide extension support to all categories of farmers- Helps farmers to overcome different problems (production, farm management and

marketing) at farm level- Demand-led extension service provided by participatory techniques- Maintained extension-research linkage- Training & motivational program of extension personnel and farmers- Helps farmers make better use of existing technology- Introduce new technology to farmers- Provides information to agricultural research institutions on farmers production

constraints & feedback messages to farmers- Establish/conduct demonstration/field day on various technology for dissemination;- Participation in different fairs at Upazila and District level- Estimation of fertilizer requirement of different upazila & management of it properly

Horticulture Center- Production & selling of quality sapling- Existing mother tree management and establish new variety- Provide practical oriented training- Collection exotic variety and testing in the farm- Collection and preservation of germplasm- Provide technical support- Participation in different fair

Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC)

- Storage and distribution of fertilizer- Distribution of rice, vegetables seed and fruits sapling through dealer/farmers with

farm gate price- Supply agricultural inputs like power tiller, shallow tube well, sprayer etc.

37

- Provide agricultural training in command area and supply leaflet/booklet as perrequired

- Linkage maintain with farmers and research organization for technologydissemination

- Overall Socioeconomic development for the farmers-

Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI)

- Execute annual research programs at farmers field- To examine/verify of newly released variety and agricultural technology at farmers

field through verification trial/adaptive research/farming system research- To coordinate overall production system of a farmer through farming system

research- To identify location specific problem and undertake research program for solving the

problem through social survey- Arrange training/field day on agricultural technology for farmers and extension

workers- Maintain linkage among farmers, extension workers

Soil Resources Development Institute (SRDI)

- Develop management technique of soil erosion- Conduct the MSTL program- Soil nutrients status analysis and supply health card to the farmer- Provide farmers training on soil sample collection- Recommendation of fertilizer dose accordingly

Cotton Development Board (CDB)

- Distribution of hill cotton seed with free of cost- Establish demonstration plot- Extension of improved cotton cultivation method- Helps in marketing of cotton- Provide training to farmers

Bangladesh Sugarcane Research Institute (BSRI)- Establish varietals trial of sugarcane- Develop sugarcane and vegetables intercropping system- Extension of sugarcane production at hill valleys- Provide training & supply inputs to farmers- Improve socioeconomic condition through income generating activities i.e. gur

production-

Department of Livestock Services (DLS)

- Supply vaccine with government rate- Provide animal health care services- Popularized artificial insemination (AI) for breed development- Provide technical support for poultry, pig , goat, dairy farming- Provide training to GO/NGO’s- Registration of private farm- Arrange motivational program

Department of Fisheries (DoF)

38

- Extension fish production technology- Introduce activities of good aquaculture practices- Implement various fish act and ensure quality fish production law- Helps farmers by providing new information regarding fish cultivation- Provide training to fish farmers and staff- Arrange motivational program for awareness building.

Agriculture Information Service (AIS)- Dissemination of information through different mass media- Collection & broadcast of successful story of farmers in print or electronic media- Conduct farmers’ training, workshop & seminar at upazila, district & regional level- Coordinate the regular agricultural program of Radio Bangladesh Rangamati &

Bandarban centre- Conduct different workshop & seminar at district & regional level- Printing & distribution of different local need based printing materials (leaflet,

folder, banner, festoon etc.)- Monitor the activities of AICC

8.2 Suggestions for Capacity building of service providers

- Government line agencies and private sector service providers working in the CHT tend tofocus on plain land farming issues, problems and interventions. They have limited knowledgeof hill agriculture or upland farming system, as this has not been addressed in the curriculum.Persons who are posted in the CHT, especially in the field of agriculture research andextension, need proper training and orientation on upland farming system. The scientists andextension personal who working in the CHT should receive, if necessary, oversees trainingwhere research and extension activities are conducted in similar environments. Farmers at thecommunity level also need training on new technology and also need exposure todemonstration on field trials. The CHTDF has conducted program on capacity development onCHT institutions, such as HDCs, RC, MoCHTA and community leaders to deliver qualityservices and support community development. This program should continue under aninstitutionalized arrangement.

- Different transferred line departments (DAE, DLS, DoF etc.) should be involved in alldevelopment activities of RHDC. RHDC may form some technical sub-committees (e.g. crop,livestock, fisheries etc.) with the help of line departments (including extension & researchinstitutions) which will prepare a plan for the district. Existing Agricultural CoordinationCommittee should prepare an integrated development & extension plan, budget and executionpolicy which should include short term, mid term & long term activities. All types of needsshould be determined at the community level with the technical assistance of the linedepartments. RHDC should provide fund in time and will be responsible for monitor andevaluation of all implementation activities & the line departments should be responsible forexecution of the activities.

- RHDC will fulfill or recruit all vacant technical posts of different extension service providerslike DAE, DLS, DoF etc. RHDC can arrange for posting of different officers in the vacant postswith the consultation with MOCHTA & other concerned Ministries. More over, they should beempowered to appoint 1st class officers on the adhoc basis. (Technical staff HR gap in selecteddepartment is given in the annexure table 12a, 12b & 12c)

39

- To make the availability of the different crop seed, saplings at least one horticulture centreshould be established in Kowkhali, Baghaichhari, Rajasthali, Bilaichhari, Barkal, Jurachhariupazila.

- To determine the soil nutrient status and conserve soil health one soil testing laboratoryshould be established in the district so that the farmers can analyze their soil for cropproduction.

- The duration of activities of Bangladesh Sugarcane Research Institute (BSRI) which is goingin Rangamati as a pilot project should be increased. It may be establish as a permanent officehere.

- The existing mushroom development center’s activities should be strengthening with morebudget allocation. One mini laboratory should be established in each upazila.

- Farmers should build up with groups for better extension work so that farmers can get moreinformation from extension providers. Discussions between them may have more exchange ofviews and information. FFS conducted by the UNDP may permanently formed by recognitionfrom govt. agencies like Cooperative Department or Social welfare Department. These groupsmay play as a club with small house in which agricultural tools may be given to them. Papers,magazines, radios, games and other many tools may provide to them for attraction ofparticipation in the club.

- At present the hill allowance is given to all government employee which is 30% of the basicnot more that taka 3000/- per month. It should be reviewed. All employees should receive 30%hill allowance with no ceiling. In addition deputation allowance should be introduced in case ofdeputed post in RHDC.

- Due to Lack of proper education, health care facility in Rangamati Hill District many servicemen do not feel interest to work or to be posted in the district. So education and health carefacility should be improved for the development of the district.

- All Union Parishad complexes should be established. In this complex DAE, DLS, DoF fieldstaffs should be available for provide better service. By this a good coordination will developand accountability of extension service providers should be ensured. The government extensionservice staffs as well as all NGO field staffs should attend regular UP coordination meeting.

- To get maximum and sustainable production of jum crop, a jum research centre should beestablished in the CHT region. They will conduct local need based research activity, varietalsimprovement and disseminate them with the help of line departments.

- Due to lack of transport facility, most of the government extension departments (DAE, DLS,DoF) even can not provide better and proper extension services to the remote people. Inriverend upazilas the problems is more acute. For this transport facility like motor vehicle forroad communicated upazila and motor driven boat for riverend upazila should be provided toall line departments.

- The most prospect area of the hill agriculture is horticulture development and one of the mostimportant problems of agriculture is irrigation and water management. But there is no post of

40

Horticulture Specialist and Water Management Specialist in the organogram of DAE, districtlevel. These two important posts should be created for improvement of agriculture.

- One disease diagnosis laboratory may be established in the district for identifying differentlivestock diseases which will help to prevent & cure many diseases

- Some motivation & awareness creating activities like Agriculture Fair (in winter), KrishiDibash (Agriculture Day), Agricultural Technology Fair etc. may be organized regularly.Successful farmers, extension workers, researchers, public representative may be awarded intheses program which will help other’s motivation

8.3 Technology dissemination and managementThere are many ways of technology dissemination to the farmers. There is personal contact,group approach or participatory method. Some of the agricultural technology disseminationand management system is stated below:

1. Demonstrations of new technology2. Field Days/ Farmers Rallies3. District and Upazila Fairs4. Farm Walks/ Motivational Tours/Exposure visit5. Use of Mass Media – print, electronic media6. Group discussion7. Formal /Informal Training with inputs supply8. Farmer Field Schools9. IPM / ICM school10. Regular training of extension personnel & farmers11. Workshop with stakeholders

ManagementThe management system includes planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation,agricultural credit flow and follows up of different extension activities. The line departmentswill prepare the plan, implement follow up different activities where Agriculture ManagementCommittee will monitor & evaluate.Some proposed management committee, main body & their roles/responsibilities are givenbelow:

A. CHT Ministry Management CommitteeMain body Committee Roles &

Responsibilities

41

MOCHTA 1. Minister, MOCHTA - President2. Chairman, Regional Council – Member3. Chairman – CHTDB – Member4. Chairman, RHDC– Member5. Chairman, KHDC– Member6. Chairman, BHDC– Member7. Circle Chief, Chakma Circle - Member8. Circle Chief, Mong Circle - Member9. Circle Chief, Bomang Circle – Member10. Ministries, Line Departments - Member11. NGO Representatives – Member

-Coordination withdifferent departments-Quarterly coordinationmeeting-Finance-Budgeting-Progress &development of projects-Evaluation

B. CHT Regional Management CommitteeMainbody

Committee Roles &Responsibilities

RegionalCouncil

1. Chairman, Regional Council - President2 Chairman, RHDC– Member3. Chairman, KHDC– Member4. Chairman, BHDC– Member5. Circle Chief, Chakma Circle - Member6. Circle Chief, Mong Circle - Member7. Circle Chief, Bomang Circle – Member8. Deputy Commissioner, Rangamati- Member9. Deputy Commissioner, Khagrachhari-Member10. Deputy Commissioner, Bandarban- Member11. CHTDB Representative – Member12. Councilors, Regional Council - Member13. NGO Representatives – Member14. Manager, Hydroelectric Project, Kaptai -Member

-Coordination withdifferent departmentsworking in CHTs-Monthly coordinationmeeting-development &projects Progressdiscussion-Evaluation of theprojects

42

C. RHD Management CommitteeMainbody

Committee Roles & Responsibilities

RHDC 1. Chairman, RHDC - President2 Councilors, RHDC - Member3. Chairman, Upazila Parishad (all)– Member4. Deputy Commissioner, Rangamati-Member5. Superintendent of Police - Member6. Heads of Transferred Departments -Member7. Circle Chief, Bomang Circle – Member8. Mouza Headman (all)- Member9. Manager, BFDC- Member10. Manager, Kaptai Hydroelectric Project -Member11. Manager, KPM – Member12. BARI, Representative- Member13. SRDI, Representative- Member14. Sericulture Board, Representative-Member15. Tea Board Representative - Member16. NGO Representatives – Member

-Coordination with alldepartments working inRHD-Planning projects-Finance & budgeting-Monitoring &development of on goingprojects-Monthly coordinationmeeting-Identify & solution ofproblems-Evaluation of the projects

D. Upazila Management Committee

Mainbody

Committee Roles & Responsibilities

UpazilaParishad

1. Chairman, Upazila Parishad- President2. Vice-chairman, Upazila Parishad- Member3. Vice-chairman(Female), Upazila Parishad-Member4. Heads of the Departments – Member5. Chairman, Union Parishad ( all) – Member6. Mouza Headman (all) – Member7. NGO Representatives – Member

-Coordination with alldepartments-Planning of projects-Monthly coordination meeting-Finance & budgeting-Monitoring & developmentof on going projects

E. Union Management Committee

Mainbody

Committee Roles & Responsibilities

UnionParishad

1. Chairman, Union Parishad - President2. All Members(12), Union Parishad - Member3. Mouza Headman (all) – Member4. SAAO/VFA/Asstt. Fisheries Officer –Member5. NGO Representatives – Member

-Coordination among thedepartments-Monthly coordination meeting-Discussion of different ongoing projects-Identify & solution ofproblems

43

F. Farmers’ Organization Management Committee

Main body Committee Roles & ResponsibilitiesFarmers’Organization

1. Chairman, PDC - President2. SAAO/VFA/Asstt. Fisheries Officer –Member3. Para Karbari (all) – Member4. Farmer’s Representatives – Member5. Facilitator -Member

-Discussion of differentrunningprojects-Identify & solution ofproblems-Discussion about financialmaters-Marketing-Monthly coordination meeting

8.4 Extension – research –farmer linkage

The DAE, DLS, DoF is working for dissemination of new technology or variety among thebeneficiaries. Different research institute conduct different research activities to addressdifferent problems or issues. In Rangamati, there is a centre of BARI at Raikhali, Kaptai whichworks for selection, improvement and extension of local different fruits and spices successfully.But there is no research centre for jum cultivation or rice research station. A substation of FRIis working here for lake development. SRDI, BSRI, Sericulture Research Centre (Baroghonia,Kaptai) are also conducting their research and extension activities in different locations. SRDIconduct training program, soil collection and analysis activities with the help of DAE atdifferent upazilas of Rangamati. Mobile Soil Testing Laboratory (MSTL) visits differentupazilas of the district to analyze soil nutrients at upazila level.

Fisheries research institute (FRI) working for extension of indigenous varieties of fish. Theyalso work with high yielding variety of different fish like grass carp, pangas, nilotika etc.

Bangladesh Sericulture Board is working for extension of silkworm cultivation in someupazilas. Due to lack of cultivable land, there is an opportunity of silkworm cultivation athousehold level. A pilot project of BSRI is working for extension and research activities ofsome local and exotic chewing type sugarcane variety in different upazila. They maintain aliaison with the DAE. They also give support to establish demonstration, inputs supply, trainingand gur preparation with the help of DAE.

However, the linkage among the research, extension and farmers should be strengthening.Regular coordination, some field demonstration of different technology, farmers rally/field day,motivation tour etc. will make a good result. Moreover, all types of research activities shouldbe taken on local need and resource based. For this, RHDC can play a vital role for conductingresearch and extension of new technologies.

44

9. Annexure

Baghaichhari Rajasthali TotalDAE 8 7 15DLS 1 1 2DoF 1 - 1Headman 2 3 5HDC 1 1 2UNDP 3 - 3Karbari 3 3 6Farmer 12 12 32NGO 1 2 2UNO - 1 1Upazila chairman - 1 1Upazila vice chairman 2 2 4Union Parishad chairman - 3 3Union Parishad member 5 6 11Local elite person 1 2 2FFS/PDC 14 5 11pawrashava 1 - 2Total 55 49 103

Table 1 - List of participants of workshop

ChallengesCrop related

Baghaichhari upazila Rajasthali upazila

Irrigation and water management Poor productivity of jumPoor communication Quality seedlack of quality seed Soil fertilityLack of knowledge of organic manure& fertilizer

Lack of technical knowledge

Lack of technical knowledge Land problemDiseases and pest outbreak Storage problemLack of agriculture machinery Agriculture creditAgriculture credit Marketing problemNo facility of cold storage Irrigation problemQuality seedling Diseases and insects outbreakFringe land cultivation Quality seedlingProductivity of jum Agro processingLack of manpower Lack of manpower

45

Fisheries relatedLack of quality fingerlings Quality fingerlingWater bodies Water bodiesSupplementary feed/fish feed Knowledge of pan/cage cultureLack of awareness Conservation of indigenous fishLack of planning Agriculture creditAgriculture credit TrainingLack of manpower Lack of manpower

Problem of fish feed

Livestock relatedSupply of vaccine and medicine Lack of quality breedInsufficient livestock feed Technical knowledgeLivestock credit Quality feedLack of manpower AI program

Capital problemLack of grazing landLack of manpower

Table 2: Identified problems in the workshops

Food items Indigenous people Bangalees All CHTRice 100 100 100Flour/Wheat 5 15 9Puffed Rice 25 69 45Fish 89 98 93Dry fish 88 75 82Meat 67 63 65Nappi 95 1 53Egg 35 64 48Oil 100 100 100Pulse 41 77 57Bamboo Shoot 66 7 40Vegetable 96 100 98Potato 81 95 87Arum 69 53 62Dry Vegetables 25 3 15Onion/Garlic 95 99 97Milk 18 31 24Spice 85 97 90Fruit 36 40 38Salt 99 99 99Sugar 40 75 56Molasses 14 13 13Chili 20 24 22N 1786 1452 3238

Table 3 - Reported Food Items Consumed by Households (%)(Socioeconomic Baseline Survey of CHT, CHTDF-2009)

46

Table 4: Per capita daily food Table 4: Per capita daily food

consumption of the household (gm)(Socioeconomic Baseline Survey of CHT, CHTDF-2009)

Food items Indigenouspeople All

Bangalees All CHT

Carbohydrate(kcal) 1368 1464 1411Protein 121 104 112Vegetable 223 144 187All food items 1762 1842 1798Carbohydrate based energyas % of total energy intake

77.6 79.5 78.5

protein based energy as %of total energy intake

7 6 6

vegetable based energy as% of total energy intake

- 8 10

N 1786 1452 3238Table 5 -Distribution of Food Energy Intake by Broader Categories

Food items Indigenous people Bangalees All CHTRice 396 423 408Flour/Wheat 1 5 3Puffed Rice 3 17 9Fish 24 39 31Dry fish 10 7 8Meat 11 11 11Nappi 11 0 6Egg 0 0 0Oil 1 0 1Pulse 4 8 5Bamboo Shoot 50 4 30Vegetable 147 163 154Potato 37 47 41Arum 25 14 20Dry Vegetables 4 1 2Onion/Garlic 11 15 13Milk 3 7 5Spice 3 4 3Fruit 7 7 7Salt 14 16 15Sugar 4 11 7Molasses 1 1 1Chili 2 2 2All food 765 800 781N 1786 1452 3238

47

(Socioeconomic Baseline Survey of CHT, CHTDF-2009)

Food security status Indigenouspeople All

Bangalees All CHT

Magh(jan-feb) 2.4 2.2 2.3Falgun(feb-mar) 2.2 2.2 2.2Chaitra(mar-apr) 2.0 2.2 2.1Baishakh(apr-may) 2.0 2.2 2.1Jaisthya(may-jun) 1.9 2.2 2.1Ashar(jun-jul) 1.8 2.0 1.9Shraban(jul-aug) 1.9 2.0 1.9Bhadra(aug-sep) 2.1 2.1 2.1Ashwin(sep-oct) 2.3 2.1 2.2Kartik(oct-nov) 2.3 2.2 2.3Agrahayan(nov-dec) 2.4 2.3 2.4Poush(dec-jan) 2.5 2.3 2.4All months 2007 2.1 2.1 2.1

Table 6 -Average Aggregate Value of Food Security Status by Months(Socioeconomic Baseline Survey of CHT, CHTDF-2009)

3 Febr uar y 2013 21

All months 2009Poush (Dec-Jan)

Augrahayan (Nov-Dec)

Kartik (Oct-Nov)Ashyin (Sept-Oct)Bhadra (Aug-Sept)Sravan (July-Aug)Ashar (June-July)Jaistha (May-June)Baishak (April-MayChaitra (March-AprilFalgun (Feb-March)Mag (Jan-Feb)

AllBaw mMroTanch-TripuraMarmaChakmaIndigenous communitiesFood securit y status by

months

Source: Jamaluddin et.al 2010, Adapted after UNDP, 2009

Food Security Status : Conservative Estimation (CHT)

Note: Insecured More or less secured

Table 7: Food Security Status(Socioeconomic Baseline Survey of CHT, CHTDF-2009)

Rabi Kharif-1 Kharif-2Boro Fallow T-AmanBoro Fallow Fallow

Fallow Fallow T-AmanBoro Aus T-Aman

Fallow Aus (jhum) FallowW. vegetable Fallow T-Aman

Mustard Fallow T- AmanSugarcane

GingerTurmeric

HorticultureTable 8 -Cropping pattern (DAE, Rangamati-2011-2012/2012/2013)

48

no Name Area (ha) Production (ton) Yield (m.ton)1 Mango 1905 26670 142 Jackfruit 2787 75527 27.13 Litchi 868 7812 94 Guava 486 6561 13.55 Banana 7537 188425 256 Papaya 909 19543 21.57 Black berry 148 1998 13.58 Coconut 799 10387 139 Betel nut 425 3400 810 Water melon 191 9168 4811 Orange 241 1095 7512 Jujube 598 5747 9.6113 Olive 157 1915 12.214 Pineapple 1862 40219 21.616 Hog plum 50 900 1817 Myrobalan (amoloki) 116 893 7.718 Carambola

(kamranga)40 320 8

19 Pomelo 160 1920 1220 Lemon 412 1854 4.521 Wood apple 114 1824 1622 Sapota 27 194 7.223 Tamarind 43.5 613 14.124 Cashew nut 15 113 7.5525 Malta 5.6 56 1026 Chalta 23 345 15

Table 9 -FRUITS TABLE(DAE, Rangamati-2011-2012/2012/2013)

1 Power pump 49152 LLP 49043 Electricity based 104 Deep tube well 15 Under irrigation land 8393 ha6 Dam/water stream 500 – 1000 ha7 % irrigated land 13.9%

Table 10 -Irrigation information (2011-12)(DAE, Rangamati-2011-2012/2012/2013)

49

Name Area (ha) Production(ton) Yield(ton)

Yield potential(ton/ha)

Yield gap(ton/ha)

Mango 1905 26670 14 25 11Jackfruit 2787 75527 27.1 80-90 53-63Litchi 868 7812 9 12 3Guava 486 6561 13.5 40-50 26-36Papaya 909 19543 21.5 40 19Black berry 148 1998 13.5 30-40 14-24Bar 598 5747 9.61 15-20 5-10Pomelo 160 1920 12 40-50 28-38Sapota 27 194 7.2 15-20 8-13Malta 5.6 56 10 25-30 15-20

Table 11- Potentiality of fruit production

Total in Rangamati Hill DistrictDesignationSanction Vacant

Deputy director 1 -DTO 1 1CPS 1 -PPS 1 -UAO 10 4Horticulturist /asst. horticulturist 4 2Additional AO 10 10AEO 10 6AAEO 10 1Nursery superintendent (NS) 2 -SAPPO 10 -SAAO 175 6Total 235 30

Table 12 (a): Vacant posts (DAE)

Designation Sanction VacantDFO 1 -SUFO 1 -UFO 7 4Asst. fisheries officer 8 1Field assistant 8 4total 25 9

Table12 (b): Vacant posts (Department of Fisheries)

Designation Sanction VacantDLO 1 -ADLO 1 1AD(pig farm) 01 1ULO 10 08VS 11 06VFA 30 00total 54 16

Table12(c): Vacant posts (Department of Livestock)

50

References

1) Talukder, Kazal (2004), consultancy report on agriculture, FAO, Dhaka.2) Dewan, Sumitra and Talukder, Kazal (September 2010), group and livestock feasibility

survey report, ADB, Bangladesh.3) Annual report 2011, CHTDF, promotion of development and confidence building in the

CHTs,4) Socio-economic baseline survey of CHTs April 08, 2009, CHTDF, UNDP.5) CHT Agricultural Development Strategy6) Annual Report 2008-09, Agronomy, Soil Science, Plant Protection, PGRC, Hill

Agricultural Research Station, Khagrachhari7) Uddin, Dr. M. Sabjal, marketing and preservation techniques for fruits and vegetables

appropriate for hill farming communities in CHTs, 15 may 1997, Khagrachhari.8) Annual report 2010, BBS9) Pillai, K G (GOB/UNDP/FAO PROJECT, BGD/1990/007), 17 December 2003,

Agriculture in CHTS: prospects and potentials, Rangamati.10)On going agriculture extension activities - 2011-12, 2012-13, DAE, Rangamati.11)Unnoyaner char bachhor; Rangamati Parbatya Zila Parishad (four years of

development; RHDC), 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-4, 2004-05 (November 2005) RHDC.12) Rashid, Dr. ASM Harunur and Chakma, Paban Kumar, June 2012, jum research resulton suitability of rice varieties with other crops and exploration of better managementspractices in jum field, Rangamati.

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