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3rd
International Forum on Water and Food, Tshwane, South Africa
The Ganges DBC
Table of contents
Page #
1. Introduction 032. Forum objective 033. The Ganges Basin 03
3.1 Participation 04
3.2 Share fair 04
3.3 Social Media 04
3.4 Print Media 04
3.5 Story Telling 04
3.6 Presentation Session 05
3.6.1 Objective 05
3.6,2 Expected Output 05
3.6.3 Roles and Responsibilities 05
3.6.4 Room layout plan 06
3.6.5 Activities/presentation 07
3.6.6 Documentation of presentation session 07
3.6.7 Pagers 13
3.6.8 Session presentation 30
3.6.9 Business Session 51
3.6.10 List of participants 54
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3rd
International Forum on Water and Food, Tshwane, South Africa
The Ganges BDC
1. Introduction
The CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food organized the 1st
IFWF (International Forum on Water and
food) in 2006 in Vientiane, Laos and the second in 2008 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The present 3rd
IFWF forum
was held in Tshwane, Pretoria, South Africa in November 2011. The IFWF forums are known for their
innovative spirit and ability to federate and influence in important opportunity to share lessons learned,
synthesize and align? Results across thematic areas.
The 1st
day (14 November 2011) of the IFWF3 forum started with formal opening with welcome address by
Mr. Alain Vidal, the Director of the CPWF. Renowned keynote speakers presented valuable issue-wise (mainly
on water and food) papers in the forum. The forum management committee arranged debate on `Research
for Development is relevant and essential between journalists/development professionals and followed by
audience supports.
2. Forum Objective
The forum brings together CPWF partners and a range of key decision makers to assess the relevance of its
research for development programs, the basin projects, share experiences and capitalize on emerging results.
3. The Ganges Basin
People living in the coastal areas of the Ganges River confront large challenges in increasing food production
and improving livelihoods in the face of climate change. Inundation and severe flooding is a frequent
phenomenon in the coastal region that leads to loss of lives and livelihoods, and salinity intrusion is a growing
challenge for many farmers. The Ganges Basin Development Challenge (BDC) is Increasing the resilience of
agricultural and aquaculture systems in the coastal areas of the Ganges delta.
The Ganges program was launched in June 2011, focused on brackish-water coastal zones, where agricultura
lands faced maximum salinity in dry season, addressing three major themes of innovation: (1) water
management and water governance, with special reference to the management of polders in Bangladesh; (2)
development of institutions for community resource management; and (3) crop management for salt affected
lands. The program builds on successful development outcomes from CPWF Phase 1, and through scaling out
of strategies and systems developed envisages to benefiting over 1 million households during the next 10
years.
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The Ganges session at IFWF 3 was intended to share experiences and plans from the five Ganges BDC projects
and a Basin Story from a CPWF Phase 1 project on community based fish culture that provides lessons for the
current phase, as we seek to increase the development outcomes and impacts from our CPWF research under
the Phase 2 project. We seek feedback from participants on lessons and opportunities for wider sharing of
knowledge and experiences as the Ganges program moves forward
The presentations cover the role of the Ganges Change and Coordination project, four papers on agriculture
and aquaculture cropping systems in coastal Bangladesh, the use of spatial data as a decision support and
policy development tool, the influence of global drivers on the Ganges delta and water governance. The
community based fish culture story shows how very simple technical interventions and co-management
arrangements can increase fish production, enhance fish species diversity, improve water management and
generate tangible benefits for floodplain resource users, particularly the poor and landless. The challenge of
integration of diversified agriculture-aquaculture production systems that could significantly enhanced theproduction and income of existing farming systems in coastal ecosystems of Ganges is addressed in the
cropping system papers. The session would also discuss the possibility of introducing new short duration rice
varieties to accommodate additional crops in the dry season and the possibility of growing double or triple rice
crops in the difficult situation by adjusting the seedling age, planting time and methods as well. The challenges
of transferring the results of research to development will also be examined.
3.1 Participation
Form Ganges Basin altogether 21 professionals participated in the IFWF3 forum including one under PIP
(Policy Impact Panel) and one journalist. The Ganges team contributed in the following major events of theforum:
- Share Fair- Social media- Print media- Story telling- Presentation of results of 1st phase and planning of 2nd phase
3.2 Share Fair
The forum committee allocated a booth for Ganges BDC. The Communication Coordinator of GBDC took lead
to organize the booth with following visuals:
- Video show: (following videos were presented one after another during the show time (12 noon to 3pm on 15 and 16 November)
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o Partnership in Practice (mainly showed the process and methods of water management in thecoastal polders of Ganges Basin)
o Case Study (best water management practice and outcomes)o Success Story (community based aquaculture development)
- Photo slide show:o Covers the some activities of Ganges project area (G1-G4)o Covers integration of aquaculture and agriculture in Indian parts of the Ganges basin
- Poster show on:o Ganges basin: location and distribution of working polders by G1 G5o Prevailing problems and potential: impacts of external drivers on water resources in coasta
zones of Ganges (G4)
o Polder water management (G3)o Major activities of WorldFish Center in Bangladesh (G5)
3.3 Social Media
The communication coordinator contributed to develop message on IFWF3 forum and uploaded current
activities of the forum in the Twitter and Yammer. In IFWF3 there was a team called social media, who were
responsible for social networking. This social media team has shared all information regarding forum through different
websites. This team has tweeted the links to the blog posts and other updates during the forum. They have shared
information in Yammer website, which is developed for sharing information in CPWF and CGIAR network. There was lot
of live tweeting of different sessions done by social media team members. Dozens of volunteers worked for this team
who were from different basins. The Ganges BDC communication coordinator worked as one of this team members.
3.4 Print Media
The journalist of Ganges BDC contributed to develop story line using the success and impact of projects
operated in the 1st
phase of CPWF in the Ganges area. The story line printed in the newsletter of CPWF
circulated to the forum participants.
3.5 Story Telling
Dr. Benoy Kumar Barman presented the story on `community based Fish culture in the Flood plains ofBangladesh in the story line session on the IFWF3 forum on 15 November. The story was appreciated by the
management team and the audience as well.
3.6 Presentation Session
Session Lead: Nowsher Ali Sarder
Session Chair: Michael Phillips
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Moderator: Bharat Sharma
Rapporteur: Ruvicyn Bayot
Time Keeper: Jitendra Sundaray
3.6.1 Objectives:1. To present the Ganges BDC2. To discuss the possible contributions of the Ganges BDC to other relevant programs within and outside the
CPWF; and learning from Ganges that may be of wider interest
3. To discuss the contributions of the Ganges BDC to policy4. To discuss explicitly the responses to the four questions
a. What is new and innovative from the session?b. What has changed in the understanding of a specific basin development challenge and how to address
it?
c. What are the messages and lessons emerging from/ for R4D?d. What are the messages for any specific target groups? What are the specific messages for Africa?
3.6.2 Expected Outputs1. Improvements in the Ganges BDC concept resulting from the discussions2. Identified possible collaborative activities with other groups within and outside the CPWF program3. Identified contributions to policy4. Documentations
a. Cardsb. Session summaryc. Briefing notes
3.6.3 Roles and Responsibilities
Session Lead Nowsher
Sarder
Responsible for organizing the session
Responsible for making a sales pitch about the session
Responsible for contacting invited participants to the Session
To contribute to session documentation
Session Chair Michael
Phillips
Responsible for giving the overview of the Session
Responsible for giving the summary/ synthesis of the Session
Responsible for leading the documentation (contribution to the
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Capitalizing Session, Briefing Notes)
Facilitator/
Moderator
Bharat
Sharma
Responsible for moderating the presentations and discussions
Responsible for leading the activities
To contribute to the session documentation
Facilitator/
Reporter
Bing Bayot Responsible for taking notes of the key messages from the session
Responsible for setting up the room and getting the session materials
ready
To contribute to the session documentation
Session Booth SalmaSultana and
group (ask
for
volunteers)
Responsible for setting up the exhibits
Responsible for manning the booth
Media relations Reps from
Ganges
projects
Discuss in detail the project key messages and activities with the
media (be more proactive)
Could be done during the share Fair session so please stay in thebooth as much as possible
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3.6.4 Room lay out3.6.5
3.6.5 Activities/PresentationTime Topic Presenter
3:00 to 3:05 pm Session briefing from the Chair Michael Phillips
Senior Scientist, WFC
3: 05 to 3:15 pm The Ganges Basin Development Challenge and the Role
of Change and Coordination Project
Nowsher Ali Sarder
Basin Leader
3:15 to 3:25 pm Aus-Aman Cropping System: A New Approach for
Increasing Cropping Intensityin Southwest CoastalBangladesh
Sanjida Parvin Ritu
Scientist, BRRI
3:25 to 3:35 pm Improving drainage is crucial for cropping intensification
in the poldered coastal zones of Bangladesh
Manoranjan Kumar Mondal
Collaborative Scientist, IRRI
3:35 to 3:45 pm Rice Varieties with Multiple Traits for Intensive
Cropping in the Coastal Zones of the Ganges
Glenn Gregorio
Screen
Socia
lreporters
Board Board
Ganges team
Discussants
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Senior Scientist, IRRI
3:45 to 3:50 pm A Community-based Fish Culture Approach Benoy Kumar Barman
Research Coordinator, WFC
3:50 to 4:00 pm Integrated Aqua-Agricultural Production Systems in the
Brackish Water Zones of Bangladesh
Benoy Kumar Barman
Research Coordinator, WFC
4:00 to 4:10 pm Mapping Resource Profiles in the Ganges Coastal Zone Andrew Nelson
Senior Scientist, IRRI
4:10 to 4:35 pm Open session:
How will the Ganges BDC contribute to other programs/
projects and activities within and outside the CPWF, and
vice versa?
Bharat Sharma
Moderator
4:35 to 4:55 pm Contribution to the Capitalizing Session
Participants will all give responses to the four questions
using cards
Bharat Sharma
Moderator
4:55 to 5:00 pm Concluding remarks Michael Phillips
3.6.6 Documentation of presentation session
During presentation session Ruvicyn Bayot as rapporteur has taken notes as part of documentation of the presentation
session. The notes taken are as follows:
Introduction
Bangladesh and India rank first and second in terms of climate change risk. Poorest communities live in the areas susceptible to climate change. Population in southwest Bangladesh (which is the coastal area susceptible to climate change such as sea level
rise) is > 40million; 40% is poor. Challenges: siltation of the river, lack of fresh water in the dry season, saline water intrusion, low cropping
intensity
Cropping Systems
About 1M ha is allocated to rice production in southern Bangladesh. With challenges, such as salinity andflooding, faced by the rice farming communities, it is also important to introduce high yielding varieties and
desirable traits. The plant breeders role in the project is to provide options depending on the condition.
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Introduce high yielding rice varieties (5-9 t/ha) to increase productivity. Other desirable traits are shortduration, non photoperiod sensitive, saline tolerant, and submergence tolerant.
The breeders will develop rice variety which is tolerant to both salinity and submergence (2 in 1).
Participatory varietal selection is done in the sites to match the condition and the variety. Use groundwater and on-farm reservoirs for supplementary irrigation to increase production. Issues faced when aus-aman cropping system was introduced: high rainfall intensity during the wet season,
which resulted to water logging, submergence and inundation.
It is crucial to improve the drainage of the polders. This entails re-assessing the role of the polders from merelysalinity and tidal surge prevention to adding water storage and drainage management to the roles. This would
need new governance and institutional set up in polder management.
The area is saline in some parts of the year. It is also important to introduce non-rice crops that are salinetolerant (such as sunflower). However, rice is the staple food of the poor communities in Bangladesh that is why
there is much focus on intensifying rice production in the area, rather than other crops.
It is also important to improve the farming systems in homesteads to enhance food security and There was a study conducted by BRAC that proved that the livelihood condition and income of the communities
increased with the intensification of food production in the polder communities.
Aquaculture
About 28 million ha (62% of inland water) is floodplain. Fish production is the main livelihood in the floodplain.Public floodplains are leased to fishers. Floodplains that are not leased are usually occupied by the land
grabbed. Fish production in floodplains is managed by the community (CBFM).
Rice production (boro) when flood water recedes. Income of the fishing and farming communities increased with the community based floodplain management. This approach (CBFM) will be scaled-out through the RIU project of the CPWF. About 80% of shrimp cultivation is in the southwest region. There is an evolution from just traditional aman cultivation during the wet season to extensive shrimpproduction, and combined shrimp production and rice production. Water is available and there is a higher
return from shrimp production. This evolution or transformation in production is good for shrimp, but affected
the rice production.
Mapping Resource Profiles
Salinity has encroached in land in the last 25 years. It is important to develop a land use plan considering the future hydrological scenarios. There is a considerable
variability in salinity conditions in such a short distance.
It is important to identify domains for technologies. There is a high variability in cropping pattern across season.
Governance and Institutions
The Ganges BDC looks at community governance of polders and institutional set-up. The increase in the demand in water has motivated the community to manage their water resources. The institutional set-up is not organized to address the demands of the community regarding water use. Major restructuring of governance and shift in the attitude are crucial.
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External drivers in the coastal zones of the Ganges
The Ganges BDC looks at the external drivers affecting the coastal zone of the Ganges basin. The drivers areidentified and prioritized using a participatory approach community and expert consultation.
The effects of these drivers will be assessed to make plans for cropping system and infrastructure for the future.Interfacing with other programs within and outside the CPWF(Break out groups) opportunities for sharing betweenGanges and other basins
Convergence in water management approaches? Possibilities to look more at opportunities for cross-basinlearning
Water governance approaches Community-based water management Reservoir management Institutional arrangements Livelihood systems System is responding to drivers (polders) Integrated aquaculture-agriculture; rice-fish integration; integrating fish into the system (Nile, Volta, Mekong) Salt resistant varieties - other options may be explored like salt harvesting plants and acid releasing plants Modelling, Spatial Analysis, Scenario Tools datasets are available from other CPWF groups
Other issues identified
Decline of fish stock driving demand for aquaculture in Africa (Volta)
Multiple use of water users may not want to use water for the same purpose; water users have to decide howmuch water who would use
Policy recommendations (break out group) Zoning of crop production areas identify crops/ production suitable to the condition of a certain area National organizations to maintain infrastructure; construct barrages Sharing of water resource withneighboring countries; negotiations; transboundary issues Stakeholders to participate in decision making on resource management Treat polder as a management unit of institution ways of addressing local institution interface with higher
government institution.
Capitalising (cards from individual/group work)
1. What is new and innovative from the session? Interventions at different scale levels from farm, to community, to policy level Water governance study is new Multiple institutions working together Comparative study among several basins
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Spatial analysis provides very clear view of current situation Spatial and water modelling Polders for water management
Sharing experience/ information and use them in other situation Importance on coastal areas most vulnerable Sharing knowledge to others Highly complex cropping systems The Ganges basin does not appear to have a problem of data deficiency for remote sensing work Fragile ecosystem belated attention Potential for major increases in production in the coastal areas Tidal river management system Integrated aqua and agriculture system in the same floodplains.2. What has changed in the understanding of a specific basin development
challenge and how to address it? Fisheries and aquaculture and water use Cooperation between basin countries The concept/ definition of resilience Salinity and water shortage in the dry season To develop comprehensive land use for basin development Many options and pathways how to choose the right one? Potential basin and better management can change the livelihood of basin people Resilience studies need to be added to address the drivers Integration of local and national institutions3. What are the messages and lessons emerging from/ for R4D? Government may seek internal solution to salinity problem Give emphasis on gender and other isolated/ marginal groups, poor, etc Equitable sharing of water resources Effect of global drivers on social and physical system Mixed fish-farm agro ecological systems and increasing productivity More adaptive and action research required in Ganges basin Multidisciplinary partnership You cant beat good data! R4D helps quick technology dissemination Policy advocacy is necessary Need to address institutional interactions between local and national organizations R4D must be linked with policy Demand for institutional change to meet demands of a rapidly changing situation Water is used for multiple purposes Learning from communities is important
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4. What are the messages for any specific target groups? What are the
specific messages for Africa? Integrated aquaculture-agriculture system in Africa Development of inland fisheries and aquaculture in Africa Crop (e.g., rice) production intensification in Africa New water management and high yielding variety can increase productivity in Africa Crop variety improvement in Africa Involve larger basins Rainwater harvesting Where else is agriculture under pressure from population and resource constraint?
3.6.7 Discussion Session:
The discussion session focused on the following issues:
Q 1: Contribution of Ganges to other basin
Q 2: Contribution to Ganges from other basin
Q3: Contribution of session to policy change
Q 1: What is new and innovative from the session (What was unexpected, what surprised you)?
Q 2: What has changed in the understanding of a specific basin development challenges and how to address it?
Q3: What are the messages and lessons emerging from/for R4D
Q 4: What are the messages for any specific target group? What are the specific messages for Africa?
Follow up:
Introduction: integrated program
Highlight: opportunities for cross basin learning:
Products, impact, resilience, influence, TWG: nomination from the basin, Phase I product circulation, lessons of volta and
nile, L2i proposal for cross basin learning, R4D to be elaborated, young professionals, advisory committee presentation
to different agencies field visit, scale out
Learning not only technology but also other areas of development like
Resilience, products of research (phase 1) to be completed, addressing livelihoods, poverty reduction,
Aquaculture in other basin lacking, Aquaculture is promising in BD and India, Global drivers how it can change the
scenario,
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Research to knowledge to policy makers, water for energy in Ganges, data and knowledge could be shared, minimization
of uncertainty of models, participatory way of selection of drivers, information sharing, persons for specific TWG, Good
opportunity of partnership in CPWF, Cross basin learning L2i,
Must demonstrate/ensure continuity from Phase 1. Documentation and circulation is not enough, PN10-resutls gone to
the top, young professionals, advisory committee for policy change matters-field trip at site, time of presentation and
parallel session less cross basin participants
Assessment of livelihoods after research projects and should be documented, need to demonstrate that proposed
solutions work.
Livelihoods, designed well, working as program,
Positive feedback, complex system changes by day and hours should be understood well first, products to be brought,
characterization of coastal area, publications with good photos, including different aspects-fish crop, gender etc.
Thematic products like community based fish culture, changes in coastal areas tem, rainfall, flood, salinity intrusion.
Contribute to thematic working group: livelihood, global drivers, SAM, resilience Relevant groups contact person for:
Inception meeting of G3 at Delhi and field visit at West Bengal.
Communication: research message is not easy to transfer; the journalist should have some technical knowledge, less
opportunity to attend other session, communication and influence to policy makers,
Communication: Phase 1 results presented in different forum like LGED, BWDB, Planning Commission etc and others,
Chief Engineer of LGED should be in Advisory committee, long time for workshop, better integration of Gs, Impact
measurement, baseline study, short documentary for research products, student fellowship, one page document. Policy
documentation,
Rice/fish, water management, water modeling, rainwater management,
Lesson learned in the forum and follow up
Challenges,
Progress
Specific information
Communication products
Development in engaging the stakeholders
Steps for integration of works in BD and India
Strategies for projects
Knowledge management
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Output to outcomes
Repackaging
Social agencies to engage
Cross basin learning
3.7 Pagers
The 2 pages abstracts submitted to the forum by Ganges BDC for presentation in the Ganges session are illustrated in
the following sections:
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The 3rd
International Forum on Water and Food
Johannesburg, South Africa
November 14 17, 2011
The 3rd
International Forum on Water and Food is Co-hosted by: and
1. Authors
Authors names: Nowsher Ali Sarder, William Collis, Michael Phillips, Elizabeth Humphreys
Project Number: CPWF Ganges Basin Development Challenge, Project G5: Coordination and Enabling Change
E-mail address of lead author: [email protected]
2. Forum session
Basin (Andes, Ganges, Limpopo, Mekong, Nile, Volta): Ganges
Core TWG (Resilience, Global Drivers, Learning to Innovate): Resilience; Global Drivers; Learning to innovation
3. TitleProvide a working title: The Ganges Basin development challenge and the role of change and coordination project
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4. Key message/highlights
Key message (1-2 sentences): There is tremendous potential to increase food security and improve livelihoods in the
coastal areas of the Ganges Delta, through increasing the productivity and resilience of agriculture and aquaculture
systems. Achieving this will require proof of the benefits of improved production systems, identification of agro-
ecological zones for targeting of improved technologies, inspiring NARES, NGOs and other outscaling projects to adopt
and promote the improved technologies, and influencing policy makers and government at community to national levels
to invest in the necessary infrastructure improvements and policy changes.
Short abstract(150 words) including:
The Ganges river system originates in the Himalayas and discharges to the Bay of Bengal through one of the most
extensive and highly populated river deltas in the world. The Basin is spread over India (52%), Pakistan (22%), Nepal
(17%) and Bangladesh (9%) with an area of225 million ha and 747 million people. Although the whole region is subject
to many pressures, the coastal delta, encompassing south west Bangladesh and eastern India, is of particular concern.
The brackish water coastal zone is home to some of the worlds poorest and most vulnerable people, who are exposed
to tidal surges, increasing surface water salinity, limited fresh water availability, flooding and lack of drainage during the
wet season, and severe cyclonic storms. Therefore the CPWF Phase 2 Ganges Basin Development Challenge seeks to
increase the resilience of agricultural and aquaculture systems in the coastal areas of the Ganges delta. This is being
done through 5 inter-related projects which involve: (i) the development and on-farm validation of improved germplasm
(crops and fish), cropping systems, aquaculture systems and rice-aquaculture systems, (ii) characterization of the
environments where these technologies will be most applicable, (iii) identification of extrapolation domains for
technology targeting using GIS, (iv) identification of water governance improvements needed to enable adoption of
improved technologies, (v) assessment of the impacts of climate change and river flow change on water resources, and(vi) influencing stakeholders from farmers to NARES to NGO to policy makers. The paper provides an overview of the
Ganges Basin Development Challenge, and our vision on how this Ganges research for development program can
contribute to addressing a major development challenge of our time.
Your preliminary highlights for the Forum capitalizing sessions
The Ganges BDC provides an integrated approach, across scales from field to regional, across issues from biophysical to
governance, and across stakeholders from farmer to national policy makers, to address the challenges facing the rural
communities in the coastal regions of the Ganges river.
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2-pager template for the IFWF3
Authors:
Authors names: BK Barman, MF Rahman and MM Haque
Project Number: G2
E-mail address of lead author: [email protected]
Forum session:
Basin (Andes, Ganges, Limpopo, Mekong, Nile, Volta): Ganges
Core TWG (Resilience, Global Drivers, Learning to Innovate): Resilience, Learning to Innovate
Emerging TWG (including but not exclusively: Research-to-Policy, Benefit Sharing Mechanisms, Modeling): Research-to-
policy, Benefit Sharing Mechanisms
Your highlight for this session:A Community Based Fish Culture (CBFC) approach was developed in Bangladesh under CP35 during Phase 1 of CPWF
The approach was tested with floodplains under private and public ownership and shown to overcome many of the
technical, institutional and socio-economic constraints normally associated with bringing floodplains under aquaculture
The research showed how simple technical interventions and co-management arrangements can increase fish
production, enhance fish species diversity, improve water management and generate tangible benefits for floodplainresource users, particularly poor and landless fishers and non-fishers.
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Short abstract(150 words) including:
Three seasonal floodplains, one public (Beel Mail; 40 ha) and two private (Kalmina; 33 ha and Angrar; 31 ha) located in
Bangladesh, within the Indo-Ganges river basin, were selected for fish culture trials during the wet season. Selectioncriteria included availability of suitable infrastructure and the willingness of local communities to participate. A
Floodplain Management Committee (community based organization - CBO) was formed at each site, with
representatives from all user groups supported largely by the local Department of Fisheries (DoF). Technica
interventions involved: the set up of a bamboo fence in the inlets and outlets of the floodplains; stocking large carp
fingerlings (31-81 kg.ha1); guarding; fishing gear regulation and control of harvest for certain period. Fingerlings were
stocked during June-July with fish harvested during October-December. Production and income from stocked and non
stocked fish increased up to 691 kg.ha-1 and US$ 470.ha-1, against the baseline production and income 282kg.ha-1 and
US$ 192.ha-1. The intervention led to improvements in rice production from 6.25 ton.ha-1 to7.24 ton.ha-1. The high yield
of rice is largely related to improve water management with advantage to get supply of water during transplantation of
rice and may be related to enrichment of fertility of soil in the floodplains due to different fish production activities
carried out in the floodplains.
Several technical, institutional and socio-economic outcomes of the research are found to be innovative and attractive
to apply for other floodplains in Bangladesh to bring under improved fish production. For example; the stocking of
fingerling in floodplains by communities worked as an incentive to apply regulatory measures; it is convincing for the
members to follow regulations; and most importantly protected resources from outsiders and indiscriminate harvest o
fish from the floodplains. Stocking of large size fingerling allowed setting up of a large meshed bamboo fence, useful to
prevent the escape of stocked fish, whilst allowing non-stocked small fish to move freely inside/outside the floodplains
an approach that was useful to gain higher fish yields, whilst maintaining fish biodiversity.
Selection of the right leaders and representative members of the CBO is vital for the success of CBFC as it demands
transparency in investing, income earning and sharing of benefits and managing the necessary savings to run the
activities over the years with active participation of other members. It worked well if the co-management initiatives are
strong, as different institutions need to play important roles to establish legal rights to resolve conflicts among members
and outsiders. Due to complexities, the establishment of CBFC in floodplains also demands longer and continued co
management support from formal institutions such as the Department of Fisheries (DoF).
Your preliminary highlights for the Forum capitalizing sessions
The innovations developed from the research are largely of value to apply at local and regional level especially to
overcome the problems in bringing seasonal floodplains under fish culture. In the Indo-Ganges river basins there are 2.8
million ha of seasonal floodplains under public and private ownership, providing an essential source of food and income
and supporting the livelihoods of millions of poor people. Some of the lessons learned might be of relevance to Africa
but its necessary to conduct adaptive trials. The lessons learned are of equal importance for researchers, practitioneand decision-makers
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2-pager template for the IFWF3
Authors:
Authors names: MJ Alam, SB Saha and BK Barman
Project Number: G2
E-mail address of lead author: [email protected]
Forum session:
Basin (Andes, Ganges, Limpopo, Mekong, Nile, Volta): Ganges
Core TWG (Resilience, Global Drivers, Learning to Innovate): Resilience, Learning to Innovate
Emerging TWG (including but not exclusively: Research-to-Policy, Benefit Sharing Mechanisms, Modeling): Research-to-
policy
Your highlight for this session:The integration of diversified aquaculture with rice enhanced production and income of farming households higher than
the existing farming systems in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. The synthesis of three years surveys of exiting farming
systems and several on-farm trials conducted under CP10 project of CPWF in Phase 1 confirmed about the finding and
recommended for promotion as New Advances in Rice -aquaculture Production Systems to improve food security and
livelihoods of the people in Bangladesh in the Indo-Ganges Delta .
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Short abstract(150 words) including:
The CP10 Project of CPWF in Phase 1 was implemented in the Indo-Ganges Delta by Bangladesh Fisheries Research
Institute in collaboration with the WorldFish Center, IRRI, and IWMI. The activities included surveys to understand the
exiting farming situation and characterizing the farming practices. This was followed by designing and conducting severa
on-farm trials in order to develop appropriate rice-aquaculture production systems to increase land and water
productivity of the farm household in the areas. Four types of farm practices identified 3 of were with rice and shrimp
and one with shrimp monoculture. Different on-farm trials on integrated rice-aquaculture and shrimp conducted at the
same location in the coastal areas in sub-district (Upazila) Paikgacha in Khulna District in Bangladesh. The results
showed that compared to the existing farming systems (where rice production 0-3.41 ton.ha-1, shrimp 73.67-268kg.ha-1
the diversified aquaculture-rice production systems (Fish; Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia GIFT strain of Nile
tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii) brought production of fish (193kg.ha-1), prawn
(72kg.ha-1), improve production of rice (4.22-4.54kg.ha-1) and increase level of shrimp production (300kg.ha-1). This
integrated and diversified system of aquaculture-rice and shrimp production showed a farm net annual income of BDT
64,100.ha-1 compared to net annul income ranged from BDT 7,900 49,000.ha-1 from the existing farming systems. The
increased level of production of fish and rice were largely related to the technologies, improve management of fish
prawn, rice and shrimp. If adopted, the system will be of importance to increase the resilience of farming households in
the coastal areas normally subjected frequently to negative climatic events.
The lessons learned from the study are of importance to promote the systems for adoption by large numbers of faming
households in the all the coastal areas of Bangladesh. In addition the outcomes of the studies will be of importance for
adoption by farmers in the Indo-Ganges Basin of India.
The study was carried out as parts of the regional project with lots of similar survey and on-farm trials were carried outin the location of Mekong Delta in Vietnam. The outcomes obtained are compared and found lot of complementary
benefits in sharing of lessons for both the river basins (the Ganges and the Mekong).
Your preliminary highlights for the Forum capitalizing sessions
The outcomes of the studies are of importance at the regional level especially for the Ganges River Basins and may also
be applicable for other river basins globally having similar situation. It is not sure this can be of use for Africa directly but
it is expected that some of the outcomes can be of use for the continent. This of more importance for decision makers
and practitioners and can also be of value for the researchers as well.
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Improving drainage is crucial for cropping intensificaiton in the polderred coastal zones of
Bangladesh
Lead author email: T. P. Tuong ([email protected]); Elizabeth Humphreys ([email protected] );
Manoranjan Modal (IRRI); Sanjida Ritu (BRRI); Abul Kalam Sharifullah (BARD)
Basin Project Number: G2
Session: Ganges x Research-to-Policy
Key message/highlightsFor large scale adoption of cropping intensity enhancing technologies, infrastructure investments and capacity building
in community water governance are needed to improve (i) drainage during the rainy season, and (ii) intake of fresh
water from the upstream end during the dry season. The polders should be considered as water management units,
serving the agricultural production systems, rather than simply structural units for protection from salinty and
inundation at high tides
Short AbstractLand productivity in the brackish-water coastal zone of the Ganges is very low due to drought and salinity intrusion
during the dry season. Farmers are limited to one rice crop (aman) during the rainy season. Projects PN7 and PN10 of
CPWF-Phase 1, together with our initial assessments carried under the Ganges BDC and limited demonstrations by BRAC
showed that the coastal zones of Khulna and Barisal have high potential for double or triple rice-based cropping
systems. This can be possible by combining optimal seeding dates, short duration varieties, and proper on-farm water
management. However, forced by deep water during JulyOctober, most farmers use late planted, long duration/local
aman varieties. Their late harvest leads to late establishment of boro rice and rabi (upland) crops, exposing the former
to salinity stress and the latter to damaging rains during the latter part of the season. Long duration also creates
difficulties in fitting a preaman (aus) rice crop into the rainy season. Improving drainage capacity of the polders and
using germplasm with improved water stagnation tolerance are critical for the deployment of improved, short duration
aman varieties. Drainage capacity of the polders can be greatly enhanced by creating more intensive networks of field
canals plus operation of the sluices according to the tide cycles so that water can be drained at low tide. Each polder
should be managed as one hydraulic unit, sluices at upstream and downstream positions can be opened and closed at
different time depending on tidal and salinity situations to maximize the drainage capacity of the polder during the rainy
season, to prevent salinity intrusion, and to intake fresh water to supply water for the polder during the dry season.
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2-pager template for the IFWF3
Please fill the boxes as described below.
Authors
Authors names: TP Tuong, M Mondal, Sanjida Ritu, AKM Sharifullah, E Humphreys
Project Number: G2
E-mail address of lead author: [email protected]
Forum session
Basin (Andes, Ganges, Limpopo, Mekong, Nile, Volta): Ganges
Core TWG (Resilience, Global Drivers, Learning to Innovate): Resilience
Emerging TWG (including but not exclusively: Research-to-Policy, Benefit Sharing Mechanisms, Modeling): Research-to-
Policy
Your highlight for this session
Key message (1-2 sentences):
Food security and rural livelihoods in the coastal zone of Bangladesh can be greatly enhanced by combining improved
on-farm water management and cropping system intensification using new varieties with short duration and enhancedsalinity, submergence and deep water tolerance. For large scale adoption, the on-farm interventions require improved
community and regional water management. Infrastructure investments and capacity building in community water
governance are needed to achieve this. The polders should be considered as water management units, serving the
agricultural production systems, rather than simply structural units for protection from inundation at high tide.
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Short abstract(150 words) including:
The brackish-water coastal zone of the Ganges is home to some of the worlds poorest, most food insecure and most
vulnerable people. Land productivity is very low due to drought and salinity intrusion during the dry season, and
farmers are limited to one rice crop (aman) during the rainy season. Projects PN7 and PN10 of CPWF-Phase 1 showed
that, with optimal seeding date (first week of November), up to 40% of the poldered land area in Khulna can grow a dry
season (boro) rice after the aman crop provided that the canal networks within the polders are dredged to increase the
their storage capacity for irrigation water when the river water becomes too saline (from mid February). The project
also showed that with proper selection of short duration varieties and seeding dates, a rice crop (aus) can be established
at the onset of the monsoon, and harvested early enough to be followed by aman rice. The coastal zone of Khulna thus
has high potential for double or triple cropping of rice, or for one or two rice crops followed by an upland (rabi) crop in
the dry season. Our initial assessments, supported by limited demonstrations by BRAC, indicate that most of Barishal
district also has potential for triple cropping (ausamanboro or ausaman upland), provided that short duration
varieties are grown. However, forced by poor drainage and deep water during July October, most farmers use long
duration/local aman varieties. Their late harvest leads to late establishment of boro rice and rabi upland crops, exposing
the former to salinity stress during the latter part of the season, and the latter to damaging rains during the latter partof the season. Long duration also create difficulties in fitting ausaman into the rainy season. The deployment of newly
developed short duration varieties with submergence tolerance will help farmers to shorten the aman period, and the
use of varieties with enhanced salinity tolerance will increase the success of boro rice. Furthermore, investment is
needed to improve the management and infrastructure of water resources. Drainage capacity of the polders can be
greatly enhanced by creating more intensive networks of field canals plus operation of the sluices according to the tide
cycles so that water can be drained at low tide. During the dry season, each polder should be managed as one hydraulic
unit: while the sluices at the downstream ends have to be closed to prevent salinity intrusion, the upstream ones can
remain to open to intake fresh water to supply water for the polder.
Your preliminary highlights for the Forum capitalizing sessions
Changing production systems requires changes in the functions of the water management infrastructure and in the
communitys role in water management. When the polders were built, they were simply to prevent salinity intrusion at
high tides, and to protect the local aman rice from tidal flooding. With the need to enhance cropping intensity, they
need to have two more functions: (i) drainage of rainwater to allow the growth of short duration aman varieties, and (ii)
intake fresh water from the upstream end and distribution to other parts of the polder. Investment on infrastructure
improvement and institutional changes are needed to enable the polders to provide these new functions.
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2-pager template for the IFWF3
Authors:
Authors names: Sanjida Ritu, TP Tuong, SU Talukder, M Mondal
Project Number: G2
E-mail address of lead author: [email protected]
Forum session:
Basin (Andes, Ganges, Limpopo, Mekong, Nile, Volta): Ganges
Core TWG (Resilience, Global Drivers, Learning to Innovate): Resilience
Emerging TWG (including but not exclusively: Research-to-Policy, Benefit Sharing Mechanisms, Modeling): Research-to-
Policy
Your highlight for this session:
Key message (1-2 sentences):
Food security and rural livelihoods in the coastal zones of Bangladesh can be greatly increased by replacing the
traditional single aman cropping system with a high yielding double cropping (aus-aman) system. Supplementary
irrigation (where limited groundwater is available) can ensure good crop establishment of the aus crop. In water scarce
areas, late aus establishment on rainfall, along with photoperiod-insensitive aman rice, also allows successful doublecropping.
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Short abstract(150 words) including:
Most of the agricultural land in the coastal zones of Bangladesh is grown with a single rice crop (aman) during the rainy
season, mainly with low-yielding local varieties. The land remains fallow during the dry season due to lack of fresh water
and salinity. Field experiments were undertaken to test the possibility of growing 2 rice crops per year (double cropping)
by growing aus rice prior to the aman crop. The experiments showed that high and stable productivity of the aus-aman
cropping system can be achieved by dry seeding of a short duration, salt tolerant aus variety prior to the commencement
of the rainy season, and use of a small amount of supplemental irrigation to ensure good establishment, followed by
transplanting a high-yielding aman variety. This led to total cropping system yields of more than 8 t/ha, compared with
typical farmers yields of about 2.5 t/ha from their single aman crop. Where fresh water is not available for supplementary
irrigation of the aus crop for establishment, the crop can be sown later and established on rain and followed by a suitable
photo-period insensitive aman variety to also achieve high yield. However, later sowing of the aus crop increases the risk of
submergence during establishment of the aus rice due to heavy rains, and thus low yields. The risk can be reduced by
transplanting after the rainy season starts, and by incorporation of submergence tolerance into aus varieties.
Your preliminary highlights for the Forum capitalizing sessions
The intensification of cropping systems to provide stable, high productivity is complex. It requires consideration of a
multitude of factors to match varieties and their management in relation to climate (and climatic risk). For example,
intensification of cropping systmes in coastal regions of Bangladesh from a single aman rice crop to a double crop aus-
aman system involved identifying germplasm for each phase with the right duration, stress tolerances (salinity,
submergence, water stagnation), grain quality, and optimum crop establishment times and methods, taking into account
the availability of fresh water for irrigation and likely rainfall patterns (risk of drought, risk of submergence, risk of
salinity).
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2-pager template for the IFWF3
Authors: their names and contact of lead author. Please indicate if another person will present the work. While a few
authors may lead this initiative, this is a project team effort.
Authors names: Andrew Nelson
Project Number: G1
E-mail address of lead author: [email protected]
Forum session: which session your pager is contributing to
Basin (Andes, Ganges, Limpopo, Mekong, Nile, Volta): Ganges
Core TWG (Resilience, Global Drivers, Learning to Innovate):
Emerging TWG (including but not exclusively: Research-to-Policy, Benefit Sharing Mechanisms, Modeling):
Your highlight for this session: what key message do you want to share in this session (why is your contribution relevant
and special?)
Key message (1-2 sentences):
Spatial data as a decision support and policy development tool
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Short abstract(150 words) including:
A brief description of your study and preliminary findings A focus on what makes this piece of work new/innovative and exciting
What are the lessons (could be of failure)? What is particularly relevant to the other basins or topics?
G1 will develop a comprehensive geodatabase of the Ganges coastal zone which will serve as a detailed
resource profile of the region for (i) technology targeting and (ii) land-use planning.
Working with G2 and G3, we will develop suitability maps or extrapolation domains for each technology. We wil
match the resource profiles from their characterized test sites to region-wide spatial data using models such as MaxEn
and Random Forest to create probability maps for each technology. The validity of these maps will depend on high
quality spatial inputs from partners, multidisciplinary analysis of the driving factors behind the successful adoption of a
technology and stakeholder participation in their interpretation, revision and adoption.
In short. these extrapolation domains will provide the Basin project, its stakeholders and regional decision
makers with information on what works where and equally importantly it will delineate areas where technologies are
unlikely to be successful.
Your preliminary highlights for the Forum capitalizing sessions
Your message at local, regional and/or global level If relevant your message for Africa Your key target audience (researchers, practitioners, decision-makers)
Extrapolation domains must characterize both environmental and social constraints to technology adoption.Domain maps and accompanying information must be developed in collaboration with stakeholders to maximize their
likelihood of adoption and to develop and sense of ownership.
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2-Pager Abstract Template
1. Authors
Authors names: Zahirul Haque Khan, Farhana Akhter Kamal, Dr. Bharat R. Sharma,
Dr. M. Shah Alam Khan, Md Mahfuzur Rahman, Abu Saleh Khan
Project Number: G4: E-mail address of lead author:[email protected]
2. Forum session
Basin (Andes, Ganges, Limpopo, Mekong, Nile, Volta): Ganges
Core TWG (Resilience, Global Drivers, Learning to Innovate): Global Drivers
Emerging TWG (including but not exclusively: Research-to-Policy, Benefit Sharing Mechanisms, Modelling): Modelling
3. Key message/highlights
Key message (1-2 sentences): The coastal zone of the Ganges River Basin in Bangladesh part is experiencing salinity
intrusion, drainage congestion, reduction of flow availability, siltation of river beds, inundation by cyclonic storm surges
and so on. These effects of the external driverswill influence water productivity, food security and livelihood of the local people in future.
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Short abstract(150 words) including:
G4: Assessment of the impact of anticipated external drivers of change on water resources of the coastal zone is one
of the CPWFs Phase II projects undertaken in six river basins all over the world to increase the resilience of social andecological systems. The water resources in the Ganges basin are vital for crop-production and livelihoods. G4 wil
address the global drivers as well as local driving forces and their effects on water resources of the coastal zone of the
Ganges Basin in Bangladesh part. This project will develop a comprehensive list of external drivers based on past
researches, literature review, and interaction with the major stakeholders and peers; and the key drivers will be
identified through prioritizing procedure. Appropriate models will simulate the baseline condition and impacts of the key
drivers on salinity intrusion, water availability, drainage congestions, and cyclonic storm-surge inundation risks. On the
basis of the anticipated impacts different adaptation strategies will be devised in consultation with G2 and G3. Policy
implications on these strategies and a required governance structure will be also explored in a participatory way. The 3
year project is only at the inception stage and G4 will explore the study area and its hydraulic characteristics. It will also
present a preliminary list of the external drivers and salinity monitoring results in the coastal zone of the Ganges basin.
An integrated modeling technology will enable G4 to simulate future scenarios and the research outputs will bemilestones for formulating adaptation strategies, water management and improved crop-pattern.
Your preliminary highlights for the Forum capitalizing sessions
The mean sea level has a rising trend while precipitation is increasing in monsoon and decreasing in dry season. Due to
these climate change factors and decrease in upstream water availability freshwater zone is depleting which seriously
affects the crop water productivity in the coastal Ganges. Use of the state of the art technology such as water modeling
to assess the effects of external drivers will facilitate wise use of water to increase the crop water productivity.
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2-pager template for the IFWF3
Authors:
Authors names:A Mukherji, Alamgir Chowdhury
Project Number: G3
E-mail address of lead author: [email protected]
Forum session:
Basin (Andes, Ganges, Limpopo, Mekong, Nile, Volta): Ganges
Core TWG (Resilience, Global Drivers, Learning to Innovate): Resilience
Emerging TWG (including but not exclusively: Research-to-Policy, Benefit Sharing Mechanisms, Modeling): Research-to-
Policy
Your highlight for this session:
Key message (1-2 sentences):
Community management of coastal polders is often seen as a silver bullet in Bangladesh. Principles of participatory
management are now enshrined in Water Policy of Bangladesh and donors spend a considerable part of their
investments in creating and supporting water users groups. The underlying assumption is that local communities living in
a polder are best placed to manage it and that the only impediment towards community action is the lack of formal
water users groups and their appropriate training. What is however not questioned is the government agency-farmerrelationship. Based on an exploratory field work in polders and sub-projects managed by Bangladesh Water
Development Board (BWDB) and Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) we emphasize the role that internal
organizational culture of implementing agency plays in fostering successful community management of polders in
Bangladesh. The key message is that for a successful community management of coastal polders, it is not enough to
organize and train communities, but it is also necessary to bring about an organizational change in implementing
agencies themselves.
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Short abstract(150 words) including:
Inundation and severe flooding in the coastal areas is a frequent occurrence in Bangladesh. This leads to loss of life and
property as well as severe negative impacts on livelihoods. The government of Bangladesh has been investing steadily in
coastal zone management through construction and rehabilitation of polders. The challenges facing the polder
communities are complex and similar to those faced by many communities in which water is used for multiple purposes.
But unlike other multiple use systems (such as canals, tanks), where there is rarely ever a commonality in interest, in
case of polder communities, the fear that these polders may breach during a natural calamity and cause damage to life
and property makes it easier to bring about a modicum of community action. Principles of community management of
coastal polders are now enshrined in Water Policy of Bangladesh. All donor funded projects include a large component
of creation and training of users groups for management of polders. Users groups are subjected to rigorous training
during the course of the project, but very often than not, remnants of community management become hard to trace as
soon as the donor program ends.
Why is that? Based on a brief exploratory field work in polders and sub-projects managed by BWDB and LGED, it is ouroperating hypothesis that while a lot of attention is paid to capacity building of the communities, not enough attention
is paid to government agency-farmers relationship and of the organization culture of the government agency itself. It is
assumed, that just because principles of community management is enshrined in the Water Policy, the government
agency in charge of the polder embraces it and does the required organizational changes needed for implementing this
policy in a meaningful way. This assumption is often belied and government agencies only do the motions of endorsing
community management without internalizing it within their organizational culture. Therefore, it is not only imperative
to train communities, it is equally, if not more important to bring about an organizational change in implementing
agencies.
Your preliminary highlights for the Forum capitalizing sessions
Operational zing community management of coastal polders entails much more than capacity building of communities.
It requires an organizational change in government agencies so that they can mainstream and internalize the concepts
of community management within their organizational culture. This is not easy because it needs an entirely different
approachaway from engineering as an end in itself approach to engineering as a means towards an end approach. The
message for Africa is that in its quest for better water institutions, it must avoid replicating Asias bureaucratic design
and built institutions that are nimble and responsive.
3.8 Session Presentation
The officials of G2 presented the abstracts mainly on the outcomes of researches of the 1 st phase of CPWF. The officials
of G1, G4 and G5 had presented their planning and expectations for the 2nd phase of CPWF in the forum. The later three
projects are new in the Ganges basin, so had no outcomes to share in the forum. The overall Ganges basin development
programs illustrated by G5, G1 showed the extrapolation domain of research outcomes of Ganges basin and G4
presented the possible external drivers on the water resources of Gages River in the near future. The presentation made
in the forum by the team is shown in the following section:
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1. Presentation on Ganges Basin development challenge and the role of change and coordination
project
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2. Presentation on Community based Fish Culture in Seasonal Flood Plains in Bangladesh
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3. Presentation on Integrated Aqua-Agricultural Production Systems in the Brackish Water Zones of
Bangladesh
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4. Presentation on Improving Drainage is Crucial for Cropping Intensification in the Polderred Coastal
Zones of Bangladesh
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5. Presentation on Aus-Aman Cropping Sysytem
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6. Presentation on High Yield and Stress Tolerant Rice Varieties
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7. Presentation on Mapping of Resource profile in the Ganges Coastal Zone
8.
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3.9Business Session
Ganges team business meetingThe following notes of the points raised by participants during the meeting of the Ganges team at IFWF3 on
17th
November, with some reference to the questions around (i) what is new, and (ii) R4D as a useful approach
posed at the beginning of the Forum.
Positive response from CPWF management and other participants on Ganges session:o Came across as quite well integrated program.o However, integration of different projects Ganges into one program needs work, inter-
disciplinary interactions and coordination should continue to be promoted.
o Ganges should be an excellent example of putting R4D into practice all work in this direction.o Several ideas for cross-basin learning
Lessons from Ganges that were of interest to other basinso Water modelingo Water management governance and institutionso Integrated aquaculture-agriculture systems (particularly given the research and investments in
rice in Africa)
o Aquaculture in upland rainwater harvesting in Nile BDC Lessons from other basins
o Mekong on policy change (also energy/water issues)o Volta/Nile including rainwater harvesting
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Group would like to have more opportunities for cross-basin learning, seeing practices/activities inother basins.
o Prepare proposal around cross-basin learning proposal in next round of innovation researchproposal requests in 2012
Group would like more effective interactions with Thematic Working Groups, particularlyo Global driverso Resilienceo Spatial modelingo Agreed to identify one person as a first point of contact for each group, although all who were
interested could engage in email and related dialogue.
Resilience theme relevant and interesting:o Need to put theory into practiceo Need for more interaction with TWG on resilienceo Ecosystem services of current and changing agro-ecosystems in the Ganges delta needs
research, and is not well covered in existing program.
o More interaction with this group discussed during separate session, and we will try toencourage more research on resilience in Ganges
Global drivers also very relevant, and need for more sharing of existing information (some gaps aroundsea level rise?)
Challenge of creating impact from our R4D in the Ganges:o How to influence policy and development actors/investors, for changeo Importance of communication products, but this was often not sufficient and more tailored
products and approaches required (eg field visit for policy makers etc)
o Need for more interaction with policy makers in our program.o Again emphasis on getting the advisory (sub-)group moving, reference to experiences with this
in CPWF phase 1
o Recognize the complexity of the system we are working on Communication products to be prepared (for consideration):
o 15-20 page document on the program - Ganges coastal region, covering social, economic andbio-physical environment (within 6 months)
o Community-based aquaculture (Benoy CPWF1) for wider circulation (maybe under RIUproject?)
o Global drivers of change and the Ganges programo All looking forward to communications strategy, need to get out some products from the
ongoing research.
o One page flyer of Salma useful, try to complete and publish asap in English and Bangla.
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IFWF3 session organization:o Difficult to catch everything going on too many sessions! Please provide feedback to CPWF
management.
CPWF Phase 1 productso Repackaging of Phase 1 material importance of completing task, getting material outo Lack of circulation of already published CPWF Phase 1 materials.o Learn from Phase 1, and start early planning and resourcing preparation of Phase 2 products.
Particularly important given ongoing CG change processes
o Communications team/Salma to keep in touch with those engaged in this work in CPWFsecretariat, and keep rest of group informed.
Livelihoods and socio-economic aspects need more attention in our work. Outcomes/Impacts
o Importance of proper baselines, documentation, providing evidence based messages to policymakers and development practitioners (investors, Banks, NGOs)
o Importance of clarity around research questions and links to development outcomeso Policy strategy of program important engage different projects and partners in development
of the strategy.
LGED requests better coordination Spatial modeling concept expansion of existing work Andrew and team agreed to work on this, as
was earlier requested by Bill.
Ganges team needs to prepare one output (2 page Briefing Note either on policy or research) fromthe Forum for inclusion in the synthesis report:
o After discussion, it was proposed to make a briefing note on Research, including: Description of program Concepts of R4D (research for people) and how the program is putting that into practice Outcome logic/Impact pathways Approach to policy influence (advisory group etc) How we link with other activities/programs in the Ganges basin With links to some of the good stories.
o Deadline is within 1-2 months (say end of 2011?).o Someone needs to take the lead, but involve all participants in preparation.
Young professionals:o Encourage younger researchers to engage in the proposed YP network/activitieso Student fellowships and links with universities to be encouragedo Document young professionals involved with program, ensure they are informed of
opportunities for wider dialogue in YP network.
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3.10 List of Participants
The Ganges team participated in the forum constituted by multidisciplinary experts from Bangladesh and
India. The Ganges BDC projects are working in the field by variety of partner organization like university,
research organizations, development actors and Large & small NGOs. The following section showed the
participants with their belonging organizations.
Participants of IFWF3, 2011
1 M. Shah Alam Khan, IWFM, BUET, Bangladesh
2 Benoy Kumar Barman, The WorldFish Center, Bangladesh
3 Alamgir Chowdhury, Director, Socioconsult Ltd, Bangladesh
4 John Marandy, Director, Socioconsult Ltd, Bangladesh
5 Zahirul Haque Khan, Project Leader, IWM, Bangladesh
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6 Md. Moqbul Hossain, Principal Scientific Officer, SRDI, Bangladesh
7 Md. Ahsan Habib, Project Director, City Region Devt Project, LGED, Dhaka,
Bangladesh
8 Md. Manirul Haque, Senior GIS Specialist, IWM, Bangladesh
9 Manoranjan Kumar Mondal, Program Head, Agriculture and Food Security Program,
BRAC, Bangladesh
10 Moshiur Rahman, Project Director, LGED, Bangladesh
11 Sanjida Parveen Ritu, Irrigation and Water Management Division, Bangladesh Rice
Research Institute, Bangladesh
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12 Abu Saleh Khan, Deputy Executive Director, IWM, Bangladesh
13 Nowsher Ali Sarder, Basin Leader, WFC, Bangladesh
14 Salma Sultana, Communication Coordinator, WFC, Bangladesh
15 Mir Emdad Ali Habib, program Director, ATN Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
16 Joynul Abedin, IRRI Representative, Farming system specialist, Bangladesh
17 Bharat R Sharma, Principal Researcher (Water Resources) & Head, International
Water Management Institute (IWMI), NASC Complex, Dev Prakash Shastri Marg,
Pusa,, New Delhi- 110012, India
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18 Jitendra Kumar Sundaray, Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Indian
Council of Agricultural Research, India
19 Michael Phillip, Senior Scientist, WFC, Penang, Malaysia
20 Andrew nelson, Project Leader, IRRI, Manila, Philippines
21 Glenn Borja Gregorio, Senior Scientist, Plant Breeder, International Rice Research
Institute, Philippines
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