Internal End Evaluation

Building Capacity and Empowering Communities in Khulna and Bagerhat districts towards Sustainable Agriculture, Aquaculture Development and Climate Change Adaptation Interventions.

January 2016

Submitted by:

Evaluation Team Members

Submitted to:

The Executive Director, BASD

TABLE OF CONTENTSContents Page NoAcknowledgementAbbreviationsIntroductiona)The implementing organizationb) General idea about the projectOverview of the EvaluationScope of the EvaluationEvaluation Team MembersMethodology FollowedTools usedSalient Findings, Comments and SuggestionsRelevanceEffectiveness and EfficiencyThe project reached the climate change susceptible areas and may accompany some strategic partners in its noble journeyProgress of work reached satisfactory levelCapacity building promoted empowerment – women have now voice and choice.Landmark increase in awareness of project beneficiariesInterest amplified caused translation of awareness into actionFood Security (availability of safe food than before)Undertaken small projects ensure food availabilityHorticulture projectsFishery projectVermi-cultureOrganic VegetablesRepayment and due amount (as on January 2016) shows disappointing resultsClimate Change Adapted (CCA) Houses: Attention drawn for guidelines revision and especially challenged peopleAccess to drinkable water: a dismal scenario. A call for SoSUse of traditional stove injurious to reproductive healthPaddy cultivation with organic fertilizers: more production with less input costAccess to market demands forward-thinkingSeed conservation should be supported

Interest multiplied for organic farmingThe project appeared contributed dalit communities in mainstreaming:Hygiene and sanitation (Wastes are not wasted)Women and Climate Change: Women experienced more sufferings due to climate changeGender SensitivityProject in the eyes of consumersThe Govt. relevant depts. appreciated the project. Link up beneficiaries with the service providers.Community cohesion observedSocial issues like violence against women, child marriage turned downChanges taken place in the fields of organic and inorganic farming over timeHow long is the long runa)Institutional sustainabilityb) Financial sustainability:c) Social and Ecological sustainability:SuggestionsConclusionAnnexureStory Telling (Telling Tales)Statistics of project activitiesList of groups/persons visited

Acknowledgement

This evaluation report represents an analysis of primary data and information collected through Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and Key Informant Interviewees (KIIs). The evaluation team made a number of FGDs and KIIs to get quantitative data and qualitative information for assessment. Every effort has been made to carry out the evaluation in the fitness of things, as far as possible, given the scope of work.

Special thanks go to Mr. Boniface S. Gomes, Executive Director of BASD for briefing the evaluation team leader about the strengths and areas of concern of the project and extending his cooperation in conducting the evaluation. We offer our heartfelt gratitude to the project team and the entire FGD participants and KIIs and many others who extended their unstinting support in carrying out the assignment. Their enthusiasm was remarkable and commendable. Checklists were prepared in consultation with the project team.

Above and beyond, many people contributed in this venture in one way or another. We wish to thank all of them, though it is difficult to mention everybody by name. It is hoped that the report has captured adequate information on the changes taken place due to intervention of the project.

Almost all the reasonable comments and suggestions on the draft report from BASD have been taken into cognizance in the final report, as far as possible. Hopefully, CIFAL Scotland, BASD and Gaia Education would find the evaluation responsive and useful to their good purposes.

Nevertheless, we take the responsibility for all shortcomings of the report despite having our own constraints and limitations.

Thanks,

Evaluation Team Members:

Ms. Jharna Mondal- Community Leader- Co -evaluator

Mr. Richard Gomes- Monitoring Officer, BASD- Co -evaluator

Mr. Josef Sarker- Team Leader, BCEC- Co -evaluator

Mr. Subhash Chandra Saha- Freelance Consultant (Evaluation Team Leader)

Abbreviations

CSC- Community Score Card

DSSB- Design for Sustainable Settlements Bangladesh

FGD- Focus Group Discussion

KII- Key Informant Interview

PDC- Permaculture Design Course

PRA- Participatory Rural Appraisal

ToT- Training of Trainers

Introduction to the implementing organization:

Bangladesh Association for Sustainable Development (BASD),a non -governmental social development organization, came into being in 1991 and works with the marginalized communities regardless of gender, ethnicity and caste for upgrading their socio -economic situations.

The organization envisions helping the marginalized communities to establish humanity and dignity so that they can live in a more just society free from oppression, superstition, exploitation and pollution. BASD works in six Upazila namely -Araihazar, Dacope, Gazipur. Mongla, Moulivibazar,and Sunamganj .

The key interventions of the organization are:

Development of Self Help Groups(SHGs) of the poor and vulnerable people Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and enhancement of resilience for the poor and

vulnerable community. Environmental protection and development through eco village and permaculture Promotion of livelihood through different kinds of skill development training and

income generating activities Promotion of primary education among the children from poor families

Improvement in health, hygiene, sanitation status of the poor. Prevention of HIV/AIDS , trafficking and child labor Eradication of social injustice and violence against girls and women.

Overview of the project:

The project, “Building Capacity and Empowering Communities in Khulna and Bagerhat districts towards Sustainable Agriculture, Aquaculture Development and Climate Change Adaptation Interventions” responds to the 6 th 5-year plan (2011-2016) of Bangladesh Government. The primary focus of the project is to address economic and social issues that have been intensified by climate change in the Delta area of Bangladesh. The approach of the project is in line with the core aims of the Scottish Government international Development Policy that address the impacts of climate change and poverty in the developing world and in particular in Bangladesh.

The project addresses the advancement of MDGs, which coincides with the Scottish Government International Development Policy.

Application of chemical fertilizers poses threat to safe food production and public health .Bangladeshi farmers are using more than 50,000 tons of pesticides and 4.3 million tons of chemical fertilizers annually, which are both harming human beings and soil( Sources: Financial Express dated Feb 11,2016).

The public health scientists and members of medical profession have warned that if the alarming situation of food contamination and adulteration is not checked, peoples’ health will be at stake and particularly the country’s future generation will suffer from many complicated diseases and in the long run may get intellectually disabled.

The project is operational at 42 villages under three Unions in two districts-Khulna and Bagerhat as follows:

District Upazila Union No.of Villages

Direct Beneficiaries

Khulna Dacope Banishanta

20 400

do Sutarkhali 10 200Bagerhat Mongla Mongla 12 232Total: 2 2 3 42 832( F-455)

Aims of the project:

To improve sustainable food security and livelihoods of vulnerable communities of Khulna and Bagerhat- Southern Bangladesh through capacity building program and effective climate change adaptation strategies and interventions.

Impact:

A total of 42 communities from the Banisanta and Sutarkhali Union of Khulna district and the Mongla Municipality of Bagerhat district have more sustainable food production, potable water, economically viable, safe livelihood within an area vulnerable to climate change.

Outcome:

Members of 42 communities in Khulna and Bagerhat districts –Southern Bangladesh, have developed sustainable agriculture and aquaculture production, recycling and waste management, potable water and infrastructure that are designed to be resilient to the effects of climate change. There is also a greater awareness among the community leaders, Upazila Nirbahi Officers, (local officials), national government officials ,NGOs and about climate change issues in the target communities and skills used to mitigate them in this project.

Key Strategies:

Awareness raising on Climate Change Capacity building of community leaders Providing training on PDC , DSSB and other relevant skills to create a more

sustainable way of life. Initiating income generating activities Increasing food production to create opportunities for increase business activities Sharing Achievements of the project at local and national level

All activities will consider environmental impact and small projects will use sustainable agricultural practices.

Project Duration: May 2013- March 2016

Overview of the Evaluation

Scope of the Evaluation:

Assessment of the relevance, efficiency, as well as effectiveness of implementation of project activities including application of target people selection criteria.

How far the awareness of the project beneficiaries has been raised on Sustainable Agriculture, Aquaculture Development and Climate Change Adaptation Interventions

How far the project beneficiaries have built up their capacity in managing their own groups and Sustainable Agriculture, Aquaculture Development and Climate Change Adaptation Interventions

Whether the project support services were sufficient in attaining project outcomes Assess the positive or negative, anticipated or unanticipated changes occurred

as outcomes of the interventions of the project. Also identify the significant changes for the target people, the factors responsible for occurrence of the changes, associated process of changes and their relationship to the project.

Up to what extent a multiplier effect in promoting project outcomes can be observed.

Assess to what extent and in which gender aspects are considered in the project. Whether the project has any positive effects of the living conditions and social status of women. How far the attitude of the male members has changed towards female of the communities covered by the project?.

Assess the decision-making power at family and village level that the women are gaining through the project.

To what extent the project interventions and strategies worked in bringing the changes? What were the limitations/constraints in achieving the impacts? and provide suggestion/ recommendations for appropriate strategies and activities to enhance the impacts.

Are the existing implementation strategies of the project helpful? What changes or additional strategies would better achieve the objectives?

Assess the project sustainability To put forward overall necessary recommendations

Evaluation Team Members: A 4- Member Team conducted the evaluation:

Ms. Jharna Mondal- Community Leader- Co -evaluator

Mr. Richard Gomes- Monitoring Officer, BASD- Co -evaluator

Mr. Josef Sarker- Team Leader, BCEC- Co -evaluator

Mr. Subhash Chandra Saha- Freelance Consultant (Evaluation Team Leader)

Evaluation Duration: January 25-27, 2016

Methodology Followed: The evaluation followed several steps: At first the Executive Director of BASD briefed the evaluation team about the project under evaluation. Then the project documents were studied. Draft checklists were prepared. The field visits schedule was prepared in consultation with the project staffs that helped to finalize the draft checklist. Then the team discussed with them about the results taken place due to project intervention and to identify about what did not meet the expectations.

The whole process of evaluation was participatory involving dialogue and discussion during which findings and alternative strategies were constantly discussed with FGD participants, Key Informants Interviewees (KII) and the staffs (annexed) who were the means to collect mainly qualitative information. The evaluation approach was considered as developmental rather than judgmental.

Secondly the field project staffs were briefed and validated about the evaluation findings at the project office. The draft report was discussed with the Executive Director of BASD. After his feedback it was finalized and submitted to him.

Tools used:

Semi-structured questionnaire

PRA (Now and Then)

Observations

Salient Findings, Comments and Suggestions

Relevance: The project is undeniably very much responsive to the threat that Bangladesh is facing from climate change. Over and above, the working areas of the project –Khulna and Bagerhat being low lying coastal districts respectively are the most vulnerable to climate change. The project components help the communities of the target areas to adapt the climate change.

In addition, it satisfies the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals): Eradication of poverty and hunger. Promote gender equality and empower women, Environmental sustainability, Development of global partnership. The objectives of the project are still valid in Bangladesh and local context .Hence needed continued support.

Effectiveness and Efficiency: The project has covered the planned activities, the participants and working areas. BASD’ diversified and long experiences of working in the project areas are working as a key factor to a high level of effectiveness. BASD has well developed contact and good image among cross section of people of the working areas including the administration at the Upazila level in particular. This is also a contributing factor to the effective implementation of the project.

Disseminating different technologies through PDC/SSDB has empowered the project beneficiaries, particularly the women to a great extent. The project’s strong central and field level monitoring, action plan and their review in periodical staff meetings including periodical visits of the Executive Director ensured timely implementation of project activities. The activities contributed in sensitizing the vulnerable communities to climate

change adaptation, translating awareness into action, increasing purchasing power, and bringing the people under organic farming, though not fully.

Nonetheless the project, though it is a 3-year first phase, could hardly meet in the areas of potable water, which is extremely serious for the vulnerable communities, marketing of produced vegetables and food security throughout the year. It also draws heartfelt attention of Bangladesh Govt .and international communities to come forward to address climate change issues.

The project should also intervene to change the mindset of men and women also. It should consider higher work-load of women. Male counterparts have must come forward to take part in household duties like fetching water from far off of places. Couple training on gender sensitivity may be an area to include as project components including follow up to sustain the culture to support the women. .

The project reached the climate change susceptible areas and may accompany some strategic partners in its noble journey

The project areas are- Mongla, and Dacope Upazila under Khulna and Bagerhat respectively situated in south west region of Bangladesh, which is undeniably one of the most climate vulnerable countries in the world. The project areas are low-lying coastal districts –and particularly exposed to climate change with tidal flooding, cyclones, salinity, etc. The average height of the country is not more than 10 m from the mean sea level while the height is less in the coastal area. Due to sea level rise, salinity in the coastal area is increasing with time.

The project beneficiaries are small, marginal and landless in line with project document. But equal participation of women and men is missing. It is almost 90% (women) and 10% (men). The project document stated 50% women and 50% men .Reasons assigned were that the males go for work all day long , sometimes go out of their home for a couple of months being driven by poverty..

The project participants have small landholdings. The project capacitated them with different technological supports. It is rightly done and should continue. BUT

in case of climate change adaptation, whole community needs to be sensitized. It cannot be selective. Regarding sustainable agriculture and aquaculture development, the small, marginal and landless have limited resources (land, and money). Hence families having more lands may be considered as strategic partners. It may be tried to share knowledge resource, not financial resource with them. Many of them are absentee land lords .Their lands are under share –cropping with modern farming (use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides) to respond to grow more food revolution regardless of safe or unsafe food. These land owners may be convinced to bring their lands under

organic farming to produce safe food and the project direct beneficiaries like marginal and landless members may share crop in those lands for 3-5 years, renewable after the contract. For producing and availability of enough quantity of organic products coupled with advocacy work to reform policy formulation and access to market their support is helpful.

Suggestions:

The project by its nature should not remain to the group members only in all the cases. For hard ware support it may be limited to the needy people but in case of environment protection and disaster preparedness people regardless of their socio economic condition mass awareness is necessary.

Families having more lands may be considered as strategic partners. It may be tried to share knowledge resource, not financial resource with them. Many of them are absentee land lords .Their lands are under share –cropping in with organic farming may be tried.

Spread message gradually to neighboring villages and whole community for a global impact.

Progress of work reached satisfactory level

The report of December 2015 reveals that all the planned activities were executed while the expense registered as almost 63% of the total budgeted amount. There are some activities like evaluation (internal; and external), national seminar, developing documentary film, alumni besides staff salary that will incur huge expenses for the remaining project period.

It is encouraging to note that the SHGs members have good wishes to spread the organic farming culture throughout coastal belts of Khulna and Bagerhat districts gradually.

Capacity building promoted empowerment – women have now voice and choice.

The project capacitated 120 community people (F-72) on PDC and DSSB, of them 21(F- 14) advanced and best performers /leaders were further trained on TOT selected by project staffs. They are part of the Self Help Groups. Their role is to share the knowledge gained from the training with community people.

Training a small number of persons in the context of PDC and DSSB is a promising approach to reach the community members easily and in order to get the intensity and continuity and most importantly to reduce dependency on the limited project staffs.

With dedication the trained trainers go to the trainees, meet individually with group members and also collectively in the group meetings held once a month at the village

level to motivate the members on environment friendly agriculture, producing safe food with organic farming, increasing nutrition in their families, to protect soil health, use the garbage in productive purposes, better hygiene and sanitation etc. They discussed with community people what worked and what needed for further improvement thus increasing their confidence and expertise. Thus gradually more families with organic culture are being covered. East Khejuria village under Banishanta Union may be a case in point. In that village 72 families live of which almost 55(77%) families are practicing organic farming fully and partly. They hope in near future it will be an Eco village.

One of the trainers, Ms.Dipali Mistry also acts as a facilitator for another national NGO, CODEC working in Mongla. For each session she is given an honorarium of Tk200/. She is happy that it is an honor to her.

It has taken the shape of institutionalization by the project. The trained women who were voiceless now have voice in the family. They are skilled and knowledgeable with technological information and feel them empowered. Homesteads are now under cultivation, which were not so productive before. Thus there are less expenditures of family maintenance. These are tangible results. It is a great contribution for their respective families.

Some women, the evaluator came across, said- the money earned by selling homestead vegetables remain in their hands and use the money for education of their children .They also help their husbands to buy daily essentials, if such situation arises. They are proud to say that now resources filter to the family through them. They are no longer mistreated by their husband. Women once treated as burden are now considered assets for their respective families. Some women were found inspired to contest in the next Union Parishad election.

Above and beyond, the project also capacitated the project team by way of providing training. All the project staffs have general educational background. Hence imparting training on different technologies is highly demanded. The staffs admitted that all training technical in particular were very useful.

Suggestions:

The elaboration of training materials is another important issue. Technical leaflets that provide profound knowledge and, at the same time, are easy to read should be produced for the most important subjects like-Sustainable Agriculture (Definition, principles, major differences to modern agriculture, etc), -Climate change adaptation, Integrated Fish Farming, -PDC, and DSSB

-others Arrange follow up events of such training with new innovative idea / methods

and with more reference to the local context

Landmark increase in awareness of project beneficiaries

A milestone accomplishment appeared with respect to increase in awareness on organic farming method using organic /compost fertilizers, organic pesticides, fish tonic etc .Arranging eco –village fair and day observations or eco -evening generated awareness on impacts of climate change.

The members interviewed have clear idea about the terrible effects of modern cultivation using chemical fertilizers and pesticides, use of chemical pesticides by pump dispensers that caused much harm to them and bad effects of drinking saline water.

They shared; the modern agriculture has become a great threat for soil, environment, human health, etc. as well as their food security, which has been intensified due to climate change. They were also found more aware about the warning system to save them from disaster and adaptation measures to climate change. This has been made possible in receiving training on PDC and DSSB and follow- up of their learning in group meeting by project personnel and the trained community trainers in their respective project areas.

Suggestions:

Create awareness more effectively through other thought provoking local cultural events like gambhira, populat theatre ,folk song etc to reach the whole community.

Needed demonstration plots, which may be treated as farmer schools .It is undeniable that motivation through demonstration is more effective.

Interest amplified caused translation of awareness into action

A total of 832 project beneficiaries of 42 communities in three command areas were in practice farming, if not all . The evaluation visited some of them who were found in practice through raised bed, diamond bed, pitcher bed, round compost, vermi- compost, liquid manure, fish tonic etc. It is an inspiring uprising. They were much enthusiastic to produce healthy food for healthy life. Some fascinating members due to lack of necessary land or space cannot use the learning. There are some interviewed members who were enthusiastic to speak “No” to chemical fertilizers and pesticides anymore.

There are some cases in point .Prokash Gowshami of Gharamipara , Sutatrkhali received some incentives( spade, scissor, weeding hook, and chemical fertilizers like

urea, phosphate, di-ammonium phosphate, etc) for his commendable vegetable cultivation from Govt Agricultural Dept. He thanked them and returned the chemical fertilizers saying his keen interest is in organic farming. It may be mentioned that he got training from the project and learnt to produce organic vegetables adopting different Perma culture technique. Similar is the case with Ms.Prova Ghorami of Ghoramipara who was honored with incentives from Govt. Agricultural Dept. She did not use the chemical fertilizers.

Food Security (availability of safe food than before)

All the interviewed members expressively said, before they joined the project, their food stuffs (here mainly the vegetables) were less in quantity, not to speak about the quality of products produced with chemical fertilizers. They had to buy a little vegetables according to their income and shared it among all the family members, if not equally (women had less). Now food (vegetables) is available in their land to consume as needed. Some can sell the surplus and with the sale proceeds they can buy other essentials.

It has been tried to delve into one project area-Sutarkhali union under Dacope Upazila where almost 400 people are organized into different self help groups. It appears out of them, 80% are fully involved in organic farming for vegetable cultivation, of them 45% can sell the surplus. With the sale-proceed they buy other essentials. The remaining 20% produce in a very little quantity due to lack of space and have to buy according to their purchasing capacity.

This is about a picture of eight months a year. For remaining four months, there is no vegetable cultivation due to lack of rain and salinity of soil. Then their food security faced a great threat.

The right to freedom from hunger and undernourishment is laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But food security is more than a right. It is the very essence of survival.

Undertaken small projects ensure food availability

There are 27 small projects of four types – Organic vegetables (9), Integrated Fishery (6), Vermi culture (6) and Horticulture (6). BASD has own fund. This is loaned out to organized groups to undertake small projects –individually and or collectively. All the projects except horticulture have satisfactory results.

a)Horticulture projects:

The evaluation team met two project holders and visited one of their projects at South Kainmari. One of them was Mr. Provadan Aditya of Malgazi Selp Help Group , Mongla

another was a joint venture at South Kainamary, Mongla. It appears the two projects faced difficulties. Reasons are many:

According to Mr. Aditya, the cost of a sapling is higher compared to the market price of similar kind of a plant. He used natural fertilizers, while plants grown up with chemical fertilizers or without fertilizer by others cost less. Buyers bought those plants, which cost less. They do not see and want to listen about the quality of plants. This is the common nature of low income group.

Almost two years passed. Till today he has sold only 100 plants out of 500. Some of the plants destroyed due to excessive rain. His land was low lying. He invested Tk12, 500/ borrowing from BASD. His due date of paying installments expired. Reasons are obvious.

.Mr. Aditya said with respect to quality of his plants. One farmer bought six plants from him. In one year one plant did not survive, survival rate being 84%. While one of his neighbors purchased six plants of lower quality (called Satkhira plants), no plants did survive.

The team visited another nursery with 3,000 plants in 23 decimals of land at South Kainmari. It was undertaken jointly by four women: Dipali Mistry, Lia Mondal ,Lipikanath and Anima Mondal.They invested Tk 20,000/ borrowing from BASD.

The nursery appeared depressing. Mortality rate was higher (not specifically mentioned). It was reasoned that some plants were of little in size. Moreover, they had to water the plants from the canal, which was extremely saline. They sold some plants for Tk 12,000/. The remaining plants will cost Tk 10-12,000/. In the meantime they have paid back Tk 4,000/ to BASD and failed to pay back the remaining amount.

Hence statement given by the BCEC project office shows a gloomy scenario in case of six horticulture projects. It reveals .that only Tk 39,050/ (22.57%) has been realized against the realizable amount of Tk 173,000/ i.eTk133, 950 / (77.43%) remained due (as on January 2016).

b) Fishery project: The BCEC project propagated integrated fish farming. Ms. Kallani Roy, a member of Usha Self Help Group of Adarmanik of Banishanta Union under Dacope Upazila received training on PDC, Accounts and Fish culture from BCEC /BASD. She individually cultivated fish of 10 different species ( Rui, Mrigal,Prawn,Silver Carp, etc) . The pond size is 33 decimals. She nurtured them with knowledge learnt from the training on regular basis.

From her record she said, she invested Tk 20,500/ borrowing Tk 14,500 / from BASD at 8%-service charge. She already paid back the loan to BASD. In two years time she sold

fish for Tk 12,000/ and fish available in the pond will cost Tk 12-15,000/- more she assumed. Over and above, fish was a regular item in their every day meal which was met from her own pond. It helps them to meet nutrition from the fish, ensure her increased income and purchasing power to buy other essentials. She was glad to share with the evaluation team that she never buys any fish from the market for their consumption.

On the edge of the pond she planted vegetables and used organic fertilizers. Before her involvement with the BECE project, she did fish cultivation in unscientific manner, and the return was very much unsatisfactory (she did not maintain any record) and the bank of the pond remained uncultivated. She said, training by the project is an eye opener to her. Meanwhile she sold compost to BCEC worth of Tk 290 / and donated little amount of compost to her some fascinated neighbors. There are similar encouraging information found from other members like Francis Halder , Rehana and Sanjit of Adarmanik village. All of them with feeling said, fish farming ensures food security More investments are welcomed. The areas have enough ditches /ponds.

Problems encountered need to be addressed:

The fishery holders buy fingerlings comparatively at a higher price from small traders moving around the villages. It is experienced that their growth is very slow. Mortality rate is higher.

Low lying fish ponds are inundated due to natural disasters (heavy rain fall / flooding etc). As a result, fishes overflow the ponds. The poor people find difficulties to have nets (costlier) to protect the fish from overflowing.

c) Vermiculture:

It is a sophisticated organic fertilizer. It demands careful handling. The idea is new to the project areas, so at the beginning people were hesitant to use them though now it has gained impetus. In Golap Group of Dharsan Khali, 10 members (36%) out of 28 are involved with this vermi- compost. With Malgazi Self Help Group, only 13% are involved. Three years before there were none in any of the areas, even did not hear about its name. The vermi -compost is very effective and helps soaking salinity. In some places in the country some people have established themselves as entrepreneurs in this field and has drawn attention in the media both electronic and printing.

Ms. Usha Mondal, a member of Machmara Self Help Group shared her experience with the evaluation team. Her family is composed of seven members including grand children. She took training on PDC and ToT from BCEC and thereafter she has undertaken vermi-culture project. At the beginning she was laughed at by the villagers to become involved with earth worms. But she was very firm in her work. She started using the vermi compost in her own vegetable field. Her group members observed it

and became convinced one by one. All the 27 members of her group are using vermi-compost but due to mud rising at the moment by the Govt.11 have to discontinue. Besides, three people from adjacent villages came to her and took the worms .She got 1,000 earthworms from BASD for Tk 1,000/ two years back, Meanwhile she has sold the compost for Tk 9,000 and earthworms for Tk 2,000/ . The earthworms and compost available now (stock) with her will cost app.Tk 15 thousand.

Now she is very popular. For any dispute in the village she is requested to attend to resolve. She is also a member of Seba (service) committee of the local Church. She added, in her village almost 35 families (50%) of 70 families are used to use organic fertilizer. Gradually it will go up.

The problems the undertakers faced :

The vermi- compost needs cow dung but very few villagers have livestock. Rats damage the compost in a hole of mud. It can be overcome if the ground is

made of brick, which incurs some costs. It may be basin of bricks, which costs some money and limits expansion, if required.

d) Organic Vegetables:

Mr. Samoresh Biswas (35) of Sutarkhali under Dacope Upazila got PDC training in the last year. With very much enthusiasm he along with his wife started organic farming with different kinds (12) of vegetables in their house premises of 0.7 acres. It was In Nov 2015. They have different organic fertilizers-vermi-compost, round compost, organic pesticides, fish tonic etc. Borrowing money of Tk11, 072/ from BASD they have spent (investment) Tk 20,700/.Meanwhile they have sold vegetables worth of Tk 8,400/ . They have vegetables saleable within Feb-May 2016, amounting to app. Tk23, 000/ besides cost of the vegetables required for their own consumption. There village is inhibited by 150 families (rich, middle and poor). Out of them 35(23%) families are involved in organic farming, some of them fully and some partly due to lack of materials. They will cover by 100% gradually with organic farming fully. The evaluation team visited their field(Mr. Samoresh Biswas), which appeared pleasing to the eye. Mr. Biswas has a plan to cultivate paddy in this year with their available organic fertilizers (round compost and vermi-compost amounting to 2 tons)

It is reported, different NGOs, some villagers (rich and middle class namely Bivutibhusan, Gopal , Pulin, others ) often visit their vegetable field and are moved with appearance and quality of vegetables. A rich farmer, Bivutibhusan having 35 acres of land of his village expressed his desire to bring his land under organic farming for paddy and vegetables gradually. Similar interest was shared by other visitors.

The people with no or very small piece of land have limitations to undertake organic vegetables. They take lease of others’ land at cost ( Jharna Mondal of east Khejuria) In some places marketing of vegetables is a great problem ( Dharsankhali ), which disheartens the growers. Sometimes the unsold vegetables are given to the animals.

Suggestions:

For organic farming, enough fertilizer is necessary. Every interviewed persons in an eloquent voice said, they need poultry and livestock. On the fish pond they may rear poultry birds and pigs.

Before undertaking any scheme, feasibility study is required. Moreover, lack of past experience is also a factor for frustrating results.

The nursery (horticulture) holders wish that the group members buy plants from them and plant at their respective places, where other villagers find interest to see their size and appearance..Alternately the project can provide subsidy to the project holders for 2-3 years. Let people buy the plants, grow them, and see their growth and survival rate. It is popularly said: seeing is believing

The projects contribute to ensure food security and purchasing power. Hence to increase the number of small projects is warranted. At present only 139(17%) members out of 832 target beneficiaries are involved in 27 small undertakings.

In case of vermin compost, being non -traditional in the project areas it requires enough propagation saying it’s importance through effective means like popular theatre.

The BCEC should have demonstration plots for motivation. Motivation through demonstration is more effectual and sustainable.

Creating opportunities for marketing of products is urgently required. Otherwise they may be dispirited.

Continue transfer indigenous knowledge /technologies to the people

Repayment and due amount (as on January 2016) shows disappointing results

BASD disbursed Tk 1,701,000/ for 27 small projects. The realizable amount was Tk 1,043,625/ against which Tk 448,745/ (43%) realized. while due amount is Tk 594,880/ (57%).

Project wise repayment rate:

Integrated Fishery: 58%

Organic vegetables: 56%

Horticulture: 23%

Vermi-culture: 22%

Suggestions:

To change the repayment schedule is desirable. It should be repaid frequently (fortnightly or monthly. This is the culture of micro credit operation in Bangladesh. In this case repaying starts after six months except horticulture. This starts after one year. Thereafter repayment is on quarterly basis. The service charge earned at the rate of 8% is deposited to respective self help group.

Climate Change Adapted (CCA) Houses constructed with contribution: Guidelines revision and especially challenged people drawn attention

In response to adaptation of infrastructure to withstand adverse weather conditions the project provided CCA house to 75 families during the project period. The evaluation visited as many as 10 CCA houses. These encompasse one living house, toilet and earth pitchers (3 per family) and livestock and poultry shed. In addition each beneficiary will have earth pitcher installed within the house for emergency food, water and other valuable materials.

It is a right intervention to stand by the side of the families living in danger in the coastal belt. The beneficiaries are happy. However, the projected contribution is bare minimum from the project side. The project paid Tk. 13,000/ to Mr.Khukhu Barkandor of Adarmanik group/ Banishanta, while he spent almost 90,000/taka borrowing money from NGOs, and some relatives. His contribution is 86% as against 14% of project contribution.

In case of Ms.Rupali Roy of east Khejuria she spent Tk 80,000/ taking loan from others while the project paid her Tk 13,000/. Her contribution is 84% as against 16% of project contribution.

The guidelines among other preconditions say “the beneficiaries are ready to bear at least 20% contribution over the total grant”. .The reality and the guidelines do not satisfy each other. It needs clarity at the beneficiaries and staffs level. Their concern is that side walls of floors of almost all the CCA houses damaged due to rain. It needs repairing cost and it is almost every year. Hence the structure of the CCA house scheme needs a second thought in future when persons with disabilities also should not go out of attention. The team was approached by many other poor families to get CCA house.

Suggestions:

It is imperative that the side walls are made pucca with cement and bricks, which will last long and need not incur frequent expenses for repairing. The stairs must have ramps for the wheel chair users and especially challenged people.

The guidelines for CCA house construction needs revisited based on experience in the first phase.

To increase the number of CCA houses to bring more poor families under the project benefit.

Access to drinkable water: a dismal scenario. A call for SoS

To get out of sweet water crisis at least for drinking purposes, the project provided one water jug .They collect rain -water, somebody use plastic tank during rainy season ,which lasts for two and half months, if utilized economically by a 4-5 member family. For remaining months they fetch water walking half kilometer to three kilometers (varies from place to place).

Visiting different families/beneficiaries it was observed that reservoir is empty. Water has been reportedly evaporated from the pitcher during dry season (summer season). Their sufferings know no bounds. They feel thirstier during that season. Their children come home from the school and want to drink water but hardly can meet their dehydration. During dry season the pond/ canal dry up. Nonetheless they are constrained to fetch that water mixed with clay, use alum and drink the upper portion. Sometimes they have to boil water with tree leaves. (This is a story about community people of east Khejuria- Banishanta.)They were also constrained to store saline water for washing purposes; every so often they drink saline water also.

Suggestions:

It is a life and death problem of the people living in the project areas. Each and everybody’s concern is to make access to sweet water to address their inhuman sufferings.

At micro level each family may be provided with a tank made of brick having safety cover or at the macro level installing water treatment plant to help a number of families in the project areas may be suggested. or

To provide a plastic tank with a capacity of 2,000 liters of water. This can support a 4-5 member family for six months. During rainy season for three months, they can depend on rain water (if nature is favorable). Thus for nine months, they will have access to potable water.

Use of traditional stove injurious to reproductive health

Many poor families visited use tree leaves, dry wood, cow dung as fuel for cooking. The smoke thus they inhale a day through using traditional stove in the villages is equivalent

to smokes of 10 packs of cigarettes. This smoke is called benzopyrene , a poison, injurious to reproductive health(source: Our common future).

Suggestions:

Use of stove to minimize the fuel consumption is an area to consider for the next phase. Its use is also much safe for the health of women.

Paddy cultivation with organic fertilizers: more production with less input cost

Ms.Prova Ghorami is a member of Ghoramipara Self Help Group. She used to use chemical fertilizer before receiving training from BCEC. She received training on PDC two years before She had vermi-compost, liquid fertilizer, fish tonic etc She showed the evaluation team that this papaya tree once looked almost depressed. She called in her mind about fish tonic. She used it. Now it has regained its life. It has so many fruits. Her neighbors- Shanda, Tapati and Kakoli asked her “Our papaya plants looked sick, but yours is so lively-Why?” Being convinced they followed Prova.

Out of her interest Prova with her son and husband cultivated paddy with organic compost in 14 decimals and in another 14 decimals with chemical fertilizers. They got the crops and shared the results with the evaluation team:

Organic Fertilizer Chemical FertilizerParticulars Taka Particulars TakaOrganic compost 400 Urea 160Seed (49) 370 TSP 280Sowing 600 Seed (23) 900Harvesting 600 Sowing 600Carrying 600 Harvesting 6000 0 Carrying 600Production Cost 2570 Production Cost 3140

Production 20 Maunds 14 Maunds

Quality/Size: Better /bigger low /smallerSoil becomes fertile degradedMarket Price: Tk 12,260 Tk7,644Net profit Tk 9,670 Tk 4504

Difference of net profit: Tk 5,166 /

Her husband has changed his mind set now about his wife. Two –three years before, he did not like her free mobility. Now situation is changed. He realizes that his wife is doing a good job. Many people come to her to know her work. He feels proud. He assists her in doing farming and reminds her the group meeting date and time.

Many others like Prova ( Samaresh Biswas and Bivuti Bushan, a large farmer of Sutarkhali expressed their desire for paddy cultivation with organic compost.

Suggestions:

Farmers may be motivated through practical demonstration (farmer school). The demo plots may be either owned by the project or group members.

Access to market demands forward-thinking

Access to market is one of the producers’ agricultural rights. Dharasnkhali under Sutarkhali Union is a remote village inhibited by 38 families.The project BCEC reached there and stood by them. There is a SHG consisting of 28 members .Being trained and thus stimulated they are producing plenty of organic vegetables of different varieties. After meeting their own needs they want to market the remaining but do not get their fair price. Hence they are frustrated .The vermi- compost produced there also has no market. It was said, people hardly know about it and its utility.

The situation is different in other places. Adarmanik SHGs said differently. Their vegetables and fish have huge demand at Lao Doba market. At the beginning it was a push sale because of their higher price and their test was unknown .Now their test got a spillover effect among the consumers. They come again and ask for the organic vegetables. Mr.Francis Halder , Ms.Kallani Roy of Adarmanik SHG added, the customers come to their home and buy from them .They find a number of buyers nearby .It is because their place of living is in close proximity with the sea/river where loading –unloading take place from the ships / vessels.

Suggestions:

It needs propagation. Until the way out, SHGs situated near the Mongla port should come forward to market vegetables and fish

Urge the Govt( service providers) to improve the infrastructure

Seed conservation should be supported

It is understood from discussion that seeds of early days are in extinction Single villagers (preferably women) should be given the mandate to become “village seed keepers” for certain crops. This is a suitable activity that could be started by SHGs. Seed –keepers from different villages could then cooperate, and exchange seeds and experiences. Together they could do a minimum of selection. They may hold “Seed Fair” for wide dissemination. The Darshankali members said, “No” to hybrid seeds. They prefer local variety.

Suggestion:

By developing seed stores, women could strengthen their position as entrepreneurs.

Interest multiplied for organic farming

The evaluation team came across some village people (non -group members) during the field visits and enquired of the project impacts. It appears they are very much convinced about the project interventions. They added, the food produced by using chemical fertilizer and pesticides are unsafe and poisonous, disastrous to soil health.

Being inspired by better results of organic farming they were in contact with various SHGs, community trainers and project staffs and started to practice the same in their fields, whatever they had. The evaluation team met some of them . Among many others, they were Mr. Xavier Sarker and Ms.Popi Sarker of Malgazi /Mongla while Sanda Biswas , Shati Biswas, Daniel Biswad, Minoti Biswas, Mintu Biswas of Banuful Self Help Group/ Banisanta .The team visited two fields of Mr. Xavier Sarker and Ms.Popi Sarker. They cultivated vegetables in their house premises, once kept fallow for long. They appeared very happy to see the quality of the organic garden. Mr. Xavier out of his curiosity cultivated his small piece of land in two ways: with organic fertilizer as advised by Ms. Elizabeth, trained farmer and another piece of land with inorganic method. The output is self – explanatory and tangible. There are other fascinating village women -Chopola, Kabita, Shilpi of East Khejuria who were convinced by Jharna Mondal, community trainer. They cultivated organic vegetables.

The organic farming culture also reached out of the project locations. It has been possible when people from other villages come for visits to relative houses under organic farming and vice versa. The community expressed their satisfaction in different ways: “The project gives us safe food and saves our life and next generation. BASD is an NGO with a difference. There are NGOs in our areas. They are involved in only money lending business.”

In a village, east Khehuria 72 families are involved with two SHGs. Of them 50 % are using this method. The left out families are using mixed method at the moment. Statistics reveal that as many as 4,800 people in the project areas are involved with this organic farming.

Some neighbors ( East Khejuria) were noticed to use the land for vegetable cultivation in two ways: using organic fertilizers for their own consumption and other piece of land with mixed fertilizer- organic and inorganic for selling at the market. It is said, use of

organic fertilizer takes time to reach a saleable size of the vegetables but with mixed farming their growth is faster. At the early stage of winter vegetable the price in the market is higher, hence they follow the mixed farming method to get that price.

Suggestions:

The project should extend to other areas to benefit more people. Moreover, if more farmers produce organic products, it could meet growing demand of consumers.

The project appeared contributed dalit communities in mainstreaming:

The discrimination against dalit once greatly existed. They were denied to enter into restaurants; hair cut shop (saloon), schools, festivals etc. The dalits also suffered from inferiority complex. Now the situations appeared to get improved. The factors responsible were that different NGOs including BASD, Sushilon, World Vision, Caritas and others sensitized the mainstreamed communities and the dalits against discrimination. It took series of dialogue .The dalits are now mainstreamed regardless of caste and religion. During festivals of other communities they are invited to attend. Quarrelling among the spouse reduced significantly. This is due to the fact that economic condition is better than before besides education ,which helps them to change their mindset .Now women have money to meet the family expenditures. One of their earning sources is sale proceeds of vegetables even though the amount is very meager. It may be mentioned here that they have no land of their own. Their living is very congested in Missionary properties on the road cum dam side, which is very neighboring to the sea; hence their situation is very much defenseless .

The project provided training to some dalit people ( Parul Biswas, Rubina Biswas, Jharna Biswas and others) on PDC and DSSB. Being trained they started cultivation of organic vegetables in their homestead whatever they have. The lands once kept fallow now have been brought under utilization of organic farming.

They eloquently said, they do not to wait for their husbands to come home with essentials from the market. They collect own vegetables from their garden. They were happy to say that they can eat more vegetables and meet the nutrient value than before. Being inspired other neighbors (Shanda Biswas,Sati Biswas, Daniel Biswas of Madhabi and Banuful Cooperative Society) also cultivated similar vegetables .

Ms.Rubina Biswas has no land for cultivation. She is so stimulated that she cultivated vegetables road side. This has educated other people living nearby. They also followed her.

They are proud to say that people regardless of religion come and buy the vegetables from their garden. The buyers said, the vegetables have special taste, easy to digest, though the price is higher than those of hybrid and poisonous vegetables.

Suggestions:

Continue organic farming in whatever small lands the community has at home and or road side, leasing lands from others.

Their livelihood on agriculture only is not possible. Undertaking off farm activities is more suitable for access to food by enhancing income and purchasing power. These may include -garments, fish ,stationery, hair cut shop/and the like for which they need small capital.

Hygiene and sanitation (Wastes are not wasted)

It appears that the organized group members are aware of cleanliness and better sanitation. Before the start of the project, they would throw away the garbage/wastes (including materials of polythene) here and there, making the homestead or courtyard dirty.

They used to defecate in unhygienic way, sometimes in open space. Almost all the people of east Khejuria( Banishanta ) had hanging latrines over a canal nearby. Some had toilets, but broken which spreads dirty smell. They never used sandal (flat shoe) and washed their hands after defecation.

Now after motivation by BASD they are aware of the bad effects of previous practices. They store the decomposed garbage in a fixed place to prepare round compost, which are used as fertilizers for organic vegetables. Again these wastes of vegetable garden are recycled.

Even the children of organized groups are aware of the cleanliness and garbage management where polythene are kept separate. They listen to their parent about the environment .They do not wish that somebody worn out leaves of trees. (Ref:Adarmanik Upama Self Help group and Adarmanik Usha Self Help group).Their adolescent girls also help their mothers and advocate about cleanliness and importance of trees and their protection with their classmates.

Regarding sanitation almost 100% families have fixed place for natural call using ring slab, use sandal and wash with soap after defecation. It is big behavioral change .

Suggestions:

Engage the adolescents and the youth to play as catalytic agents in disseminating the project objectives and grow up accordingly.

Educational institutions should also be brought under project coverage. Teachers may be trained to disseminate the technology and climate change issues to teach in their respective classes.

Women and Climate Change: Women experienced more sufferings due to climate change

Bangladesh is a patriarchal society and women are at a disadvantage in many respects, both formally and informally. They are more affected due to climate change .Though much achievements have taken place in Bangladesh in case of women empowerment still many miles to go. During disaster and after disaster they are mostly affected .The society is left with a situation where women are considered to be at high risk of predation from men, in the knowledge that there is little recourse to formal justice in the case of gender-based violence.

Climate change and disasters conspire to expose women to a higher than usual risk of violence. For example, women risk rape and abuse from lack of privacy in cyclone shelters, road cum dam side and relief queues. In the year 1997, some project areas were severely damaged by natural havoc called “Aila” .The people, especially women had to take shelter near the dam and passed inhuman sufferings for a couple of years.( Sutarkhali people shared )

Gynecological problems also proliferated where women could not use private space to go to the toilet or take care of their menstruation – they may have to wait until it gets dark to relieve them without being seen. This is not a problem for men. Women also faced longer distances to drinking water.

Suggestions:

Govt, various international communities e.g UN, and other NGOs must come forward to analyze the problems faced by women folk due to the impact of climate change and take appropriate steps for remedial measures.

To set up women friendly cyclone shelters ensuring water and sanitation facilities The project related to climate change should have gender sensitivity activity to

change the mindset of both women and men. Many projects for their economic empowerment are required.

Gender Sensitivity:

It appears that almost 95% women are involved in all the agriculture activities besides their traditional household work .Women interviewed said, fetching water is women’s job. If sick and or pregnant they are to bring their relatives from the parents’ home-they frankly said. Male partners also frankly admitted they do not think it all that it is their work .(the evaluation team came across some women and adolescent girls at Banishanta fetching water with jars from half to one kilometer away from their home. One of them was found sick).

Meeting women’s practical gender needs, certain strategic gains noticed such as increased financial independence from their husbands. Women now have capital in hands (by selling vegetables of homestead gardening, selling vermin-compost, etc). Thus less dependency on husbands, assist husbands with money, if required. They feel proud of it.

Suggestion:

To talk about gender sensitivity agriculture among couples .

Project in the eyes of consumers:

The consumers said, they buy organic products even though the price is comparatively high. These are easy to digest, require less fuel and time to cook, no stomach pain after eating, children like these vegetables, etc Others said, they are compelled to buy and eat poisonous food knowingly as there is scarcity of organic products. They also demand that the project should extend to other areas to benefit more people. At the moment it is limited to some people of some areas. Moreover, if more farmers produced organic products, it could meet growing demand of consumers.

The Govt. relevant depts. appreciated the project. Link up beneficiaries with the service providers.

The Govt.Upazila Agriculture Officer of Mongla, Md. Abdullah Al-Mamun expressed his immense satisfaction about the project, its benefits that the project beneficiaries are availing. He said, there is innovativeness in the project. To a question about future undertaking he emphasized to test the soil health and use the manure accordingly and make farmers’ need assessment before any future intervention. He advised to extend the project areas.

In case of sustainability (when outside support will be withdrawn) the beneficiaries must establish a good rapport with them to get their resources. Therefore, it may be tried in future to identify the service providers (duty bearers), area of services with the service recipients (rights holders) through PRA. It appears the people interviewed have no idea about them.

The Banishanta Union Parishad Chairman, Mr. Sodep Kumar Roy said, the work of BASD is more transparent than any other NGOs working in the area. The project service receivers he came across are happy to follow the organic farming, which were once their practices long before. He said, the project needs expansion in other neighboring unions and requests BASD to intervene to create facilities for sweet water for drinking and reduce sufferings from drinking saline and contaminated water. All the NGOs working there may hold dialogue to find ways and means in resolving water crisis, which is a question of their life and death. The Bangladesh Govt. with its limited resources is unable to provide such services- he added.

Suggestions:

Identify the service providers (duty bearers), area of services with the service recipients (rights holders) through PRA( Participatory Rural Apprisal).

Link up the beneficiaries with the service providers to get their services acceptable to them( right based approach to development)

Community cohesion observed though variation exists

It appeared, the organized group members have solidity and fellow -feeling for the most marginalized people regardless of religion though it is not everywhere. Newly married, Mr Paul Sarker of a village Malgazi is financially poor. Malgazi Self Help Group prepared a vegetable garden (20decimals) and told him to work there and use the garden for his livelihood. They also reportedly assisted sick people for treatment.

There were quarrelling among dalit communities. Now it has greatly changed due to exposure in different places and receiving spiritual training imparted by the project. They are invited during different festivals by other people of different faiths and vice versa. They are now more mainstreamed. Adarmanik Self Help Group at Sutarkhali is a mixed group of different religions – Hindu, Muslims, and Christians. There exists religious harmony among them.

The situation is different as was understood at Dharsankhali. Community people once were disorganized and had suffering then they had good understanding among them. Now they are organized having enough vegetables, and no suffering at least for food they become self -centered. His His, Whose Whose.

Suggestions:

To continue dialoguer on peace building, communal harmony, human relations, and togetherness among awareness on climate change adaptation.

Social issues like violence against women, child marriage turned down

Violence against Women (VAW): This was very severe 3-5 years ago at different project locations. It was the highest security concern of women. It happened due to patriarchal mentality, lack of awareness coupled with poverty, etc.

Besides, many innocent women fell victim to dowry system and their lives became miserable. Many men marry women for the greed of dowry and their property and if they are unable to get these, they torture women. Consequently unhappiness and separation take place. Then the women take shelter to their parent’s house, which becomes a burden to them and their life becomes miserable.

At present women have got employment opportunities to earn additional income through organic farming, become aware through training from different NGOs, dowry system more or less has come down . So the physical torture is hardly heard but mental torture is there though not significant. It is said, mental torture is more injurious than physical torture. It is originated from lady-love with married or unmarried women, mistrust from either side etc.

Early Marriage/ Child Marriage:

People had understanding that early marriage within the age range of 12-14 demands fewer amounts as dowry. If the girls cross 15-16 years, it needs more amount.

Now the parents are aware that at the early age the girls become mothers. As a consequence their health breaks and become sick and cannot continue to shoulder the responsibilities of the family and more childbearing. It is intervened to stop child marriages in cooperation with Govt. administration and the sensitized community. It is hardly happened. Sometimes parents marry off their daughters secretly to a relative’s house at far off places.

Suggestions: Keep up motivation about the bad effects of social diseases.

Changes taken place in the fields of organic and inorganic farming over time

The FGD participants of different VDCS drew pictures of changes taken place due to project intervention .It is one of the PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) tools used. The tool is known as Trend Analysis or Time Trend. The highest score is five (00000).

Before intervention of the project

Key Indicators At present ( after intervention of the project)

00 Knowledgeable about organic farming 00000 Knowledgeable about vermi compost 00000 Practice with organic fertilizers 0000 Use of organic pesticides 0000 Technical knowhow of agriculture 000

0000 Fallow land 000000 Availability of inorganic produces 00000 Availability of organic produces 000000 Consumption of organic products 0000

Marketing of organic products (varies from place to place)

0000 Fish cultivation: bagda (mainly) 0000 Fish cultivation: integrated bagda+ golda=

others000

0 Climate Change Adapted House 000 Purchasing power 0000 Access to sweet water 00000 Defecation here and there 00 Use of sanitary toilets 0000 Women with technological knowledge on

farming000

0 Hearing Women’ s Voice 0000 Women’s mobility 0000 Filtering resources through women 000000 Violence against women 00000 Child Marriage 0

The picture shows that the changes are appreciable but their miseries remained more or less same with respect to access to sweet water and marketing of their produces to some places.

Suggestions

Carry out similar exercise for the groups and make an action plan to reach the desired level and follow up periodically:

How long is the long run?

What is the long term relationship between the Institution and the implementing organization? How long is the long run? What would happen in the event of withdrawal of outsider’s support? Here comes the question of sustainability.

Sustainability has three faces a) Institutional b) Financial and c) Social and Cultural Sustainability.

a) Institutional sustainability

The institution building at the village level is SHGs formed with selected members of 42 communities of the project areas. A central committee is at the formation stage. Their

knowledge on project and organization management is below as required. Each of the institutions needs to be capacitated based on assessment .The exit strategy (phase over)approach of the project is to be developed where it will be planned to transfer its project activities gradually to their Institutions through participatory process.

The institutions independently need to:

prepare long term plan of the institution prepare annual micro plan of their institution -identify activities, prepare

implementation strategies Implement strategies, review and modify actions as necessary, train on technology development , monitor (community score card ) and evaluate

their own actions maintain accounts and manage finances create and maintain assets

For sustaining, the institution must have their advocacy team to formulate and reformulate policies to establish farmers’ and human rights , to delve into organic farming, to build capacity as trainers /facilitators, planners, evaluators and monitors. The sustainability strategy should project some budgetary provisions in this regard in the next phase.

It may be mentioned that meanwhile the project has developed community trainers in the working areas to gradually reduce dependency from the project staffs. There needed follow up of training received and new method of organic farming along with staffs.

There are no criteria yet developed to assess the strengths of SHGs (Self Help Groups) .It is necessary to upgrade their performance gradually through Community Score card.(CSC).The criteria may be selected in consultation with SHGs leaders, emphasizing on climate change adaptability, food security/availability among others. Based on the criteria the SHGs may be classified into different categories: A, B and C and necessary actions may be taken for gradual development.

b) Financial sustainability:

To run the institutions, there needed financial resources. To ensure their financial sustainability the most salient mechanism will be the mobilization and integration of local resources. This resource base includes savings schemes, and income-generation funds, which they have already started. This self -sustaining base will continue to be developed through member contributions, local community contributions and government.

To mobilize local resources the leaders need to undergo PRA training to identify local resources -both private and public and continue linkage with service providing organizations to have access to these services. In order to raise their self- confidence, some representatives may go for exposure to other likeminded community based organizations.

c) Social and Ecological sustainability:

The systematic awareness, practices developed with the assistance of the project staff and community trainers ensures the socio-ecological sustainability. The awareness & sensitization on various technologies among communities will last long & it can be fairly assumed that they will sustain the knowledge and act on the same even after withdrawal of the project period.

To upgrade their knowledge BASD need to train them and this will be a continuous process.

Suggestions (at a glance)

The project reached the climate change susceptible areas and may accompany some strategic partners in its noble journey

The project by its nature should not remain to the group members only in all the cases. For hard ware support it may be limited to the needy people but in case of environment protection and disaster preparedness mass people regardless of their socio economic condition mass awareness is necessary.

Families having more lands may be considered as strategic partners. It may be tried to share knowledge resource, not financial resource with them. Many of them are absentee land lords .Their lands are under share –cropping in with organic farming may be tried.

Spread message gradually to neighboring villages for a global impact.

Capacity building promoted empowerment – women have now voice and choice.

The elaboration of training materials is another important issue. Technical leaflets that provide profound knowledge and, at the same time, are easy to read should be produced for the most important subjects like-Sustainable Agriculture (Definition, principles, major differences to modern agriculture, etc), -Climate change adaptation, Integrated Fish Farming, -PDC, and DSSB

-others Arrange follow up events of such training with new innovative idea / methods

and with more reference to the local context

Landmark increase in awareness of project beneficiaries

Create awareness more effectively through other thought provoking local cultural events like gambhira, populat theatre ,folk song etc to reach the whole community.

Needed demonstration plots, which may be treated as farmer schools .It is undeniable that motivation through demonstration is more effective.

Undertaken small projects ensure food availability

For organic farming, enough fertilizer is necessary. Every interviewed persons in an eloquent voice said, they need poultry and livestock. On the fish pond they may rear poultry birds and pigs.

Before undertaking any scheme, feasibility study is required. Moreover, lack of past experience is also a factor for frustrating results.

The nursery (horticulture) holders wish that the group members buy plants from them and plant at their respective places, where other villagers find interest to see their size and appearance..Alternately the project can provide subsidy to the project holders for 2-3 years. Let people buy the plants, grow them, and see their growth and survival rate. It is popularly said: seeing is believing

The projects contribute to ensure food security and purchasing power. Hence to increase the number of small projects is warranted. At present only 139(17%) members out of 832 target beneficiaries are involved in 27 small undertakings.

In case of vermin compost, being non -traditional in the project areas it requires enough propagation saying it’s importance through effective means like popular theatre.

The BCEC should have demonstration plots for motivation. Motivation through demonstration is more effectual and sustainable.

Creating opportunities for marketing of products is urgently required. Otherwise they may be dispirited.

Continue transfer indigenous knowledge /technologies to the people

Repayment and due amount (as on January 2016) shows disappointing results

To change the repayment schedule is desirable. It should be repaid frequently (fortnightly or monthly. This is the culture of micro credit operation in Bangladesh. In this case repaying starts after six months except horticulture. This starts after one year. Thereafter repayment is on quarterly basis. The service charge earned at the rate of 8% is deposited to respective self help group.

Climate Change Adapted (CCA) Houses constructed with contribution: Guidelines revision and especially challenged people drawn attention

It is imperative that the side walls are made pucca with cement and bricks, which will last long and need not incur frequent expenses for repairing. The stairs must have ramps for the wheel chair users and especially challenged people.

The guidelines for CCA house construction needs revisited based on experience in the first phase.

To increase the number of CCA houses to bring more poor families under the project benefit.

Access to drinkable water: a dismal scenario. A call for SoS

It is a life and death problem of the people living in the project areas. Each and everybody’s concern is to make access to sweet water to address their inhuman sufferings.

At micro level each family may be provided with a tank made of brick having safety cover or at the macro level installing water treatment plant to help a number of families in the project areas may be suggested. or

To provide a plastic tank with a capacity of 2,000 liters of water. This can support a 4-5 member family for six months. During rainy season for three months, they can depend on rain water (if nature is favorable). Thus for nine months, they will have access to potable water.

Use of traditional stove injurious to reproductive health

Use of stove to minimize the fuel consumption is an area to consider for the next phase. Its use is also much safe for the health of women.

Paddy cultivation with organic fertilizers: more production with less input cost.

Farmers may be motivated through practical demonstration (farmer school). The plots may be either of the project or other group members.

Access to market demands forward-thinking

It needs propagation. Until the way out, SHGs situated near the Mongla port should come forward to market vegetables and fish

Urge the Govt( service providers) to improve the infrastructure

Seed conservation should be supported

By developing seed stores, women could strengthen their position as entrepreneurs.

Interest multiplied for organic farming

The project should extend to other areas to benefit more people. Moreover, if more farmers produce organic products, it could meet growing demand of consumers.

The project appeared contributed dalit communities in mainstreaming:

Continue organic farming in whatever small lands the community has at home and or road side, leasing lands from others.

Their livelihood on agriculture only is not possible. Undertaking off farm activities is more suitable for access to food by enhancing income and purchasing power. These may include -garments, fish ,stationery, hair cut shop/and the like for which they need small capital.

Hygiene and sanitation (Wastes are not wasted)

Engage the adolescents and the youth to play as catalytic agents in disseminating the project objectives and grow up accordingly.

Educational institutions should also be brought under project coverage. Teachers may be trained to disseminate the technology and climate change issues to teach in their respective classes.

Women and Climate Change: Women experienced more sufferings due to climate change

Govt, various international communities e.g UN, and other NGOs must come forward to analyze the problems faced by women folk due to the impact of climate change and take appropriate steps for remedial measures.

To set up women friendly cyclone shelters ensuring water and sanitation facilities The project related to climate change should have gender sensitivity activity to

change the mindset of both women and men. Many projects for their economic empowerment are required.

Gender Sensitivity:

To talk about gender sensitivity agriculture among couples .

The Govt. relevant depts. appreciated the project. Link up beneficiaries with the service providers.

Identify the service providers (duty bearers), area of services with the service recipients (rights holders) through PRA( Participatory Rural Apprisal).

Link up the beneficiaries with the service providers to get their services acceptable to them( right based approach to development)

Community cohesion observed though variation exists

To continue dialoguer on peace building, communal harmony, human relations, and togetherness among awareness on climate change adaptation.

Social issues like violence against women, child marriage turned down

Keep up motivation about the bad effects of social diseases.

Changes taken place in the fields of organic and inorganic farming over time

Carry out similar exercise for the groups and make an action plan to reach the desired level and follow up periodically:

How long are the long run/ Sustainability?

prepare long term plan of the institution prepare annual micro plan of their institution -identify activities, prepare

implementation strategies Implement strategies, review and modify actions as necessary, train on technology development , monitor (community score card ) and evaluate

their own actions maintain accounts and manage finances create and maintain assets Form advocacy team to formulate and reformulate policies to establish farmers’

and human rights, to delve into organic farming Form trainers /facilitators, planners, evaluators and monitors. Develop criteria to assess the strengths of SHGs (Self Help Groups) .Based on

the criteria the SHGs may be classified into different categories: A, B and C and necessary actions may be taken for gradual development.

Ensure financial sustainability and to mobilize local resources through PRA training

Continue linkage with service providing organizations to have access to these services.

Some representatives may go for exposure to other likeminded community based organizations to raise their self- confidence,

The sustainability strategy should project some budgetary provisions in this regard in the next phase.

Conclusion

A wave of change is observed. The project beneficiaries have started farming without chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Still there is a long way to go. It is only a drop in the big ocean but it is a noble journey. It is a response to the demand of the time to save people from poisonous food and protect the soil health. It is a great challenge against the multinational companies’.

The project areas are highly vulnerable to Natural / Man -made disasters because of its geographical locations, flat and low-lying landscape, etc. There is a frequent crop failure, loss of peoples’ life and livestock and properties. Support services are very much genuine. It should continue.

Story Telling (Telling Tales)

1) Bipratip is a legend in his village.

Name: Bipratip Mondal (35)

Address: Village-Malgazi , Union: Chadpai

Upazila: Mongla , Dist: Khulna

All the people living at Malgazi village are attached with shrimp cultivation throughout the year in saline water. The farmers are not interested to cultivate paddy. Some of them cultivate vegetables in the courtyard but with chemical fertilizers.Bipratip is an owner of a shrimp farm .He used to cultivate vegetables in his courtyard like others. He used chemical fertilizers and pesticides. He had little idea about organic farming and did it in an unplanned way.

At present the situation changed. He received training on DSSB from BCEC project. He became very much enthused. He started to produce organic fertilizer like vermi compost, fish tonic, round compost etc. and organic vegetable cultivation in raised bed. In his one bed he has 16-17 varieties of vegetables. He shared his rich experiences of organic farming with the evaluation team. According to him, the production is higher by 15-20 per cent than the inorganic products and the input cost is less following organic farming.He said, his produced vegetables have good smell, are easily digestive and the plants survive for long. He keeps record of his income and expenditures.

From the record book he told during this season he spent 13,960 taka and income from sale proceeds rises to 12,605 taka. The marketable price of vegetables remained in the field will be 12-15,000 taka. He advised others involved in small trade like him to keep record of all expenses including own labor cost to find out real expenditures and net profit.

His father and wife help him in his work. All the 4-member family is keeping well and are contented to see the abundance of vegetables around the homestead.

His four neighbors (Shanda Roy, Rajendranath Mondal, Bharati Mondal and Mina Mondal) became stimulated to see him and started organic farming. They ask for his advice, if and when required.

Bipratip is also involved in social work. He has donated 10 decimals of land for the playground and 04 decimals for the temple situated in close proximity of his dwelling

2) An introverted village housewife, Jharna becomes a community leader

Three years before from now, Jharna Mondol, a member of Self Help Group struggled with body and soul together .She lives at East Khejuriya, Banishanta village. She has one son and one daughter in her family. Her hard working, husband is a motorcycle driver and the only earning member. At one time, Jhorna stayed at home all day long and cultivated vegetables using urea and cow dung for only her family consumption. She did not get enough production from her vegetable garden at that time and has to purchase vegetables from the local market. With these vegetables, the family members experienced sufferings from indigestion problem and diarrhea.

Jharna received Permaculture Design Course in 2013 and Training of Trainers training in 2014 from the BCEC project. After receiving the training she started vermiculture along with her SHG members - Sheuly, Joyosree and Dulali. Moreover, she borrowed 4,000 taka as loan for organic vegetable cultivation from the BCEC project.

Now, she has quite a big organic garden where she has applied several Perma-culture techniques such as raised bed, diamond bed, mulching, saline tolerant bed using vermin-compost, liquid and round compost, fish tonic and so on. She has also few fishes in the pond, poultry birds. At present, she does not need to buy them. She can consume enough vegetables, eggs, fish, and meat for all the year round. Till now, she has earned 24,200 taka by selling additional organic vegetables, eggs and fishes in the local community market and to the community. She is a legend for the East Khejuriya community. She has been selected as the president of East Khejuriya SHG.

Alike Jharna there are other fascinated village women -Chopola, Kabita, Shilpi and 12 more to follow her. Jharna wishes that her struggle for Ecological Movement will succeed..

Statistics of project activities:

Working Areas and Beneficiaries:

District Upazila Union Villages

Beneficiaries Direct Indirect

Khulna Dacope Banishanta 20 400do Sutarkhali 10 200

Bagerhat Mongla Mongla 12 232Total: 2 2 3 42 832( F-

455)4817

Activities:

Nature of Activities Participants (total)Climate Change Awareness Workshop 144( F-85)Climate Change Awareness Seminar 246( F-54)3 Events: Sharing Achievements of the project at local and national level

274(F-150)

Training courses on PDC, 72( F-45)Training courses on DSSB 48(F-26)ToT 21(F-14)Alumni 85(F-51)Small projects Fund:a)Organic Vegetables production: 58(F-41)b)Integrated Fish Cultivation: 28(F-22)c)Vermiculture 29(all females)d)Horticulture: 25(F-18)CCA Houses built 75( F-69)

List of groups visited :

Malgazi Self Help Group

Machmara Self Help Group

South Kainmari Self Help Group

Banisanta Madhabi Dalit Self Help Group

Banisanta Banoful Dalit Self Help Group

Banisanta Brothel Self Help Group

Adarmanik Upama Self Help Group

Adarmanik Usha Self Help Group

Ghoramipara Self Help Group

East Khejuria Ekota Self Help Group

Indirect beneficiaries:

Xavier Sarker- Mongla

Popi Sarker- Mongla

Wife of Ali Haider Biswas- Goug / Banisanta

Marry Mondal- Goug / Banisanta

Nupor- Goug / Banisanta

Kusum- Goug / Banisanta

Fafur Dhali -Adarmanik

Projects Visited:

Organic Gardens :Bipratip Mondal- Malgazi, and Ms. Elizabeth Sarker: Malgazi

Vermi- compost: Ms. Usha Mondal of Machmarsa, Mr. Samaresh Mondal of Sutarkhali,

Horticulture: of Ms. Dipali Mistry, South Kainmari

CCA House visited as many as: 10 at different places- Mongla, Sutarkali, Banisanta

Govt Officials/Representative:

Md. Abdullah Almamun: Mongla Upazila Agriculture Officer

Mr.Sudeb Kumar Roy , Banisanta UP Chairman