CNRS: Khas Kanda Land Distribution among the Extreme Poor in Haor area

NGO:                             Centre for Natural Resources Studies (CNRS)

Project title:                  “Innovative Farming as a Tool of Poverty Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation”

Project Area:                      Jamalganj and Dharmapasha, Sunamganj

Target:                                 2,000 Beneficiary Households (BHH)

Years to Graduate:         3 years

Budget (BDT):                Total budget 27,640,329; Cost per BHH 13,820; direct delivery cost per BHH is

                                     6,006

Key Aspects

  • Ensure the implementation of the government policy to distribute 50 decimals of khas land to BHHs;
  • Support the process of extending the initial one-year lease for an extended period;
  • Diversify crops away from monoculture of winter rice into crops that are less susceptible to damage by flash floods;
  • Encourage savings and insurance (“Musti Chal” presently followed in SHOUHARDO) within the local culture providing continued security against seasonal food insecurities;
  • Kandas near rivers/canals can support rice irrigated using Low Lift Pumps (LLP) with some areas supporting two crops;
  • Introduce the use of low cost specialised tractors for land preparation (traditional cattle based process remains inappropriate for kanda land);
  • Target HHs dependent for resources (wild food, fodder, thatching materials, grasses, fuel wood, fish, birds, etc.);
  • Supply women-friendly crop packages and develop thrift groups for lending between members once confidence grows;
  • Linking BHH with local government service providers.

 Outputs

  • Facilitate the transfer of khas land under the existing government policy;
  • Provide innovative technologies of climate variability resilient crops and input support to 2,000 BHHs;
  • Skills transfers of adaptive cropping to all beneficiaries with improved social services and other linkages to 50 percent of the beneficiaries;
  • Policy advocacy on project approach to policy makers, intermediaries and practitioners along with the promotion of an institutional learning system.

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