Canalscape : a conceptual study to modify the existing landform in relation to the environment for the sustainable development of rural Bangladesh

This study reviews the existing physical, environmental, agricultural, and socioeconomical conditions of Bangladesh and problems associated with these. Poverty, exploding population, poor production in agricultural sectors with natural disturbance (such as excessive flooding and drought), and other environmental problems (such as deforestation and extinction of biota) hinder the progress of the nation. This study also investigates the possibility to reshape the existing landscape to reduce the ongoing crises by carrying out a new idea "Canalscape."

In this investigation, an attempt has been made to test the idea into an actual vilage. An economic analysis of this project has also been done to test its effectiveness.

Findings

1. The rural poor makes up most of the population in Bangladesh, and their economy is predominantly dependent on agriculture. Thus, agriculture plays a major role in the nation's developmental planning.

2. Flooding is a major problem of Bangladesh. Primary and secondary floods cause damage to the standing crops and inhibit the cultivation of modern high yielding varieties (HYV). Although tertiary flooding causes severe destruction, this is not a regular event in the monsoon cycle. As for agriculture, primary and secondary floods seem more important because of their occurrence during the critical period of crop growth.

3. If primary and secondary floods can be controlled, the country can achieve a significant increase in crop production.

4. The flat topography of the existing landscape makes this delta prone to flooding. If the landform can be modified so that it can hold the excessive water during flooding seasons, more crop area can be opened for cultivation.

5. Embanking the major rivers without making any attempts to circulate the floodwater into the flood plain will cause long term economic and environmental harm.

6. A Canalscape is simply a network of canals along with levees/roads to reshape the existing flat topography. This will control the movement of floodwater during monsoons and provide irrigation for dry winter seasons by storing the excess water in its system. This transformation, moreover, will intensify the total use of the land. The Canalscape suggests coping with the flood events rather than stopping them.

7. The Canalscape provides a necessary physical infrastructure to apply a successful farming system. To increase the overall production the Canalscape generates other income sources such as fishery, forestry, livestock, and so forth.

8. The Canalscape induces a relatively safer environmental condition and designs an organized social structure into it to sustain the growth.

9. If the transformation can be done properly, the land will become more productive. The example analysis in this study indicates that an approximate 200 percent increase in overall production could be possible.