Support services for lift irrigation in Bangladesh

• Published in: Natural resources forum Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 53 - 61
• Main Authors: Johnson III, S. H., Bashar, M. A., Miah, M. T. H., Parker, D. E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.1998; Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Agricultural and forest climatology and meteorology. Irrigation. Drainage; Agriculture; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Bangladesh; Biological and medical sciences; Farmers; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Irrigation; Irrigation. Drainage; Natural resources; Private sector; Privatization; Public sector; Services; Asia; Bangladesh; Agricultural development; Irrigation; Water management; tubewells; Tropical zone; Water resource management; Developing countries; Supply; Systems analysis; System performance; Pumping; Quality; Technicoeconomic study; small scale farming; Repair; Private sector; 1980-1990; Lubricants; Farm input; deep tubewells; Pesticides; Service firm; Maintenance; Agricultural economics; Privatisation; sustainability; Agricultural implements; Fertilizers; Regional study; 1990-2000; Motor fuel; Hydraulic equipment; Resource management; Water wells
• ISSN: 0165-0203; 1477-8947
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1477-8947.1998.tb00709.x

The impacts of changing support systems for lift irrigation in Bangladesh from the public to the private sector are examined. Data are presented from an extensive study undertaken by IIMI and the Bangladesh Agricultural University. The results of the study clearly demonstrate that farmers, small dealers and input sellers all feel that transfer to the private sector has improved the quality of support services. As a result of the privatization of support services, more fuel is available, it is closer to the farms and there is less adulteration. A similar case holds for agricultural chemicals. In addition to improving the situation for small farmers, privatization has created thousands of jobs for small traders and repair shops. Data are presented that document the improvements in services and the expansion of small traders. The one issue that still must be solved is the future of deep tubewells, as the article documents that they are not economically vaiable without Government subsidies.