Comparing the Successes of Two Irrigation Projects Using Gender Analysis Tim Podkul November 7, 2006 Tim Podkul November 7, 2006

Bangladesh: Chandpur Irrigation Project (CIP)  Major Objectives  Protect and increase agricultural production  Increase agricultural employment  Improve living conditions within project area  Major Objectives  Protect and increase agricultural production  Increase agricultural employment  Improve living conditions within project area

Methods for Implementation  Infrastructure  Embankments  Canals  Water Pumps  Education Components  Technical assistance with HYV  Association building activities  Financial Management  Infrastructure  Embankments  Canals  Water Pumps  Education Components  Technical assistance with HYV  Association building activities  Financial Management

Activity Analysis for Women  Summer (June-Nov)  Harvest HYV rice in Aug & Nov  Harvest Jute  Transplanting of amon  Home garden cultivation  Reproductive Activities  Summer (June-Nov)  Harvest HYV rice in Aug & Nov  Harvest Jute  Transplanting of amon  Home garden cultivation  Reproductive Activities  Winter (Dec-May)  Harvest wheat, pulses and oil seeds  Transplanting Boro (HYV pulse)  Home garden harvesting and post harvest activity  Reproductive Activities  Winter (Dec-May)  Harvest wheat, pulses and oil seeds  Transplanting Boro (HYV pulse)  Home garden harvesting and post harvest activity  Reproductive Activities

Gender Disaggregated Pre- CIP Activities Matrix Source: Rao (1991) Adapted: T. Podkul (2006)

Gender Disaggregated CIP Results Activities Matrix Source: Rao (1991) Adapted: T. Podkul (2006)

Conclusions from CIP Results  25% increase in family farm labor  Standards of living increased  Patterns of food distribution remained the same  Increased dependence on non- beneficiary vegetable production  Increased costs or maintaining irrigation systems and overall inflation subsumed almost all increase in income  25% increase in family farm labor  Standards of living increased  Patterns of food distribution remained the same  Increased dependence on non- beneficiary vegetable production  Increased costs or maintaining irrigation systems and overall inflation subsumed almost all increase in income

Philippines: The Aslong Irrigation Project  Objectives  Increase food production  Raise family income and improve the quality of life  Generate employment opportunities  Involve farmers in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the irrigation systems  Objectives  Increase food production  Raise family income and improve the quality of life  Generate employment opportunities  Involve farmers in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the irrigation systems

Design and Implementation  Beneficiaries gained access to the project by: 1) displaying an interest in the NIA project 2) agreed to provide labor and materials during the construction, and repay loans to NIA via the Irrigator’s Associations  Beneficiaries gained access to the project by: 1) displaying an interest in the NIA project 2) agreed to provide labor and materials during the construction, and repay loans to NIA via the Irrigator’s Associations

Source: Rao (1991 )

The percentage of work load is consistent year round, however the quantity still changes dramatically! =

Evaluation and Impact Methodology  Community studies evaluating land use, labor utilization, and access issues  Recording of life histories according to the women’s point of view  Cross-cutting surveys of irrigation benefits to both members and non- members of the irrigation associations  Community studies evaluating land use, labor utilization, and access issues  Recording of life histories according to the women’s point of view  Cross-cutting surveys of irrigation benefits to both members and non- members of the irrigation associations

Levels of Control by Sex Source: Rao (1991) Adapted: T. Podkul (2006)

AIP Results  Average size of farms for those within the irrigation zone decreased by 0.1 hectare  Population growth rate of 2.7% compared with rice production annual increase of 9.0%  Irrigation Association members saw no increase in availability of labor. Non- members did however  Women were pressured to increase their earnings from their trading activities outside the home  Average size of farms for those within the irrigation zone decreased by 0.1 hectare  Population growth rate of 2.7% compared with rice production annual increase of 9.0%  Irrigation Association members saw no increase in availability of labor. Non- members did however  Women were pressured to increase their earnings from their trading activities outside the home

Which project was more successful?  Can we be objective, given that the cultural settings were drastically different in each project location?  Does that impact the effectiveness in raising people’ standards of living?  Are the there concrete comparison we can make between the two cases?  Can we be objective, given that the cultural settings were drastically different in each project location?  Does that impact the effectiveness in raising people’ standards of living?  Are the there concrete comparison we can make between the two cases?