Performance evaluation of rubber dam projects of Bangladesh in irrigation development

Performance of the Bakkhali and Idgaon rubber dam projects of south-eastern Bangladesh has been evaluated using some standard indicators, broadly classified into three groups: hydraulic, agricultural and socio-economic. For the quantitative and qualitative assessment of the indicators, field measurements and a questionnaire survey were conducted during the 1998-99 irrigation season. Results of the analyses of hydraulic indicators showed that the relative water supply was adequate in the Bakkali project, but was inadequate in the Idgaon project. In both projects, water delivery performance was very low because target volumes were overestimated in the feasibility reports. The total water utilization in the Idgaon project was 28% lower compared to the Bakkhali project because of better management and deficit irrigation applied in the former. Agricultural performance, evaluated in terms of irrigated area, was very poor because of overestimation of the target command area in both projects, while the same evaluated in terms of crop yield and water productivity was satisfactory. Analyses of socio-economic indicators showed that both the rubber dam projects were financially viable. A comparative capital and O&M cost analysis of different irrigation technologies has been carried out to ascertain the viability of rubber dam technology in irrigation development. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.