Lesson Learning Report: Women Onset Technology for Sustainable Homestead Agriculture in Bangladesh (WOTSHAB)
Abstract
Under the umbrella of Innovation Fund Round Four of EEP/Shiree, Women Onset Technology for Sustainable Homestead Agriculture in Bangladesh (WOTSHAB), was launched in June 2012 and managed by International Development Enterprises (iDE) to lift one thousand extreme poor households living in the Barisal district out of extreme poverty. The target households had been affected by declining soil fertility and climate change affecting agriculture. In order help them the project has developed above-ground homestead production technologies as an adaptation to rising salinity levels and heavy flooding during the monsoon season. The main innovation is the Sag Bag, a simple technology that uses good quality soil and fertilizer in polymer bags that can be easily moved in a safe location (such as rooftops) in case of floods.
Lessons Learned are:
(1) The use of above ground technology is effective
(2) While implementing a project based on above ground technology, the size and position of beneficiaries’ houses and household composition matter
(3) When evaluating an innovation, consider the household consumption/expenditure and nutrition indicators together with income.
(4) Helping beneficiaries without causing dependency to the NGO
(5) Having multiple livelihood opportunities is an important source of sustainability and resilience.
Citation
EEP/Shiree. Lesson Learning Report: Women Onset Technology for Sustainable Homestead Agriculture in Bangladesh (WOTSHAB). Shiree, Dhaka, Bangladesh (2015) 44 pp.
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