1. GBDC Reflection Workshop
10-11 April 2013
….an area of unique human
and agro-ecosystems…..
….home to 38 million
people….
AAS in the
“Southern
Bangladesh
Polder Zone”

2. The AAS Development Challenge
The AAS development challenge is to achieve sustainable
and continual improvements in agricultural productivity,
livelihoods and nutrition of poor communities in the
Southern Bangladesh Polder Zone in the face of increasing
salinity, changing hydrology, climate change and within a
context of complex and dynamic markets and social
change.

3. The AAS development challenge is to achieve sustainable and continual
improvements in agricultural productivity, livelihoods and nutrition of poor
communities in the Southern Bangladesh Polder Zone in the face of
increasing salinity, changing hydrology and climate change. The vision is for
a positive transformational change in the lives and livelihoods of poor AAS-
dependent farmers and their communities, particularly women and
youth. This will be demonstrated by means of communities that lead in the
innovation and adoption of more productive, diversified and resilient
practices and technologies; a farming community with leaders, particularly
women and young leaders, who take a more proactive role in accessing
and generating information that allows for their farming and livelihood
systems to become more innovative, productive, profitable, resilient and
fair; and a private sector, government, and social systems that are more
equitable and responsive to the needs of women and resource-poor
farmers. With this enhanced capacity, more equitable leadership and
responsive systems farming communities will make more effective use of
water, land and biodiversity resources, have better access information and
markets and continually adapt to a dynamic Khulna floodplain system.

4. Our Starting Point
We believe in and seek to harness
an immense and inherent potential
for:
1. People to innovate and adapt
2. Continued and sustainable
improvements in aquatic
agricultural systems in the polder
zone

5. 1. Sustainable Increases in
System Productivity
2. Equitable Access to
Markets
4. Gender Equity
5. Policies and Institutions to
Empower AAS Users
3. Socio-Ecological
Resilience and Adaptive
Capacity
6. Knowledge, Sharing,
Learning and Innovation
AAS Research Themes

6. THEORY OF
CHANGE

7. Norms for greater gender
equity at the household,
community and hub levels is
established.
Farmers lead, have
improved understanding of
and have improved access to
modern science and
technology
Private sector, government
and NGO services and
structures are poor-
responsive
Sustainable
reductions in
poverty &
improvements in
Nutrition
Strategic Changes:
Greater gender equity in
household decision-making
Including food decisions
More control and/or
ownership of monetary and
other productive resources by
women
Women playing more
influential roles in community
governance
Women are respected as
important economic actors the
local economy
Government policies support
gender equity and are
implemented
Women and the poor have
organized group approaches to
gain voice and power in
negotiations
Strategic Changes:
Farmers have enhanced science
skills which they use to do
research, analyze research and
share it with other farmers and
communities.
Farmers are aware of and
linked to key sources of
information and science
Formal sector researchers and
scientists regularly
communicate and engage with
farmer scientists
Farmers are linked to and
share their research and
knowledge with other
community members and
adjacent communities
CGIAR scientists actively
support and link their research
to community based research
agendas
Strategic Changes:
Agriculture input systems are
women and poor responsive.
Agriculture information
systems are developed with
women and poor as specific
target audiences and their
structures are designed for this
purpose.
Markets are women and poor-
friendly in terms of
participation in buy, selling and
negotiating prices.
Women are involved in and
their opinions equal for water
and other common resource
committees
Women and the poor have
organized group approaches to
gain voice and power in
negotiations
KHULNA HUB LEVEL THEORY OF CHANGE
X X =
Red font is
probable linkage
with CSISA

8. Polders 3, 30,433/2F

9. PROGRAM OF FARMER AND
COMMUNITY LED
RESEARCH AND
INNOVATION AGENDAS 1-6
PROGRAM SUPPORTIVE
RESEARCH FOCUSED ON
AGENDAS 1-6
Prioritization of Researchable
Participatory Technology
Development Agendas
Establish partnerships for research

10. Issues prioritization process
1. Prepared list of issues
2. Prepare ballot box and cards

11. 3. Individual voting
4. Counting, analyzing and discussing

12. 0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
Livestock Poultry Aquaculture Vegetables Fruits Freshwater
AmountinTaka
Women=100, Men=100, Total Taka=400,000 (@Tk 2000/person)
High Saline: Satkhira (Homestead Agriculture)
Women Men

13. 0
50000
100000
150000
200000
Livestock Poultry Aquaculture Vegetables Fruits Freshwater
Women=200, Men 200, Total Taka= 800,000 (@Tk 2000/person)
Medium Saline: Khulna (2 polders) Homestead
Agriculture
Women Men Total

14. 0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
Livestock Poultry Aquaculture Vegetables Fruits Freshwater
AmountinTaka
Women=100, Men=100 Total Tk= 400,000 (@Tk 2000/person)
Low Saline: Barguna (Homestead Agriculture)
Women Men Total

15. 0
50000
100000
150000
200000
AmountinTaka
Women=100, Men=100, Total Taka = 400,000 (@Tk 2000/person)
High saline: Satkhira (Field Agriculture)
Women Men Total

16. 0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
Women=200, Men=200, Total Taka=800,000 (@Tk 2000/person)
Medium Saline: Khulna Field Agriculture
Women Men Total

17. 0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
AmountinTaka
Women = 100, Men=100 Total Taka=400,000 (@Tk 2000/person)
Low Saline: Barguna (Field Agriculture)
Women Men Total

18. A RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OF TWO LINKED
AND COMPLEMENTARY LEVELS OF RESEARCH
Program
of System-Level
Action Research
&
Strategic Research
Agendas
Community
Vision-Informed
Researcher
Led
Community Level
Program of Action
Research,
Inquiry and
Capacity Building
Researcher, NGO
& P. S. Support
Farmer and
Community Led
SCIENCE
OUTPUTS
DEVELOPMENT
OUTCOMES
PLATFORM FOR
PRACTICE, KNOWLEDGE, COO
RDINATION &
COMMUNICATION

19. OBSERVATION
Low rice
production
RESPONSE
Breeding
Define salinity
Fertilizer trials
Slow adoption of
new
varieties, low
input use
Demonstrations
Participatory
selection
Training
Share crop
system (1/3 of
harvest). No
access to credit.
No control over
water.
??????
Must have “own”
local rice varieties
for own
consumption and
guests
????
The WorldFish work on “challenged ponds” is exploring this same model: Why is there
low productivity? Is it a lack of technology? Is it a lack of understanding of women’s
objectives? Cultural barriers? Are there other underlying factors (e.g. multiple ownership)?

20. RESEARCHERS BUILD SKILLS
TO UNDERSTANDWOMEN
FARMER’ PROBLEMS
WOMEN– RESEARCHER
RELATIONSHIP
DEVELOPMENT
WOMEN– FISH SEED DEALER
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
WOMEN FARMERS LEARN
FROM EACH OTHER AND
SHARE
RESEARCHERS BUILD SKILLS TO
APPROACH PROBLEMS FROM A
DIVERSITY OF ANGLES THAT THEY
NEED TO BRING ADDITIONAL
EXPERTISE INTO
DEVEOPMENT OF
MORE WOMEN
RESPONSIVE
AQUACULTURE
INPUTS
MORE WOMEN
RESPONSIVE
FISHERIES AND
AQUACUTURE
RESEARCH
MORE RESEARCH ON
PROBLEMS FACED BY
FARMERS IN
“CHALLENGED”
SYSTEMS
IMPACT: REDUCED
POVERTY, INCREASE
D NUTRITION, ETC.
EMBED ALL
PROCESSES IN BI-
LATERAL /GOVT
DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS FOR
SCALE
RESEARCHER
ADVISORY TEAM
ESTABLISHED TO
PROVIDE PEER
BACKSTOPPING
GREATER
ADAPTATION OF
TECHNOLOGIES
INCREASED
AND/OR
CONTINUAL FISH
PRODUCTION
INCREASED
NATURAL FISH
POPULATION
IMPROVED AND
INCREASED
COMMUNITY
MANAGEMENT OF
NATURAL FISH
INCREASED
DIVERSITY OF
FISH
TESTING
AQUACULTURE
AND FISHERIES
OPTIONS
Researcher-
Led
CHALLENGED
PONDS
Research

21. TESTING OF OKRA
AND SUMMER
TOMATO SEEDS
(AGAINST CURRENT
VARIEITIES)
RESEARCHER
ADVISORY TEAM
ESTABLISHED TO
RECOMMEND AND
OVERSEE FARMER
RESEARCH
ADOPTION OF
HIGHER YIELDING
AND DIVERISTY
OF VEGETABLES
^ FARMER RESEARCH SKILLS
FARMER – RESEARCH
RELATIONSHIP
DEVELOPMENT
FARMER – PRIVATE SECTOR
SEED DEALER RELATIONSHIP
BUILDING
DEVEOPMENT OF
MORE WOMEN
RESPONSIVE SEED
MARKETS
RESEARCHERS WORK
WITH FARMERS TO
DEVELOP MORE FARMER
RESPONSIVE SOLUTIONS
TO FARMER PROBLEMS
GREATER
ADAPTATION OF
TECHNOLOGIES
IMPACT: REDUCED
POVERTY, INCREASE
D NUTRITION, ETC.
FARM COMMUNITIES
LEARN FROM EACH
OTHER AND SHARE
EMBED ALL
PROCESSES IN BI-
LATERAL /GOVT
DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS FOR
SCALE
Research outputs
Research outcomes
Direct benefits and enabling environment
AAS Pathway 2
IDOs
FARMER
TESTING OF
OTHER CROP
VARIETIES WITH
CONFIDENCE
FARMERS TAKE
OWN ACTION
TO SOLVE
OTHER ISSUES FARMERS
ACCESSING AND
STORING BETTER
QUALITY SEEDS
FARMER-LED
RESEARCH &
INQUIRY ON
VEGETABLE
SEEDS

22. RESEARCHERS BUILD SKILLS
TO UNDERSTANDWOMEN
FARMER’ PROBLEMS
WOMEN– RESEARCHER
RELATIONSHIP
DEVELOPMENT
WOMEN– LINKAGES TO
VETERINARY SERVICES AND
FODDER MARKETS
WOMEN FARMERS LEARN
FROM EACH OTHER AND
SHARE
RESEARCHERS BUILD SKILLS TO
APPROACH PROBLEMS FROM A
DIVERSITY OF ANGLES THAT THEY
NEED TO BRING ADDITIONAL
EXPERTISE INTO
DEVEOPMENT OF
MORE WOMEN
RESPONSIVE
LIVESTOCK
SERVICES
MORE WOMEN
RESPONSIVE
LIVESTOCK
RESEARCH
MORE RESEARCH ON
PROBLEMS FACED BY
FARMERS WITH
LIMITED LAND AND
LIVESTOCK
IMPACT: REDUCED
POVERTY, INCREASE
D NUTRITION, ETC.
EMBED ALL
PROCESSES IN BI-
LATERAL /GOVT
DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS FOR
SCALE
RESEARCHER
ADVISORY TEAM
ESTABLISHED TO
RECOMMEND AND
OVERSEE FARMER
RESEARCH
GREATER
ADAPTATION OF
TECHNOLOGIES
INCREASED ACCESS
TO QUALITY &
DIVERSITY OF
FODDER
INCREASED
LIVESTOCK
PROFITS &
PRODUCTION
INCREASED
MARKETS AND
PRICES FOR
FODDER
IMPROVED
LIVESTOCK
HEALTH
TESTING
AVAILABLE
FODDER VARIETIES
UNDER DIVERSE
ENVIRONMENTS
Farmer-Led
Research on
Livestock Fodder
Production

23. SET FARMER
PRIORITIES,
AGREEMENTS
AND
PLANNING
FIELD DAYS,
ANALYSIS &
PLANNING
INITIATE, IMPLEMENT & MONITOR
RESEARCH
CROSS COMMUNITY VISITS AND SHARING
PAR
TRAINING
PROCESS DOCUMENTAITON & KSL NETWORK
DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS ANALYSIS,
FEEDBACK AND REVIEW
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION,
ANALYSIS AND BEST PRACTICE
RECOMMENDATIONS
STAFF TRAINING AND SUPPORT,
REGULAR FIELD VISITS FOR
PROBLEM SOLVING , ADAPTATION &
RECOMMENDATIONS
ANALYSIS, FEEDBACK AND
REPORT WRITING
FARMER-LED RESEARCH AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING CYCLE
SCIENCE THEME TEAM PROGRAM OF SUPPORT
PAR, GENDER AND COMMUNICATION PROCESSES SUPPORT TEAM
RESEARCH
DESIGN

24. Research Theme Research Activity
Theme 1: Productivity
Community-Led Research on seed quality and
productivity of horticulture crops for
homestead.
Community-Led Research on diversification of
field crops options.
Community-Led Research on livestock fodder
production.
Researcher-Led participatory research on
productivity for shaded, multi-purpose ponds.
Theme 2: Markets
Community-Led investigations for livestock
fodder value chains.
Researcher-Led Livestock fodder value chain
analysis
Theme 3: Ecology
Researcher-Led rice field fish habitat
restoration.
.
Researcher-led modeling of productivity and
resilience of sarjon systems under changing
climate situations
Researcher-Led benchmarking of
agrobiodiversity in the AAS operational areas.

25. Theme 4: Policies
No research programs will be
implemented in 2013 that have a direct
focus on policy and institutions.
Theme 5: Gender
Researcher-Led benchmarking of current
time allocation and resource utilization of
family members,
Researcher-Led discussions more gender-
equitable decision-making at the
household level
Researcher-led benchmarking of equitable
intra-household food distribution and
consumption
Theme 6: Knowledge
In 2012 the AAS program of
implementation documentation finalized.
In 2013 a knowledge sharing and learning
(KSL) platform will be established to
support the hub program-of-work.

26. Than
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