Water for food in Bangladesh: outlook to 2030

Amarasinghe, Upali A. [IWMI]; Sharma, Bharat R. [IWMI]; Muthuwatta, Lal [IWMI]; Khan, Z. H. [NARS]; 2014. Water for food in Bangladesh: outlook to 2030. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 32p. (IWMI Research Report 158) http://dx.doi.org/10.5337/2014.213

This research study shows that ‘business-as-usual’ scenarios will have substantial production surpluses of rice, which dominates water use patterns in the country at present. However, the surpluses come at a considerable environmental cost, due to high levels of groundwater depletion. Bangladesh can mitigate potential groundwater crises by limiting rice production to meet the requirements of self-sufficiency. Increases in water productivity of both Aman (wet season) and Boro (dry season) rice production can help too. A carefully designed deficit irrigation regime for Boro rice can also increase transpiration, yield, water productivity and production, and reduce the pressure on scarce groundwater resources.