2.

3 Goda (Small Earthen Dam for Rain Water Harvesting)

Contributors/documented by:
Tuku Talukder, National Coordinator, HIMAWANTI, Rangamati
S.P.Paul, SRO, BFRI, Chittagong
Jose Rondal, Chief, Soil Conservation and Management Division.
Bureau of Soil & Water Management, Elliptical Road, Diliman , Quezon
City, Philippines
S.M.Serajul Hoque, Professor of Soil Science, IFESCU, Chittagong
Ranjan Kumar Das, Agriculturist, World Vision, Bandarban
Chandi Nath Tripura, Project Coordinator, JABARANG, Khagrachari
Rainwater harvesting by constructing goda (small earthen dam) at
suitable footslopes is an indigenous technology used for multipurpose
benefits and was started in 2000 by the farmers at Nutunpara.
Keywords: rainwater harvesting, goda, seepage water, indigenous
technology, Chakma community

Description
Mr. Suniti Bikash Chakma at Nutunpara, Bengmara constructed a goda
(small earthen dam) at the suitable site in the foothills for rain water
storage for multipurpose use. The length of the earthen bund is 10 m with
width of 1 m and height of 5 m. The bund was compacted manually and
both sides of the bund were
reinforced with bamboo posts and
mats so that the earthen bund did
not collapse or slide down.
Seepage water and rainwater were
accumulated above the bund. To
protect from over toping of excess
water, an outlet must be
maintained. Accumulated water
was mainly used for domestic use,
fish and duck farming and
sometimes irrigation of paddy fields
down the bund during dry season.
Earlier it was traditional goda (small
earthen dam) for domestic water
Water harvesting in earthen dam
needs, but at present the technology reinforced by bamboo mats

56 Conservation Technologies
is being used for multiple benefits like
duck and fish farming including
irrigation for rice and vegetable
cultivation.

Construction works and tools

Earth working, compaction of soil in
the bund to retain water,
reinforcement of bund to protect
slumping down, bamboo structure
preparation and prepare outlet,
manual labor, spade, and shovel.

Maintenance
Filling-up depressions on the dam Water harvesting by earthen dam
formed during previous rainy
season, manual labour, hand tools, bamboo posts piling, setting bamboo
mat, soil dumping, filling up with soils, protecting water leakage, repairing
bamboo mats etc.

Biophysical and human environment

The technology occurs in the narrow valley (mostly ‘V’ shaped) receiving
seepage water from adjacent low hills with steep to moderately steep
slopes. Soils are impermeable and able to retain seepage water. The
ponds are mostly dug near the foot hills and
a cross dam was constructed across the
valley. The height and length of the dam
varies with the slope and width of the valley.
In general, the height ranges from 3-5m and
the length ranges from 5-10m. Bamboo
mats and poles are used to retain the
embankment. Previously these areas are
used for one crop of paddy in rainy season
and soils are classified as Typic
Endoaquepts. The area has a sub-humid
monsoon climate. Rainfall ranges from
2000-3000 mm and seldom goes more than
3000mm.The technology users belong to
the Chakma community.
Location map

Selected Natural Resource Conservation Approaches and Technologies In CHT, Bangladesh 57

Benefits (SWC specialists’ view)
Availability of water for household uses, irrigation in the dry period as
scarce input, increased productivity and income generation.
Farmer’s view
Increased dry season irrigation facilities, increased farm productivity by
applying rain water harvesting management, improved fish culture
technique, increased income, enhanced livelihood.
Constraints
Technical support services are not timely available for design,
construction and management aspects. Lack of capital and access to credit
or financial support, poor economic status and linkages.Lack of technical
know-how, weak linkage with extension services of government and non-
governmental organizations.
Type of conservation measures: Structural and management measures.
Land use type : Water harvesting for double cropped
land use, dry season paddy cultivation
on valley land.
Land tenure : Individual registered ownership
Management : Individual with community participation
Location : Nutunpara, Bengmara Area,
Matiranga, Khagrachari.
Area covered : 0.4sq.km.

2.4 Foothill Terraces for Rice Cultivation

Contributors/documented by:
Niaz Ahmed Khan, Professor of Development Studies, University of
Dhaka, Dhaka
Shekhar Ranjan Biswas, Asst.Program Officer, IUCN-The World
Conservation Union, Country Office, Dhaka.
Md.Selim Uddin, PM, CHT Horticulture Project, CARITAS, Bandarban,
A.F.M.Saleh, Ph.D Fellow, Department of Public Administration,
University of Chittagong, Chittagong.
Mr.Madhav Dhakal, PARDYP, ICIMOD, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Terracing at foothills for cultivation of paddy is an indigenous technology
applied at Nutunpara. This traditional technology is to maximize the land
utilization with rice cultivation on terraced valley floor. Food production for

58 Conservation Technologies