Elite domination of Freshwater Canals in Southwest Bangladesh: A Feminist Political Ecology Analysis

Freshwater canals - the drainage peripheries of large rivers are the lifeline to water access and availability for crop, livestock, and fish production and processing for large numbers of smallholder farmers in southwestern Bangladesh, who grapple with severe challenges of saline water intrusion and...

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Main Authors: Sarker, Mou Rani, Mannan, Fouzia, Rahman, M. Mokhlesur
Format: Informe técnico
Language:Inglés
Published: International Rice Research Institute 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168440
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author Sarker, Mou Rani
Mannan, Fouzia
Rahman, M. Mokhlesur
author_browse Mannan, Fouzia
Rahman, M. Mokhlesur
Sarker, Mou Rani
author_facet Sarker, Mou Rani
Mannan, Fouzia
Rahman, M. Mokhlesur
author_sort Sarker, Mou Rani
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Freshwater canals - the drainage peripheries of large rivers are the lifeline to water access and availability for crop, livestock, and fish production and processing for large numbers of smallholder farmers in southwestern Bangladesh, who grapple with severe challenges of saline water intrusion and waterlogging in the region. However, these canals are mostly under the control of local and external elites who hold long-term leases to exclusive rights and use, even though legislation, in principle, disallows the leasing of flowing streams of water. Our recent research in two villages in the Satkhira district of Bangladesh reveal that elite capture of freshwater resources are longstanding challenges which impact most marginalized smallholder farmers and women who rely entirely on agri-food systems-related livelihoods. Canal water capture results in food insecurity, lack of dietary diversity, and increases economic inequalities, also resulting in seasonal and longer-term migration of able-bodied men in these locations. Analyzing these challenges with a Feminist Political Ecology (FPE) framework, our study identifies that patrimonial power dynamics across institutional levels shape processes of water appropriation. The widespread illegal capture of these canals has far reaching gendered outcomes which can only be reversed by tackling power structures at scale.
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spelling CGSpace1684402025-01-01T02:09:34Z Elite domination of Freshwater Canals in Southwest Bangladesh: A Feminist Political Ecology Analysis Sarker, Mou Rani Mannan, Fouzia Rahman, M. Mokhlesur food systems climate change canals gender-responsive approaches political ecology Freshwater canals - the drainage peripheries of large rivers are the lifeline to water access and availability for crop, livestock, and fish production and processing for large numbers of smallholder farmers in southwestern Bangladesh, who grapple with severe challenges of saline water intrusion and waterlogging in the region. However, these canals are mostly under the control of local and external elites who hold long-term leases to exclusive rights and use, even though legislation, in principle, disallows the leasing of flowing streams of water. Our recent research in two villages in the Satkhira district of Bangladesh reveal that elite capture of freshwater resources are longstanding challenges which impact most marginalized smallholder farmers and women who rely entirely on agri-food systems-related livelihoods. Canal water capture results in food insecurity, lack of dietary diversity, and increases economic inequalities, also resulting in seasonal and longer-term migration of able-bodied men in these locations. Analyzing these challenges with a Feminist Political Ecology (FPE) framework, our study identifies that patrimonial power dynamics across institutional levels shape processes of water appropriation. The widespread illegal capture of these canals has far reaching gendered outcomes which can only be reversed by tackling power structures at scale. 2024-12 2024-12-31T19:10:41Z 2024-12-31T19:10:41Z Report https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168440 en Open Access application/pdf International Rice Research Institute Sarker, M. R., Mannan, F., Sarker, M. R; & Rahman, M. M. 2024. Elite domination of Freshwater Canals in Southwest Bangladesh: A Feminist Political Ecology Analysis. International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Bangladesh office. CGIAR Initiative on Asian Mega-Deltas. International Rice Research Institute, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 21p.
spellingShingle food systems
climate change
canals
gender-responsive approaches
political ecology
Sarker, Mou Rani
Mannan, Fouzia
Rahman, M. Mokhlesur
Elite domination of Freshwater Canals in Southwest Bangladesh: A Feminist Political Ecology Analysis
title Elite domination of Freshwater Canals in Southwest Bangladesh: A Feminist Political Ecology Analysis
title_full Elite domination of Freshwater Canals in Southwest Bangladesh: A Feminist Political Ecology Analysis
title_fullStr Elite domination of Freshwater Canals in Southwest Bangladesh: A Feminist Political Ecology Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Elite domination of Freshwater Canals in Southwest Bangladesh: A Feminist Political Ecology Analysis
title_short Elite domination of Freshwater Canals in Southwest Bangladesh: A Feminist Political Ecology Analysis
title_sort elite domination of freshwater canals in southwest bangladesh a feminist political ecology analysis
topic food systems
climate change
canals
gender-responsive approaches
political ecology
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/168440
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AT mannanfouzia elitedominationoffreshwatercanalsinsouthwestbangladeshafeministpoliticalecologyanalysis
AT rahmanmmokhlesur elitedominationoffreshwatercanalsinsouthwestbangladeshafeministpoliticalecologyanalysis