Livelihood of haor dwellers can be improved through long-term farming plan, creation of alternative jobs, better early warning system for flash flood, and repair and construction of long-lasting embankments, according to a study.
The study also suggested setting up manufacturing facilities in the haor region to generate jobs other than agriculture and supporting more women entrepreneurs for overall economic development of the under-privileged section of society.
The suggestions were placed at a seminar organised by BRAC at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city on Wednesday to disseminate findings of the study titled 'Life and Livelihood of Haor Dwellers'.
Water Resources Minister Anwar Hossain Manju addressed the programme as chief guest while State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan, water resources senior secretary Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan, Save the Children deputy country director Dr Ishtiaq Mannan, World Vision's humanitarian and emergency affairs director Dolon Josef Gomes also spoke on the occasion with BRAC Advocacy for Social Change Programme director KAM Morshed in the chair.
The study was conducted by Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER) of BRAC University with the support from UKaid and UN office for the project services (UNOPS) under 'Flash flood recovery project'.
Delivering the keynote speech, Probal Saha, water resources management specialist of C3ER, said, most of the participants in the study emphasised creation of alternative employment through setting up industrial plants as an urgent measure during flooding in vast haor areas.
However, haor dwellers have identified poor market management system as a major setback for the farmers to sell their products at fair prices, he said.
The study also made some recommendations for improved living standard in haor region, including bank loans at low interest, promoting women entrepreneurship, long-term planning for increased agricultural production, and improving existing early warning system to forecast flash flood.
Flood affected people should be allowed to catch fish by opening 'jolmohal' (water-bodies under government jurisdiction that are leased out for fishing) during emergencies of flash floods and other natural disasters, the study also noted.
Speaking at the programme, Mr Manju said the government has given special priority to dredging the rivers and preventing river erosion in haor areas.
Pointing out lack of collaborative efforts within the government departments, he also said, "We would have achieved 10 times more GDP growth if there had been coordination at all levels while prevention of wastage which some say 'corruption' might help achieving GDP two times more."
The study was conducted between February 7 and March 17 this year in Tahirpur and Derai upazilas of Sunamganj and Itna upazila of Kishoreganj, on nine communities living in the vast haor area.
Last year, a flash flood occurred in the haor region on March 27, a month earlier than usual, submerging vast areas of cropland in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj, Netrakona, Kishoreganj, Brahmanbaria and Moulvibazar districts.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), almost all the Boro crops planted on 161,000 hectares of land out of the total 223,000 hectares within 250 wetlands alone in Sunamganj were damaged in the flash flood caused by excessive rainfall and onrush of water from India.
The region has around 359,000 farmer families of which around 325,000 have directly been affected by the early flood.
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