From Fields to Futures: BARD's Role in Generating Rural Development Models

Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) has been much known for its pioneering role in the field of rural development in Bangladesh. Since 1959, after its inception, through a series of experimental programs, it has continuously sought to identify and implement effective strategies to address a wide array of socio-economic issues prevalent in rural areas.

BARD's steadfast commitment to research, experimentation, and implementation has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of rural development in Bangladesh, making it a pioneering institution in the quest for sustainable progress and prosperity.

On 27th of May, 2024 BARD is going to celebrate its 65thfounding anniversary. Throughout this long journey, it has produced a number of models of rural development. The most prominent and much discussed model that has changed the rural development scenario in the 60s was the Comilla Model of rural development. Spearheaded by Dr. Akhter Hameed Khan, a renowned social scientist, the Comilla Model aimed to uplift rural communities through a bottom-up participatory approach.

At its core, the Comilla Model emphasized the empowerment of local communities by involving them directly in the planning and implementation of development projects. It prioritized the utilization of local resources, knowledge, and expertise to address the socio-economic challenges faced by rural areas.

A number of approaches to rural development in Bangladesh have been explored, some of which are still in the experimental phase, while others are undergoing transformation into nationwide programs, following the successful implementation of the Comilla Model. In the light of the current landscape, the need for creative approaches to rural development still persists, especially considering that 68.49% of the population resides in rural areas, according to the BBS Household Income and Expenditure Survey of 2022.

The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had a dream to build a prosperous country where all the people would get equal opportunity through putting into practice an egalitarian cooperative village approach. BARD, as a part of materializing the dream of the Father of the Nation, has been practicing various approaches of rural development through its action researches which aligns with the priority areas of the government as well.

Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) has been engaged in action researches or experimental projects since its inception along with its two other mandated works- namely training and research as spelled out in BARD act 2017. The current action researches of BARD cover a wide range of rural socio-economic issues such as rural livelihood improvement through village-based organizations and Union Parishad, market expansion and capacity development of handwoven Khadi industry, SDG localization through increasing public participation, E-Parishad: to provide better services in rural areas, vocational and skill development training and job creation to students of Qawmi madrasa, accelerating support to elderly and differently able people through community participation in rural areas, rural women's sustainable education and entrepreneurship development for empowerment, agricultural mechanization and collective farming through community enterprise, floodplain aquaculture and safe food production through community enterprise, sustainable activities and economic development of the people of Lalmai-Mainamati hilly areas through increasing sustainability of village development organizations and modern agricultural, livelihood improvement of char lands' people through adaptation practices, improving the quality of life of the people of the char in coastal areas of Noakhali, livelihood development through community engagement in rural tourism etc. It is evident that these action researches address multifarious issues of rural socio-economy with a view to generate innovative and sustainable approaches or models of rural development.

Prior to the present action researches, BARD got its field experience trough a number of approaches of rural development amongst which Comilla Model of Rural Development stands prominent.  Comilla Model had four components namely: 1) Rural Works Programme, 2) Thana Training and Development Center, 3) Two Tier Cooperatives and; 4) Thana Irrigation Programme. Rural works programme was mostly focused on developing rural infrastructure and rural reconstruction. The main idea was to enhance rural connectivity. Two tier cooperatives were initiated to from village based cooperatives whereby the members of the cooperatives could form savings from their income. At the initial stage these cooperatives were mainly formed by rural farmers. The Thana Irrigation Programme (TIP) also attempted to use local rivers, ponds and underground reservoirs to the fullest extent by mobilizing the farmers. Thana (now Upazila) Training and Development Center (TTDC) aimed to make a complete coordination among the nation building departments located at the Upazila level and the leaders of local institutions. Therefore, it is evident that in all these four components participation of local leaders and farmers were emphasized. The combination of these four components stated as Comilla Model, nevertheless, had faced several challenges. Now this approach of rural development is being taught in various national and foreign universities and has become a topic of discussion for the academicians.

BARD has also developed another significant concept namely Comprehensive Village Development Programme (CVDP) which is now being implemented as a nationwide programme under the Rural Development and Cooperative Division. This programme aims to promote overall development of all segments of population in a village on the basis of self-effort and self-help by bringing them under a single cooperative organization; and to evolve a replicable rural development model. Therefore, it has also emphasized creating a viable model of rural development, which is now at the operational stage nationwide. Moreover, another action research of BARD namely Small Farmers and Landless Labourers Development Programme (SFDP) has now been transformed to a national programme under the banner of Small Farmers' Development Foundation (SFDF) which is the forerunner of collateral free microcredit in Bangladesh.

Now at the present context, rural livelihood pattern is transforming for a number of reasons. The need for a viable rural development approach cannot be denied as majority of the people are living in the rural areas. BARD has been engaged with various experimental programmes addressing a wide range of rural socio-economic issues. In all the approaches that had been practiced earlier, the participation of rural community remained a vital issue. The generation of new approaches of rural development requires active and meaningful participation of the rural villagers. As a majority of the rural villagers are actively engaged in agriculture, therefore, rural farmers need to be included in the development process. BARD has a long and prolific field experience of action researches. BARD believes that rural development is not a fragmented issue rather sustainable development is only possible through institutionalization of development by true involvement of rural people in the development process. The priority areas of the present government have also been reflected in the action researches of the academy. These action researches could evolve into viable approaches for rural development if nurtured to blend with the present demands of the rural context. It is hoped that from the fields to the future, BARD will be able to generate new approaches to rural development, as it already did through the Comilla Model and CVDP.

The writer is the Joint Director at Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD), Cumilla