Rajshahi: Over 2.50 lakh marginalized families in the drought-prone Barind region are set to gain access to essential water resources for drinking, farming, and household purposes. This initiative addresses the adverse impacts of climate change on these vulnerable communities.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) has launched a project, backed financially by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), to enhance the resilience and livelihoods of climate-vulnerable communities. The "Extended Community Climate Change Project-Drought (ECCCP-Drought)" is being implemented across 14 upazilas in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, and Naogaon districts. With an estimated budget of Tk 300 crore, the project seeks to combat climate change impacts through various strategic interventions.
Key components of the project involve strengthening the capacity of government and private institutions on climate change issues, artificially recharging underground water sources, re-excavating ponds and canals, and promoting the cultivation of drought-tolerant crops. A significant initiative under the project is the promotion of the Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) technique. Approximately 2,500 rooftop-based MAR systems are expected to replenish about five lakh cubic meters of water into the aquifer annually, thereby enhancing drinking water access in targeted communities. Additionally, 40 injection wells in ponds will refill four lakh cubic meters of water annually, with ponds preserving about 1.5 lakh cubic meters for surface storage.
The project also aims to foster sustainable agriculture by introducing drought-adaptive cropping patterns. These patterns will allow the cultivation of rice, wheat, and mung bean on the same land within a year, selected for their resilience to moisture stress and efficient water use. Around 15,000 farmers will be involved in adopting these practices, and 3,500 hectares of land will be irrigated following the rehabilitation of 140 kilometers of canals.
In a broader context, ECCCP-Drought Project Coordinator Rabi Uzzaman highlighted the increasing challenges posed by climate change, including altered drought patterns characterized by rising temperatures and variable rainfall in the Barind tract. Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan from Rajshahi University further emphasized the region's vulnerability, noting erratic drought episodes and their detrimental effects on water availability and community livelihoods.
The project aims to address these drought-related issues through improved water management, climate-adaptive technologies, and infrastructure maintenance. By promoting low-water crops, it seeks to reduce irrigation demands by 70 percent during the dry season and enhance water access points for domestic use, easing the burden on women.