Roumari: Implementation of an integrated surface water management system has freed 1,250 hectares of wetland across four Beels from waterlogging, making it suitable for cultivation in Roumari upazila of Kurigram district. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) has launched the integrated surface water management system by installing 24-inch diameter uPVC pipes to drain excess water from four Beels into the nearby Ginjiram River during the rainy season.
To facilitate the reuse of water drained from the Beels for irrigation during the dry season or drought conditions, a system has been established to extract water from the Ginjiram River using 10-inch uPVC buried pipes and low-lift pumps (LLP). "As a result, farmers are now able to grow three crops a year there to produce an additional 10,000 tonnes of paddy worth Taka 35 crore after several decades," BMDA Superintending Engineer for Rangpur Circle Md Habibur Rahman Khan told BSS.
Implementation of this effective and well-planned drainage systems and irrigation practices based on river and surface water utilization has transformed waterlogging, an agricultural problem, into an opportunity for crop production. Local farmers and public representatives on the spots told BSS that for a long time, regular crop cultivation was impossible on vast tracts of agricultural land in Roumari upazila due to persistent waterlogging. Water would remain stagnant for extended periods, particularly during the monsoon season, in various Beels and low-lying areas.
Consequently, these lands were reduced to single-crop status. Farmers were deprived of regular cultivation opportunities, and the area's total agricultural output declined. "To address this issue, the BMDA has implemented the integrated surface water management system across four major Beels (wetlands) of the upazila," said Habibur Rahman Khan. A total of 1,250 hectares of waterlogged land across Sobujer Para, Islamari, Miyar Char, and Sayedabad Beels has been made suitable for cultivation through effective water drainage.
"Integrated surface water management system and irrigation facilities provided via buried pipelines have become a blessing for local farmers to boost crop production and income while simultaneously revitalizing the local agricultural economy," he said. Low Lift Pumps (LLPs) have been installed in each scheme area to pump water from the adjacent Ginjiram River to convey to agricultural lands through buried uPVC pipelines spanning approximately 1,500 meters for subsequent use in irrigation.
Consequently, the same infrastructure serves a dual purpose: rapidly draining water during the monsoon season and supplying river water for irrigation during the dry season. "Unlike open canals or uncontrolled flows, buried pipelines deliver water directly to the fields, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the irrigation system," said Habibur Rahman Khan. Talking to BSS, farmer Zahid Hassan, of Goytapara village near the Sobujer Para Beel said implementation of the integrated surface water management system and LLP irrigation facilities has enabled him to grow three crops annually on his five acres of land.
"Previously, I used to cultivate only mustard on my land. But now, I grow mustard, Boro and Aman paddy on the same plot. Some farmers are even cultivating maize by utilizing the low-cost irrigation facilities provided by the BMDA," he said. Farmers Abdul Hakim, Afsar Ali, and Nur Islam of the same village said they had to spend Taka 6,000 to irrigate one bigha of land through diesel-powered irrigation machines.
"Currently, after the introduction of the BMDA's LLP irrigation facilities through the buried pipe system, the cost of irrigating one bigha of land is only Taka 1,200 to Taka 1,500," said farmer Abdul Hakim. Farmer Aminul Islam of village Paschim Islamari near the Islamari Beel said that relief from waterlogging of the Islamari Beel has brought about a major transformation in agriculture across Roumari upazila.
Previously, many lands in these areas could be cultivated only once a year due to water stagnation. "Crops can now be cultivated during two additional seasons on the same land. This increases farmers' income, creates employment, and positively impacts the local agriculture-based economy," said Aminul Islam. Member of local Roumari Sadar union parishad Md Ruhul Amin said that the unique feature of the integrated surface water management system and LLP irrigation facilities in Roumari is that water drainage and irrigation were not viewed in isolation.
"The water that causes waterlogging for farmers during the monsoon is rapidly drained into the nearby Ginjiram River. Conversely, during the dry season, water from that same river is pumped up using LLP to irrigate the very same agricultural lands," he said. Consequently, the same infrastructure frees farmers from waterlogging during the monsoon while ensuring irrigation during the dry season, he added.