Rajshahi: Speakers at a meeting emphasized the necessity of enhancing irrigation efficiency as a vital strategy to curb water wastage and reduce agricultural production costs. The current irrigation methods lead to significant water misuse, straining both groundwater and surface water resources, thereby posing a serious threat to the ecology, particularly in the water-stressed Barind area where the agriculture sector struggles with scarce irrigated water.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, agricultural experts and other stakeholders expressed these concerns during the 85th Board Meeting of the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) held at its headquarters in Rajshahi city. BMDA, a leading state-owned irrigation provider in northwest Bangladesh, has facilitated irrigation for 5.50 lakh hectares of cropland through the operation of 15,820 deep tube wells (DTWs) and 966 low lift pumps.
The meeting, chaired by BMDA Chairman Dr. Muhammad Asaduzzaman, saw participation from board members, including administrative and police officials from various districts in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions. Notable attendees included BMDA Executive Director Tariqul Islam, Joint Secretary from the Ministry of Water Resources Muhammad Habibur Rahman, Joint Secretary from the Ministry of Agriculture Khorshed Alam, and BMDA Additional Chief Engineer Shamsul Huda.
During the meeting, it was noted that the extension of irrigation facilities, along with need-based infrastructural developments, has led to the annual production of an additional 12.35 lakh tonnes of crops in the region. The operation of 15,820 deep tube wells and 966 low lift pumps, powered by both electricity and solar energy, has enabled the irrigation of approximately 10.36 lakh hectares of land, transforming many areas from double-cropping to three-cropping systems.
In response to previous inefficiencies, 15,895 kilometers of new concretized submersible canals have been constructed, with an additional 1,404 kilometers expanded in the command areas of each tube well. This development has preserved 570 hectares of farmland and prevented water wastage. Moreover, 12,031 hectares were reclaimed from water-logging, resulting in the production of an additional 3.4 lakh tonnes of crops annually by irrigating 89,000 hectares of land.
BMDA's efforts include the re-excavation of 2,527 kilometers of derelict canals and 4,257 ponds, enabling the production of 2.15 lakh tonnes of additional crops each year by irrigating 52,500 hectares with supplementary surface water. The region has witnessed notable progress in crop production due to expanded irrigation facilities and water supply from re-excavated water bodies.
Irrigation facilities have also been extended to approximately 20,700 hectares using surface water, facilitated by the installation of 11 pontoons in rivers and 745 low-lift pumps in rivers and canals. Around 20,000 households now have access to safe drinking water from dug wells in some drought-prone Barind areas, where existing shallow and deep tube wells have yet to reach.
Residents are utilizing this water for household needs and cultivating less water-intensive cereal crops and vegetables. Approximately 950 hectares have been dedicated to vegetable farming through 640 dug-wells, benefiting over 2,250 farmers who have been trained in pump operation and soft irrigation techniques.
In addition, 640 dug-wells equipped with solar power panels have been established, providing safe drinking water to 33,750 people and irrigating 1,350 hectares in 197 villages. Solar pumps facilitate water extraction from these wells, offering farmers convenient irrigation and household water access via water distribution installations and pipelines.
The solar panels serve dual purposes, illuminating pump house areas and collecting rainwater to recharge underground water levels, further enhancing the region's water resource management.