Rangpur: The re-excavation of 36.9 kilometers of four extinct canals in the Pirgachha upazila of Rangpur has revitalized 15,000 hectares of previously waterlogged land, allowing 11,200 farmers to produce an additional 1,09,500 tonnes of paddy annually, valued at Taka 328.50 crore.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the re-excavation has enabled farmers in Kalyani, Parul, Etakumari, and Sadar unions to cultivate three crops per year, including Aman paddy, Boro paddy, potatoes, or other vegetables, after a gap of three to four decades.
The project involved the re-excavation of 19.9 kilometers of the Alaikuri Canal, 4.5 kilometers of the Khoranodi Canal, 3.5 kilometers of the Ververi Canal, and 9 kilometers of the Jhinia Canal. This has conserved surface water, providing supplementary irrigation to an additional 2,750 hectares of land.
In addition to improving the livelihoods of rural residents, the re-excavation and tree plantations along the canal banks have enhanced the environment, ecosystems, and biodiversity in the area. The initiative is part of the ‘Expansion of irrigation in greater Rangpur district through best uses of surface water and conservation of rainwater (EIR)’ project, a five-year plan running from 2019 to 2025, costing Taka 288.11 crore.
The Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA), under the Ministry of Agriculture, executed the project to optimize the use of surface water, promoting socioeconomic development across 35 upazilas in the greater Rangpur district. Beneficiary farmers and local representatives expressed that the re-excavation has facilitated a range of activities including irrigation, forestation, duck rearing, fish farming, and household tasks.
Farmers like Nizam Uddin and Aminul Islam from Monur Chhara village shared their experiences, with Nizam Uddin noting that the re-excavation has made his three acres of land cultivable again after four decades. Similarly, Khorshed Alam and others from Phota village highlighted how the project has enabled them to cultivate multiple crops annually.
Masud Mia and Chand Mia from Madhuram village expressed their relief at being able to cultivate land that was submerged for decades, thanks to the re-excavation of the Jhinia Canal. Former Pirgachha upazila chairman Abu Naser Shah Md Mahbubar Rahman emphasized the wide-ranging benefits of the project, which include enhanced crop intensity and production.
Md Habibur Rahman Khan, EIR Project Director and Superintending Engineer of BMDA for Rangpur Circle, stated that the project has increased water holding capacity, improved drainage, and promoted sustainable agriculture by reducing reliance on groundwater.