RAJSHAHI, Sept 2, 2019 (BSS) – Barind Multipurpose Development Authority
(BMDA) has provided irrigation to over 9.31 lakh hectares of croplands in the
country’s northwest region during last 2018-19 fiscal contributing a lot to
boost its farming yield.
The huge croplands were brought under irrigation facilities through
operating 15,517 power-driven deep tube wells (DTWs) and 519 low lift pumps
in almost round the year.
The BMDA, ever largest irrigation-providing state organisation in the
region, has realised around Taka 202.68 crore as irrigation charge in the
last fiscal, up by Taka 49.22 crore over the previous 2017-18 fiscal.
Engineer Abdur Rashid, Executive Director of BMDA, told BSS that the
irrigated lands have yielded more than 34.32 lakh tonnes including 26.76 lakh
tonnes of additional crops especially food grain valued at around Taka
4,348.5 crore in the region especially the vast Barind tract yearly.
Till last June, the BMDA activated 4,332 inoperative deep tube-wells,
installed 525 low lift pumps, re-excavated 2000-kilometer canal and 3098
derelict ponds, constructed and expanded 12346.44-kilometer water
distribution infrastructures alongside 1579 drinking water supply
installations and 417 dug wells and 749 cross-dams, which ensured a sound
irrigation system.
In addition to imparting training to 1,47,043 farmers, around 2.58 crore
saplings of various fruit, timber and herbal trees were planted in the
command area to protect environment and meet the growing demands for fruits
and timber in the region.
The region scored significant progress in the crop production sector
following the expansion of irrigation facilities along with supplying water
from the re-excavated canals and ponds.
Even around 35 to 36 years back, only a single crop could be produced in
the areas depending on the rainfall. But, at present, at least three crops
are being harvested by dint of the expanded irrigation facilities.
Around 57.57 percent area of the total cultivable land of the region has,
so far, been brought under the irrigation facilities.
In addition to the irrigation activities, the BMDA has been implementing
various need-oriented uplift programmes aimed at improving the socioeconomic
conditions by increasing crop production side by side protecting the region
from adverse impact of the environment. It has, so far, executed 39 projects
under its command areas.
The implemented projects has yielded a significant success in crop
production and making an ecological balance. Those are also creating jobs for
the unemployed people and also ensuring various facilities along with an
environment- friendly weather in the region.
Yearly crop production has been enhanced to 34.32 lakh tonnes from 7.56
lakh, crop intensity to 226 percent from 117 percent while annual rainfall
rose to 64 inches from 54.99 inches.
Currently, five other projects are being implemented in different districts
where around 80 percent of the total work has been completed while the rest
is expected to be executed in phases by June next year.
Engineer Rashid mentioned that some of the projects had initially been
executed with the government funds. But, now the BMDA has been implementing
the projects with its own funds along with payment of monthly staff salaries.
Additional 68.90 lakh tonnes of food grains including 24.48 lakh tonnes
additional are supposed to be produced in the region if the rest 5.83 lakh
hectares of non-irrigated cultivable land were brought under irrigation, he
added.