RAJSHAHI, July 21, 2018 (BSS)- The Barind Multipurpose Development
Authority (BMDA) has been implementing 20 projects involving around Taka
3,454 crore in all 16 districts of Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions during last
nine and half years.
According to the BMDA sources, implementation works of nine of the
projects were completed successfully at a cost of around Taka 1,734.97 crore
in the first five years while 11 others are progressing fast with an
estimated cost of around Taka 1,719.67 crore at present.
The implemented schemes have started contributing a lot towards uplifting
living and livelihood condition of people in the country’s northwest 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 25 to 30 years back, only a single crop could be produced in
the areas depending on the rainfall. But, at present, four crops are being
harvested by dint of the expanded irrigation facilities.
Around 5.30 lakh hectares of croplands were brought under irrigation
through operating 15,934 irrigation pumps in the current year. For the
purpose, 3,284 more pumps were installed and 3,091 non-functional and
ineffective others were made functional.
“We have brought around 45,000 hectares of croplands under supplementary
irrigation facilities through re-excavating 1,247-kilometer canals and 384
derelict ponds,” said Engineer Abdur Rashid, Executive Director of BMDA,
while talking to BSS.
The irrigated lands have yielded more than 35 lakh tonnes including 27
lakh tonnes of additional crops especially food grain in the region
especially the vast Barind tract yearly. Prepaid meter has been installed in
7,398 irrigation pumps for operating those through card according to the
necessity of the farmers concerned.
Rainwater harvesting and conservation has been arranged after excavating
226 dug-wells. Solar panel was set up in 125 of the wells aiming to boosting
production of less-water consuming crops through promoting the eco-friendly
irrigation system.
Pontoon has been commissioned in seven places of Padma and Mohananda
rivers for water conservation in canals and ponds after lifting river water
through pipeline far from three to nine kilometers. In this way, irrigation
is being provided to croplands in double-lifting method through 232 low lift
pumps.
Irrigation activities are being conducted through around 8,505-kilometer
sub-surface pipeline aims at ending misuse of both agricultural lands and
irrigation water.
Around 443-kilometer connecting roads were constructed aiming at creating
scopes of marketing agricultural products produced by the farmers and fair
price of those.
Renewable energy is being used in irrigation purposes through lifting
water from canal and ponds. Solar panels were installed in 106 irrigation
machines at different areas providing irrigation to over 4,000 hectares of
land through generating two megawatts eco-friendly solar power.
More than 60,000 farmers get training and motivation on proper use of
irrigation water, resisting misuse of power, judicious use of irrigation
water and modern farming.
Around 2.56 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.
Tree plantation activities are progressing successfully that will
ultimately help reduce carbon emission at a substantial level and that is
very important to face the adverse impact of climate change in the vast
Barind tract.
Implementation of the projects has yielded a significant success in crop
production and making an ecological balance. The projects are creating jobs
for the unemployed people and also ensuring various facilities along with an
environment-friendly weather in the region.
Engineer Rashid mentioned that 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.