BMDA earns Tk 108.73 crore as irrigation charge in 2010-11

RAJSHAHI, July 13 (BSS)- The Barind Multipurpose Development
Authority (BMDA) has earned around Taka 108.73 crore as irrigation charge during the last 2010-11 fiscal year, up by taka 2.33 crore over the previous 2009-10 fiscal.

Engineer Shafiqur Rahman, Executive Director of BMDA, told BSS that over 5.22 lakh hectares of land including 2.60 lakh hectares of boro were brought under irrigation facilities through operating 12,836 power-driven deep tube wells (DTWs) in all 16 districts under Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions round the year.

The irrigated lands have yielded around 18.91 lakh tonnes of additional crops especially food grains valued at around Taka 3403 crore in the region including the vast Barind tract during the last fiscal.

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, said the farmers.

Even in around 20 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 40 percent area of the total 26.29 lakh hectares of cultivable lands of the region has, so far, been brought under the BMDA's irrigation facilities.

Prior to the inception of BMDA the number of DTWs was only 500 in total irrigated area of about 5,000 hectares. At that time, the farmers had to depend on rainwater for only the transplanted aman cultivation.

Apart from the irrigation activities, the BMDA has been implementing various need-oriented uplift programs aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions by increasing crop production side by side protecting the region from adverse impact of the environment. It has already executed 18 projects under its command areas from 1985-86 to 2003-04.

Currently, 12 other projects are being implemented in different northern districts and around half of the total work has been completed while the rest is expected to be executed in phases by 2014.

Engineer Shafiqur Rahman 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 since the last couple of years, he added.

"We are working to revive 2850 non-functional deep tube wells owned by the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) in 13 districts of the region at a cost of Taka 198 crore in phases by 2013," he said.

In this regard, he mentioned that additional 7.40 lakh metric tons of food grains could be produced through providing irrigation to additional 86,000 hectares of farming fields upon reactivating the DTWs.

Apart from, the BMDA excavated 1080-kilometer canal, re- excavated 2878 khash ponds and constructed 13,295 water distribution infrastructures and 604 cross-dams, which ensured a sound irrigation system.

Besides imparting training to some 102819 farmers, around 2.37 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.

Meanwhile, execution of the projects has yielded a significant success in crop production, creation of ecological balance, road communication and development of socio- economic condition leading to raising the standard of life and living of the targeted people.

"Successful implementation of these projects is creating jobs for the unemployed people and also ensuring various facilities along with an environment- friendly weather in the region," Shafiqur Rahman said.

He mentioned that crop intensity has been enhanced to 214.88 percent from 117 percent while annual rainfall rose to 62.66 inches from 54.99 inches.

Besides, additional 45.38 lakh metric tons of rice could be produced in the country's northwest region if its total 5.83 lakh hectares of land are brought under the irrigation facilities.

Posted in: BMDA earns Tk 108.73 crore as irrigation charge in 2010-11