Solar irrigation adds new dimension to Barind's agriculture

RAJSHAHI, Apr 17 (BSS): Solar pump irrigation has brought a new dimension in agriculture in the drought-prone Barind tract benefiting its people in many ways.

"Solar power irrigation is not only contributing to lessening pressure on fossil fuel driven power supply but also reducing the gradually mounting pressure on groundwater," said Dev Dulal Dhali, Additional Director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).

More than 3,780 hectares of farming fields were brought under the irrigation privileges contributing to yielding around 37,800 metric tonnes of food grains and vegetables round the year.

Agriculturist Dhali says Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) has promoted the river water based solar power irrigation in the Barind area in order to reducing pressure on underground water through increasing use of surface water for irrigation round the year.

"We are getting water for irrigating our cropland round the year from Sharmangla canal in Godagari upazila of the district," said Aminul Islam, a farmer of a nearby village.

He is now happy with canal water based irrigation in the current Boro rice season. Nazrul Islam, 45, another farmer of Rajabari village, said canal water contains humus which is important for soil fertility as well as boosting crop yield.

"We are so much happy with getting scopes of irrigation using surface water round the year," he added.