RAJSHAHI, Feb 11 (BSS): Farmers are switching from cultivation of paddy to less irrigation-dependent cereals in the wake of adverse impact of climate change in the Barind tract.
According to the agriculture officials and scientists, farmers have reduced the cultivation of irrigation-dependent crop especially Irri-Boro paddy in the Barind tract.
On the other hand, farming of various crops like wheat, maize, potato, mustard and other fruits and vegetables is gradually increasing in the area comprising Rajshahi, Chapainawabgonj and Naogaon districts.
These crops have occupied more than 27,097 hectares of lands only in Tanore and Godagari upazila during the current season, said Habibur Rahman Khan, executive engineer of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA).
After harvesting the water-saving crops the farmers will cultivate Aus paddy on the lands. Engineer Khan said Aus paddy needs small irrigation as rainfall meets up lion portion of the irrigation demands.
"In many occasions, we are motivating the farmers to promote various cereal crops instead of only paddy in the area, said Engineer Habib Khan.
Professor Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan of Department of Geology and Mining in Rajshahi University said around 3,200 to 3,500 litres of water for irrigation is needed to grow one kg of paddy.
Dr Ilias Hossain, principal scientific officer of Regional Wheat Research Station, said irrigation has been reduced to a greater extent in Barind resulting in a decline in Irri-Boro farming.
Hafizur Rahman, a farmer of Mushribhuja village under Volahat upazila, said he is very happy over cultivating various less-water consuming crops like wheat, mustard, potato and lentil.
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