Solar power irrigation gains popularity in Barind area

RAJSHAHI, Dec 01 (BSS): Solar power irrigation has started gaining popularity in Barind area as it plays vital role to ensure round the year irrigation facilities to farmers besides lessening mounting pressure on electricity to some extent.

Anwar Hossain, 45, a farmer of Biroil village under Godagari upazila, said more than five hundred farmers of his area are being benefited from solar power pump.

Under the 'Extension of Irrigation in Barind Area through Conservation of Water in Canal' project, the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) has connected the water pumps with solar panels to ensure a smooth supply of water to farmers without any worry of load shedding.

The Tk 1.16 billion project is being implemented in eight upazilas of Rajshahi, Naogoan and Chapainawabganj districts with the main thrust of increasing use of surface water for irrigation round the year.

Anwar Hossain said the solar panel pumps supply irrigation water directly to crop fields from the canal. The BMDA re-excavated canal resulting in the use of surface water instead of underground water and increasing production of crops and vegetables in the lands which once remained fallow.

Solar panels have been set up in Jagpur and Biroil areas in Godagari upazila where water is being pumped through Sarmongla canal. Water is being pumped from two large ponds in Gopalpur and Paldevepur villages where the same has been stored from the river Padma.