SYLHET, Jan 30: A total of 186 schemes of low lift pumps (LLP) under the minor irrigation development programme would be put on operation this season for producing crops including Boro paddy in Sylhet district with a view to providing irrigation facilities. Besides, some eight deep tubewells would be put into operation same season, official sources informed.
The government would spend about Tk 300 million for the said irrigation schemes, and an official said it will help producing about 18,000 tonnes of paddy every year, as new lands would also come under irrigation.
The Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) has been implementing the programme including some less developed areas of different upazilas in the district. Of the total, 60 are of five cusec each and the rests are of cusec and one cusec. Each of the three deep tube-wells are of two cusec.
The farmers will be able to collect water from the nearby Surma river, canals and other sources through power pumps for irrigating the Boro land through concrete drains, the official informed.
Already required electricity lines have been erected through Sylhet Palli Bidyut Samity. However, in some of the irrigation schemes, the farmers have arranged 'kancha' drains. At least 250 farmers will be benefited in each of the projects, the official informed, at least 6000 hectares of land will get the facilities directly.
Talking to this correspondent, some members of the irrigation scheme farmers group of village Kazirgaon under Sadar upazila said, "It is a great opportunity for us. A massive cropland has remained arable during the dry season for ages mainly due to lack of water sources. Now we would be able to irrigate those for Boro paddy mainly, in addition to other Robi crops, he added.
Assistant engineer of BADC, Sylhet, Rubaiyet Faisal Al Masum said the small irrigation schemes would bring a major change on the agriculture on the area, which had long been far behind in farming due to absence of water for Boro paddy and winter crops.
"We help farmer groups to get organised for each of the irrigation scheme areas", the official added.
The farmers will have to pay annual rent for the irrigation structures in addition to charge for electricity during the cropping season, the official further said.
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