Govt moves to fight salinity
Arafat Ara | Sunday, 6 March 2011
Arafat Ara
State-run Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) plans to install nearly 800 two-cusec low lift pump (LLP) for irrigation in greater Barisal division to boost agricultural production while salinity, said officials. The board officials said they have planned to invest Tk 340.50 million (Tk 34 crore) for the project, where the farmers will get training on how to use such pumps. "We've already submitted the project proposal to the ministry for the approval of the ECNEC (Executive Committee of the National Economic Council)," BRDB deputy director (Planning) Moniruzzaman told the FE. He said the proposed "Barisal Division Irrigation Expansion Project" will run for three years and its objective is to support the farmers to contribute to the agricultural production. The official said deep tube-well water is not suitable for irrigation in Barisal division, because it pumps saline water. They have proposed the government to allocate the pumps with subsidy where the farmers will pay one-third money of the total cost of a pump. The price of a pump might be fixed at Tk 40,000 to 60,000, said Mr Moniruzzaman. The LLP pumps will be distributed among 775 BRDB-run farmers co-operative societies. Each of the societies will get one pump for 15 to 30 members. "Around 50 to 60 acres of land can be irrigated through one pump," the official said, adding the project will help increase crop output. He also said at first, they will motivate farmers to cultivate rice of domestic variety and they will afterwards inspire them to produce high yield variety like Boro. The state organisation will also set up some 2,225 demonstration plots under this project for exhibition to promote high yield variety in the division, he added.
State-run Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB) plans to install nearly 800 two-cusec low lift pump (LLP) for irrigation in greater Barisal division to boost agricultural production while salinity, said officials. The board officials said they have planned to invest Tk 340.50 million (Tk 34 crore) for the project, where the farmers will get training on how to use such pumps. "We've already submitted the project proposal to the ministry for the approval of the ECNEC (Executive Committee of the National Economic Council)," BRDB deputy director (Planning) Moniruzzaman told the FE. He said the proposed "Barisal Division Irrigation Expansion Project" will run for three years and its objective is to support the farmers to contribute to the agricultural production. The official said deep tube-well water is not suitable for irrigation in Barisal division, because it pumps saline water. They have proposed the government to allocate the pumps with subsidy where the farmers will pay one-third money of the total cost of a pump. The price of a pump might be fixed at Tk 40,000 to 60,000, said Mr Moniruzzaman. The LLP pumps will be distributed among 775 BRDB-run farmers co-operative societies. Each of the societies will get one pump for 15 to 30 members. "Around 50 to 60 acres of land can be irrigated through one pump," the official said, adding the project will help increase crop output. He also said at first, they will motivate farmers to cultivate rice of domestic variety and they will afterwards inspire them to produce high yield variety like Boro. The state organisation will also set up some 2,225 demonstration plots under this project for exhibition to promote high yield variety in the division, he added.