Govt to spend Tk 1.38b to boost agri output in Sylhet div

A project has been taken to give a further boost to agricultural production in Sylhet division by over 86,000 metric tonnes a year through proper utilisation of ground and surface water by developing necessary irrigation infrastructures. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) has approved the project, ‘Sylhet Division Small Irrigation Development Project,’ involving over Tk 1.38b (Tk 138.06 crore). Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) under the Ministry of Agriculture will implement the project by June 2019 with fund from the national exchequer. As Sylhet division is surrounded by numerous rivers, haors, canals and beels, it is possible to expand irrigation facilities in the region through developing suitable irrigation infrastructures to properly use the ground and surface water, said Planning Ministry officials. The quantity of arable land in greater Sylhet region is about 8,03,094 hectares and the project aims to bring additional 14,375 hectares of land under cultivation through extending irrigation facility and thus produce additional 86,251 metric tonnes of food grains, vegetables and fruits every year. Talking about the project, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said the scheme will help reduce the sufferings of people living in the region. ‘The project, I think, will bring about greater benefits than its cost,’ he added, according to UNB.