RAJSHAHI, March 3, 2025 (BSS) - Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) has launched a dedicated hotline aimed at enhancing irrigation services to the farmers through mitigating the existing problems.

BMDA, the ever-largest irrigation-providing state-owned entity, has been operating 16,715 deep-tube-wells to irrigate around 3.30 lakh hectares of land in all 16 districts under Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions during the current Boro season.

Talking to BSS here Sunday, BMDA Chairman Dr Muhammad Asaduzzaman said, more than 10 lakh farmers can lodge complains related to irrigation through using the hotline number 01336-426330.

He said they have formed six separate district-based committees integrating officials concerned to solve the received complaints quickly.  

Dr Asad added additional 12.35 lakh tonnes of crops are being produced every year as a result of extending irrigation together with promoting need-based infrastructural developments in the region at present.

Talking to BSS here today, Jahangir Alam Khan, Additional Chief Engineer of BMDA, said they are supplying irrigation water to around 10.36 lakh hectares of land benefitting around 10.62 lakh farmers during the current Rabi season.

He said 15,828 deep tube-wells have, so far, been installed in the region consisting of 16 districts in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions.

Apart from constructing and installing of 15,895.06-kilometer irrigation water distribution systems, 650 dug-wells, 576 low lift pumps (LLPs) driven by electricity and 450 LLPs run by solar power were constructed.

Engineer Jahangir Khan said they have freed 13,057 hectares of land from water logging and re-excavated 4,257-kilometer derelict canals, constructed 778 cross-dams in addition to installing 13 pontoons in rivers for making the irrigation system more successful.

He said 572 other dug-wells run by solar power were installed in wetlands of Raktadaha Beel and Tepa Beel in Naogaon and Chhatragachha Beel in Rajshahi district for boosting crops through bringing the lands under proper irrigation.

Besides, overhead tanks were constructed adjacent to the irrigation deep tube-wells for supplying drinking water to 1,592 households living in the remote areas.

Around 2.58-crore trees were transplanted for reducing carbon emission in the drought-prone Barind area.
 
Around 1.49 lakh farmers were imparted need-based training for making them competent for boosting crops.

"Surface water irrigation is being promoted as its prospect is very bright in the region, particularly in its vast Barind area enriched with scores of natural water bodies which remain in uncared and derelict condition at present," Jahangir added.
 
He said promotion of surface water in irrigation to the farming fields is being judged as the best way of mitigating the gradually mounting pressure on underground water in the drought-prone area.

Ataur Rahman, 50, a resident of Dewpara village under Godagari upazila in the district, has attained additional money after cultivating cauliflower through using irrigation water during the current winter season
 
Previously, he said only a single rainfed crop could be produced in the area.

Around 15-20 mounds of rice could be yielded from per acre of land. But, no crop could be produced if there was no rain in time.
 
But, at present, around 80-90 mounds of crops are being produced from per acre of land. Many of the single crop lands were transformed into triple-cropping.

Rahman said a silent revolution has happened in the field of crop production almost round the year as a result of expansion of irrigation to the farming fields in the region, particularly the vast Barind tract.
 
Muhammad Abdullah, 38, of Tantoi village under Sapahar upazila in Naogaon district, said they are being benefited from various promotional activities, including deep-tube-wells, low lift pumps driven by solar power and re-excavation of derelict ponds and canals and overhead tanks for supplying drinkable water.

Irrigation water is being used in various crops and vegetables, including paddy, wheat, potato, vegetable, mango, guava, jujube and malta orchards.