Surface water use for irrigation rises 

The use of surface water for farming is gradually increasing, owing to modern irrigation management.

The use of surface water has risen to 27% from 21% in the last ten years, says the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC).

Speakers at a BADC seminar titled "Groundwater Monitoring Digitisation" in Dhaka Sunday said the government is working to increase the use of surface water for irrigation to 30% by 2030.

According to the BADC, several measures of the government have expanded the irrigation area to 10 lakh hectares in the last ten years.

The measures include: re-excavating canals, expanding irrigation areas, digging up irrigation canals, plus constructing rubber and hydraulic elevator dams. The initiatives have expanded the irrigation area and its efficiency.

The Agricultural Development Corporation says the measures have raised irrigation efficiency from 35% to 38% and brought 73% of irrigable land under irrigation.

Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, as the chief guest of the seminar, said the government is working to increase surface water use through proper management of water resources.

He said the cost of irrigation in farming had reduced a lot, and efforts are ongoing to reduce it further. "The irrigation efficiency will be increased from 38% to 50% so that the use of surface water rises and the irrigation cost reduces further."

Under the Digitalisation of Survey and Monitoring for Development of Minor Irrigation Project water level data loggers have been set up in 46 upazilas recently. Through this project, groundwater locations are being mapped and updated.

The project offers groundwater level updates through space technology and remote sensing. Additionally, data loggers in 60 coastal upazilas are monitoring groundwater salinity.