BMDA hopes to operate irrigation deep pumps through mobile apps

Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) is very optimistic about operating its irrigation deep tube wells using mobile apps.

BMDA, the ever-largest irrigation-providing state-owned entity in the country's northwest region consisting of all 16 districts under Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions, is intended to bring modernisation in its irrigation system.

"We are talking with experts both home and abroad about installation and promotion of the apps and some of those have shown interest in this field," said Dr Muhammad Asaduzzaman, chairman of BMDA, while talking to BSS at his office recently.

"If we can promote the apps successfully the farmers can avail their respective irrigation facilities from anywhere and anytime subject to vacancy," he hoped.

He said there are many controversies related to the manual operation of deep tube wells and time has come to overcome the odd situation. He, however, mentioned that the problem can't be solved overnight.

In the field, many of the grassroots farmers are annoyed with the performance of pump operators, but they are key players in making the irrigation system functional.

Dr Asad said 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.

Various development works, including installation and reactivation of deep tube wells, re-excavation of derelict canals and ponds, construction and expansion of submersible canals, and construction of cross dams, rubber dams, and connecting roads, were implemented.

Installation of pontoons in rivers and low lift pumps in rivers and canals, prepaid meters in irrigation deep tube wells, supply of drinking water from irrigation deep tube wells, and excavation of solar power-driven dug-wells and solar power-driven irrigation pumps were also done.

So far, 15,820 deep tube wells and 966 low lift pumps were either installed or reactivated being operated by both power supply and solar power bringing around 10.36 lakh hectares of land under controlled irrigation together with transforming those into three-cropping from double-cropping.

Instead of the previously earthen canals, 15,895-kilometer new concretised submersible canals were constructed side by side with expanding another 1,404-kilometer in commanding areas of each of the tube wells.

The development works saved 570 hectares of farming land coupled with resisting water from wastage. 12,031 hectares of land were freed from water-logging thereby 3.4 lakh tonnes of additional crops are being produced by bringing 89,000 hectares of land under irrigation every year.

The BMDA has re-excavated 2,527-kilometer derelict canals and 4,257 ponds creating scopes of producing around 2.15 lakh tonnes of additional crops annually through bringing 52,500 hectares of land under supplementary irrigation with surface water.

The region saw significant progress in the crop production sector following the expansion of irrigation facilities along with supplying water from the re-excavated canals and ponds.

Irrigation privileges were also arranged for around 20,700 hectares of land with surface water by installing 11 pontoons in rivers and 745 low-lift pumps in rivers and canals.

Around 20,000 households are getting safe drinking water from dug wells in some of the drought-prone high Barind tracts where the existing shallow and deep tube wells are yet to reach due to various reasons.

The villagers are not only using the water for drinking and other household purposes but also cultivating various less-irrigation-consuming cereal crops and vegetables after the best use of the surface water.

Around 950 hectares of land have been brought under vegetable farming through operating 640 dug-wells. More than 2,250 farmers were imparted training on how to operate the pumps side by side with using and promoting soft irrigation.

So far, 640 dug-wells with an equal number of solar power panels were installed bringing 33,750 people under safe drinking water supply coverage besides providing irrigation to 1,350 hectares of land in 197 villages.

The solar pumps are being used to fetch water from those dug wells. As a result, farmers' families are getting water through water distribution installations and 1.5-inch diameter pipelines easily for irrigation and household uses.

The solar panels are also being used for lighting the pump house areas and as a funnel for harvesting rainwater which is also recharging subterranean water levels.