Rajshahi

Expanded Rabi crops farming saves underground water

Farmers of this region including its vast Barind tract have started farming Rabi crops creating hopes of saving underground water in the dried area, reports BSS.
Agriculturists and farmers have become optimistic over reducing the pressure on groundwater for irrigation purposes as a result of brining diversity in the cropping system under the deep tubewell command areas.
According to the sources concerned, a deep tube well can hardly irrigate around 180 bigha of Irri-Boro lands in the dry season. But in many cases, the irrigation system faces problems due to motorized fault caused by abnormal lowering of groundwater table. The adverse situation creates negative impact on crop yield affective the farmers economically.
To face the situation, officials of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) took initiatives of motivating the farmers to bring diversification in the cropping system.
For this reason, many farmers cultivated mustard and wheat instead of paddy in the irrigation command areas this season.
Shahidul Alam Tipu, Sub Assistant Agriculture Officer of Godagari Upazila, said such Rabi crops need maximum three irrigations and less labour and fertilizer till harvesting. But the paddy cultivation requires maximum irrigation and labor and fertilizer. So, the wheat and mustard farmers become benefited.
Besides, the command area of deep tubewells could be enhanced to 250 bigha per season. In the dry season, if the cultivation of mustard, potato, wheat, chickpea and maize were enhanced instead of paddy the pressure on groundwater table could be lessened substantially in one hand and the farmers will be benefited on the other.
Sharing his experience Shahidul Tipu says many deep tubewells become inoperative in the dry season due to abnormal lowering of groundwater layer. Besides, many rain-fed crops especially transplanted Aman has become dependent on irrigation in the vast Barind tract.
He observed that the water stress condition could be reduced if the Rabi crops are cultivated on the high barind lands widely and the process will positively benefit the farmers economically alongside protecting the environment from further degradation.
Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan of Geology and Mining Department of Rajshahi University pointed out that the groundwater layers aren’t recharged properly due to scantly rainfall causing in its gradual lowering.
He, however, viewed that there is no alternative to operate irrigation pumps for food security. But, he says dependence on underground water could be reduced through brining diversity in cropping system.
ATM Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Manager (Agriculture) of BMDA, mentioned that Irri-Boro farming needed five times more irrigation than that of the Rabi crops. So, the use of mining water could be reduced through expansion of Rabi crops like wheat, potato and maize.

Rajshahi

Expanded Rabi crops farming saves underground water

Farmers of this region including its vast Barind tract have started farming Rabi crops creating hopes of saving underground water in the dried area, reports BSS. Agriculturists and farmers have become optimistic over reducing the pressure on groundwater for irrigation purposes as a result of brining diversity in the cropping system under the deep tubewell command areas. According to the sources concerned, a deep tube well can hardly irrigate around 180 bigha of Irri-Boro lands in the dry season. But in many cases, the irrigation system faces problems due to motorized fault caused by abnormal lowering of groundwater table. The adverse situation creates negative impact on crop yield affective the farmers economically. To face the situation, officials of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) took initiatives of motivating the farmers to bring diversification in the cropping system. For this reason, many farmers cultivated mustard and wheat instead of paddy in the irrigation command areas this season. Shahidul Alam Tipu, Sub Assistant Agriculture Officer of Godagari Upazila, said such Rabi crops need maximum three irrigations and less labour and fertilizer till harvesting. But the paddy cultivation requires maximum irrigation and labor and fertilizer. So, the wheat and mustard farmers become benefited. Besides, the command area of deep tubewells could be enhanced to 250 bigha per season. In the dry season, if the cultivation of mustard, potato, wheat, chickpea and maize were enhanced instead of paddy the pressure on groundwater table could be lessened substantially in one hand and the farmers will be benefited on the other. Sharing his experience Shahidul Tipu says many deep tubewells become inoperative in the dry season due to abnormal lowering of groundwater layer. Besides, many rain-fed crops especially transplanted Aman has become dependent on irrigation in the vast Barind tract. He observed that the water stress condition could be reduced if the Rabi crops are cultivated on the high barind lands widely and the process will positively benefit the farmers economically alongside protecting the environment from further degradation. Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan of Geology and Mining Department of Rajshahi University pointed out that the groundwater layers arent recharged properly due to scantly rainfall causing in its gradual lowering. He, however, viewed that there is no alternative to operate irrigation pumps for food security. But, he says dependence on underground water could be reduced through brining diversity in cropping system. ATM Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Manager (Agriculture) of BMDA, mentioned that Irri-Boro farming needed five times more irrigation than that of the Rabi crops. So, the use of mining water could be reduced through expansion of Rabi crops like wheat, potato and maize.