A project has been taken to give a further boost to agricultural production in the greater Sylhet region 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 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 Sylhet division 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.
Talking to UNB, a Planning Ministry official said the project will cover 38 upazilas of four districts of Sylhet Divisions. Of them, 12 upazilas in Sylhet districts – Sylhet Sadar, Dakkhin Surma, Gwainghat, Balaganj, Companyganj, Biswanath, Fenchuganj, Golapganj, Jaintapur, Kanaighat, Jokiganj and Bianibazar – be brought under the project.
It will cover 11 upazilas in Sunamganj district and those are Sadar, Dakkhin Sunamganj, Chhatak, Doarabazar, Jamalganj, Tahirpur, Biswambharpur, Dirai, Shalla, Jagannathpur and Dharmapasha.
The proposed eight upazilas to be covered by the project in Habiganj district are Habiganj Sadar, Lakhai, Chunarughat, Madhabpur, Bahubal, Nabiganj, Baniachang, and Ajmiriganj while seven upazilas in Moulvibazar district – Moulvibazar Sadar, Srimongal, Kulawara, Borolekha, Juri, Komolganj and Rajnagar – will be brought under the project.
The main project activities include re-excavation and rehabilitation of some 300km canals, construction of some 120 water reservation structures, procurement and establishment of electricity-driven low-lift pumps, deep tube wells, solar panels, setting up of electricity lines. The proposed project area is some 12,564 square kilometer.
Besides, under the project, some 200 owners, managers, operators and the field-men of irrigation pumps alongside 400 farmers would be imparted training on pump operation.