The Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) has been implementing different need-based uplift projects to improve the socio-economic condition by increasing crop production side by side protecting the environment almost everywhere in the country’s northwest region.“Successful implementation of these projects is boosting crop production together with creating jobs for the unemployed people and also supplementing the government’s efforts to ensure an environment- friendly weather in the region,” said Engineer Ahsan Zakir, Executive Director of BMDA while talking to BSS. He stated that the implementation of some good projects came out with desired crop production and its intensity alongside safe-drinking water, forestry and concrete roads in the dried Barind region. The BMDA already executed 27 big projects under its command areas covering various districts of the region particularly 25 upazilas of Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj from 1985-86 to 2011-12. Now, seven other projects are being implemented throughout the country’s 16 northwest districts in addition to the 25 upazilas. The ongoing projects are: Activating inoperative deep tube-well for irrigation, deep tube well installation, command area development and training, command area extension and development, marketing agricultural product through development of rural communication, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur and Joypurhat Integrated Agricultural Development and Barind rainwater conservation and irrigation. “We are now providing irrigation to around 5.52 lakh hectares of crop lands including 2.87 lakh hectare of Irri-boro lands through operating more that 13,000 deep tube wells,” said Engineer Hossain. He added that execution of the projects had yielded a significant success in crop production including quality seed, creation of ecological balance, road communication and development of socio-economic condition leading to raising the standard of living and livelihood condition of the targeted people. Around 20.56 lakh tonnes of crops particularly rice including additional 13.68 lakh tonnes valued at Taka 1,108 crore are being produced in the region annually, he said. Before inception of the uplift programs, the number of deep tube wells was only 500 with total irrigated area of about 5,000 hectares. At that time, the farmers had to depend on the mercy of rainwater for crop production. Now, they said, the number of installed deep tube wells is 14,729 including 14,311 with power connections in the command areas with the total irrigated area of 5,47,830 hectares in the region. Under the pond and canal-digging programme, 2910 ponds and 1206.30 kilometres of derelict canals were re-excavated making them fit for fish culture and irrigation. A total of 631 cross-dams have also been constructed to preserve surface water in the canals. Besides providing training to 1.33 lakh farmers on various need-based issues, more than 2.42 crore saplings of various trees were planted to protect environmental balance and meet the growing demands for fruits and timber in the region. Out of the existing 1,200-kilometr non-metalled roads in the three districts, 782.71 kilometres have so far been made concrete and the rest is expected to be completed in phases. Implementation of the Tk 99.40-crore project has ensured safe drinking water for the Barind people through using the irrigation deep tube wells. -BSS, Rajshahi
