Abdur Rahman Mintu, Rangpur :
The Barind Multi-Purpose Development Authority (BMDA) has brought relief to the farmers of Rangpur region by solar-powered . Patkua is 100% eco-friendly as it draws water through solar power and has rainwater harvesting system. This has greatly reduced the production cost of the beneficiary farmers.
According to the BMDA, relief has returned to Rangpur with the aim of providing alternative irrigation facilities to farmers due to rising production costs. For the farmers, this solar powered well has taken initiative. BMDA has constructed 18 wells in 4 districts of Rangpur region. As a result, farmers are able to irrigate one bigha of land at a cost of only 200-250 rupees. On the one hand, it has reduced the cost of production and the possibility of profit. On the other hand, the best use of surface water and conservation of rain water is maintaining the balance of the environment. About 60 bighas of land in the district has come under irrigation under the initiative of BMDA. More than one and a half thousand vegetable growers have benefited from this.
According to BMDA sources, four wells have been constructed in Mithapukur upazila, famous for vegetable cultivation, in the fiscal year 2020-21. Ashraf Hossain, a beneficiary farmer of the upazila, said he had cultivated early varieties of potatoes on 80 per cent of his land. He irrigated twice through a well at a cost of only 200 rupees. But before constructing a well, it would cost 800 rupees to irrigate once.
Patkua operator Belal said that after getting this facility, it cost Tk 400 to irrigate one acre of bean three times. Earlier, it cost 800 rupees to irrigate once.
Raihan Habib, Deputy Assistant Engineer, BMDA Mithapukur Zone, said that he personally maintained four wells in Mithapukur. Each well has been dug 120 feet deep. A submersible pump has been installed 62 feet below the well. The well has 64 RCC ring sheets. A well runs with eight solar panels with a power of 5 kW.
Rangpur BMDA Executive Engineer Md. Harun R. Rashid said 16 wells have been constructed in Rangpur district under the irrigation expansion project for optimal use of surface water and conservation of rain water. Three thousand liter tanks have been installed on a tower to conserve water of the solar powered pump. Although a well is designed to irrigate 25 bighas of land, more land is being irrigated due to high demand.
Habibur Rahman Khan, supervising engineer of BMDA Rangpur Circle, said 16 wells have been constructed in Rangpur district, six in Nilphamari, four each in Gaibandha and Lalmonirhat. Patkua is 100% eco-friendly as it draws water through solar power and has rainwater harvesting system. This has greatly reduced the production cost of the beneficiary farmers.
