After four years, local engineers have launched the pump no. 3 of Ganges-Kobadak (G-K) irrigation at a low cost. Thousands of farmers will benefit from it. A total of 13 upazilas in Kushtia, Chuadanga, Jhenaidah and Magura districts are under the G-K irrigation project.
Established in 2005, three pumps draw water 24 hours a day for 10 months (from 15 January to 15 October) a year. These pumps are kept closed for the remaining two months of the year for maintenance. It supplies water to some 193 kilometres of main canals, 467 kilometres of branch canals and 995 kilometres of tributary canals in four districts. Hayat Mahmud, deputy director of department of agricultural extension in Kushtia spoke to Prothom Alo on this.
What do you know about the Ganga-Kopotakkho irrigation project?
It is directly involved with agriculture. It is a supplementary irrigation or functions as a complete source of irrigation for the farmers during the production period. However, they have some problems.
What are the problems?
Farmers complain that they do not get water at the right time. They get it during the monsoon. This problem should be addressed. These issues are raised in the district level meetings.
One of the three pumps was closed for four years. How did it affect the farmers?
I have already said that they have some problems. There has been some loss in crop production due to lack of water. To address this, farmers themselves set up deep tube wells for irrigation. However, after the restart of the pump if water becomes available in the canals all the time, it will reduce the farmers' sufferings.
Is the water from the G-K project used only for irrigation purposes?
You have pointed out a good point. When there is water in the canal, the orchards in the vicinity get a necessary amount of water resulting in good production. In recent times, malta is being cultivated in Kushtia and surrounding areas. The production of malta will increase further if there is water available in the canal.
What will be the other impacts in this region as pumps have been started?
The available water in the canal has an overall impact in this region. Regular water flow keeps the balance of biodiversity. It also ensures proper water flow in the tube-wells as well as the ponds which boost the fish production. Most importantly, water in canals reduces high temperature. It’s true that operation of this pump will create a favourable environment for the better production of crops by the farmers.
*This interview appeared in the online edition of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten in English by Ashish Basu