New flood forecasting technology can reduce losses
Bangladesh can use a technology from next year that can forecast flood ten days ahead, which the experts said, would significantly reduce the losses wrought by flood, almost an annual phenomenon in the country.
Bangladesh presently has the flood forecasting technology of 72 hours and, therefore, the new technology, which has been piloted in five districts, could be applied countrywide next year.
Officials of Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said this at a two-day seminar 'Long lead flood forecast technology for disaster management' organised by water resources ministry at a city hotel yesterday.
Flood management experts from the US, Japan, Nepal, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand and Bangladesh are participating in the seminar to share the findings of the technology for collaboration.
Speaking at a press conference after the inaugural session, Processing and Flood Forecasting Circle Project Director Sazedul Karim Chowdhury said the latest flood forecasting technology, which is the outcome of a research by Dr Peter Webster of Georgia Institute of Technology, US, has been piloted at Rajpur of Lalmonirhat, Uria of Gaibandha, Kaijuri of Sirajganj, Bekra Atgram of Tangail and Gazirtek of Faridpur districts.
“Data of rain is collected and analysed to forecast on flood through satellites. We have experimented it in five districts… The result was significantly well… We are further validating it for application in the rest of the country,” he added.
Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) in partnership with Flood Forecasting and Warning Center (FFWC) with national partners is testing and validating the technology in Bangladesh.
Shouhardo Programme of CARE Bangladesh with support of USAID is helping transfer the technology from 2006.
Under the programme, there are two other schemes -- medium and long-term technologies to increase the lead-time -- one is of 20 to 25 days and the other of one month to six months for flood forecasting.
Speaking at the press conference, Agriculture and Water Resources Adviser CS Karim said flood is a regular phenomenon in the country and it is the most pressing issue for people, particularly the farmers.
Development of such a technology that can forecast flood ten or twenty days ahead of a probable disaster can truly bring a change in food security scenario of Bangladesh, he added.
Referring to the possible impacts of climate change, he said Bangladesh is very much vulnerable to such climatic changes and, therefore, food security issue is looked at seriously.
“Nowadays, you don't get food during crisis even though you have money. So, food security based on own production is the best option,” he said, adding that development and application of cutting-edge technology on flood forecasting therefore is of utmost importance.
Speaking as the special guest, US Ambassador James F Moriarty said advanced technology on flood forecasting can help the farmers immensely to protect themselves and their properties and crops from the scourge of floods.
“The model developed in Bangladesh can also be replicable in other Asian countries. Regional information system on flood forecasting will help a lot,” he noted.
CARE Bangladesh Country Director Nick Southern, USAID Mission Director Denise Rollins, BWDB Director General HS Mozaddad Faruque and Water Resources Ministry Joint Secretary Saifuddin Ahmed also spoke at the inaugural session with Additional Secretary to Water Resources Ministry Badrul Alam Tarafdar in the chair.
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