A ray of hope for Jhalakathi farmers

Re-excavation work of 10 canals in the district has begun recently, bringing new hope for farmers.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Jhalakathi, there are around 238 canals in the district. Of the canals, 100 are almost dead now.

The canals, originating from the Bishkhali, Sughandha and Dhanshiri rivers, are the main source of irrigation for agricultural lands and a nursery for various indigenous fish as well in the area, said farmers and fishermen of four upazilas in the district.

Hundred acres of land remain unused during dry season due to lack of irrigation water in Mathbari village of Rajapur upazila, said Shaidul Islam, a farmer of the village.

"l usually planted watermelon on my land during summer but I couldn't cultivate it for over a decade as the canal close to my farming land has been dried up", he said.

"The canal is almost dead but I'm now dreaming of planting various summer fruits and vegetables on my land again as re-excavation work of the canal has begun recently," said Shaidul.

If all the small and large canals in the village are re-excavated like the four-km-long Mathbari canal, the entire village will be covered with various crops and green vegetables, said Mahabub, another farmer of the same area, adding that re-excavation of the canal was their long dream.

Riaz Ullah Bahadur, an official of DAE in Rajapur, said several hectares of land in the upazila went under water during the rainy season due to lack of proper drainage system.

But if the canals are re-excavated, the rainwater will recede fast, he said.

Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation started re-excavating 10 canals in four upazilas of the district over a week ago, said Riaz.

The canals are also used as the source of water for ingenuous fish, he said.

If the canals are re-excavated perfectly, fish production will increase rapidly, said Babul Krishna Ojha, deputy director of fisheries department in Jhalakathi.