Teesta Irrigation Project: Water scarcity, losses prompt farmers turn away from Boro

Farmers under the coverage of the Teesta irrigation project of Water Development Board (WDB) have been ditching Boro for other crops that require lesser irrigation and produce higher profits.

The Teesta irrigation project was intended to provide intensive irrigation support to farmers cultivating Boro and Aman paddy throughout the year in Rangpur, Dinajpur, Nilphamari and adjoining areas.

The farmers said they have been compelled to adopt such practice as the WDB delayed supply of water for irrigation until the end of this January. Whereas, the crucial time they needed the water was at the beginning of January, the peak time for cultivating Boro paddy.  

Fall in prices of Boro paddy over the last couple of harvest seasons also convinced them to cultivate other profitable crops, the farmers also said.

While visiting the major branch of irrigation canal in the project area in Sadar upazila of Dinajpur yesterday, this correspondent saw vast areas in Gurguri, Jharpara, Kukhapara, Dakkhin Shalhati, Begpara, Monosapara and Fakirpara villages covered with maize, wheat, pumpkin and other crops.

Farmer Shafiqul Islam of Jharpara village said, "I didn't get irrigation water from the canal in early January, the peak time for Boro cultivation. Since the authorities started operation at the end of January, I cultivated maize, which does not need much irrigation, on 1.5 bighas of land."

In Kukhapara village, farmer Al-Amin had last year's loss in mind. He said although the canal next to his land had sufficient water, two consecutive years of losses from Boro cultivation prompted him to opt for wheat on his two bighas of land. 

Monindranath Roy, another farmer in Gurguri village said he also dropped Boro from his consideration due to the losses he incurred last several seasons.

But this time, he said he hopes to make a profit of around Tk 3 lakh from pumpkin, onion and other vegetables he cultivated on five bighas land.

Agriculture Extension Officer Rafiul Bari, the designated officer for providing support to farmers in Dalia Division of the project, said most farmers were not prepared to sow paddy in early January due to excessive cold.

But the ones that were ready to start Boro cultivation that time, had to switch to other crops as the WDB did not start supplying water until January 27, he explained. 

Asked, WDB's Superintending Engineer in Rangpur Division Abdus Shahid said the water they were getting in the Teesta during early January was not sufficient to cover the entire coverage area, 1.10 lakh hectares, in the irrigation project.

They have so far been able to cover only 40 thousand hectares of land in the project area, he added.