Solar-pump turns boon to Rajshahi farmers

RAJSHAHI, Oct 16: Newly commissioned solar energy-based irrigation pumps have opened up a new door in agriculture sector as farmers can boost their farming yields through the irrigation facilities round the year in Barind area.
According to field sources, in addition to benefiting the farmers economically, the pumps will contribute to reducing the gradually increasing pressure on power supply.
At least 10 solar experimental panels have been set up by Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) to operate the pumps for irrigation under a three-year project titled "Extension of Irrigation in Barind Area through Conservation of Water in Canal" in different upazilas of Rajshahi district, the sources said.
These pumps will contribute to reducing the gradually increasing pressure on power supply. After lifting water from the canal and ponds, the pumps will irrigate farming fields. The solar system pumps have capacity to provide irrigation to more than 2,000 bighas of cropping fields round the year, they added.
Talking with The Daily Observer, Rubel Hossain, farmer of Godagari upazila, said that it is very costly to irrigate using diesel-run pump. Now, many farmers in char areas can highly be benefited from the solar pumps.
A pump installed near his house to irrigate croplands is benefitting them a lot as they do not get rain water for cultivation, he said.
Farmer Mosharof Hossain of Birail village said that they will no longer  depend on the mercy of power supply for crop production if the solar irrigation system functions successfully.
Around 35 to 50 bighas of land could be brought under crop farming in the area through using the modern technology.
Engineer Abdur Rashid, executive director and in-charge of BMDA, said meanwhile, four solar power-based irrigation pumps have brought blessings for many remote and hard-to-reach char villagers and the farmer's particular in Godagari Upazila of the district. Now a total of 10 solar power-based irrigation pumps are playing in the barind area.
The cost of an 11-kilowat pump is around Tk 30 lakh. The solar system pump has a capacity to provide irrigation to 150 to 180 bigha of cropping land round the year. The BMDA has a plan to set up more 30 pumps across the district for irrigation, he added.