Agriculture minister hopeful of achieving 50pc irrigation efficiency by 2030

Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque on Sunday said the irrigation efficiency would be increased up to 50 per cent by 2030 aiming to expand more cost-effective irrigation facilities for the farmers.

“The government is working to improve irrigation efficiency up to 50 per cent within 2030 from its present capacity of 38 per cent to expand irrigation facilities through more use of surface water,” he said at a seminar titled “ Groundwater monitoring digitalization’ at Sech Bhaban at city’s Manik Mia Avenue.

 “In the last ten years, the irrigation cost has been reduced drastically by extensive use of surface water as the country’s irrigation efficiency now stands at 38 per cent from its earlier rate of 35 per cent,” said the minister at the seminar arranged by the BADC, reports BSS.

Claiming that country’s significant irrigation cost cut down as tremendous success of the present government, Dr Razzaque said the government already has implemented a number of initiatives including excavation and re-excavation of canals, rubber dam and construction of water bodies for excessive use of surface water.

“Under the initiatives, the irrigation area has been extended by 1.50 million hectares, 9,457 kilometres canal has been re-excavated,” he said.

Terming the present government as agriculture-friendly, the minister said the present government has achieved remarkable success in the irrigation management system by expanding irrigation facilities and reducing its cost per unit.