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Water- a Limiting Resource for Sustainable Agriculture in Bangladesh.

Dr. Md. Altaf Hossain
Principal Scientific Offcicer
Soil Survey and Land Classification Section Soil Resource Development Institute Krishi Khamar Sarak, Farmgate Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Md. Nur-E-Alam Siddique
Senior Sceintific Officer
Soil Resource Development Institute District Office, SRDI, Pabna.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Water is a limiting renewable resource and an important basic necessity for the human survival and agricultural activities on earth. The quantity of water resource on earth is limited.Its availability per person is reducing day by day due to increase in global population, demand for food, need of infrastructure and recurring damage to environment. Water has become a critical and scare resource during dry (Rabi) season for irrigated agriculture, domestic and other uses which is a serious threat to sustainable agricultural development in Bangladesh. Scarcity of water resources in optimum space and time depends on different hydrological and agro-climatic factors including human interventions. River course change, Excessive abstraction of ground water for agriculture by shallow and deep tubewell, seasonal variability, shift of critical rainfall period, intensity of rains, higher water use cropping pattern and irrigation inefficiency for rice based farming are among key factors which govern the water resource utilization and degradation in Bangladesh. In addition, possible increase in temperature due to climate change will bring a radical change in the management of both surface and ground water resources. It is said that South Asia might experience a 30 percent drop in agricultural production by 2050. And if water becomes limiting the situation will aggravate further. As rice is dominating in the cropping pattern of Bangladesh significant increase in irrigation water use efficiency will lead to substantial saving of the precious resource which could be used for other crops, livestock and human domestic consumption. Appropriate water management practices,efficient irrigation techniques and low water consuming cropping patterns are needed for sustainable agricultural productivity in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Water, Seasonal variability, Water use, Irrigation, Groundwater and Agriculture

Location: Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Watershed management

Objectives:

To examine the current water resource use, seasonal availability, trend of irrigation demand, and abstraction of groundwater and highlighted means of efficient water use in agriculture which will lead to sustainable water use for agriculture in Bangladesh.

Methodology:

This paper is prepared by reviewing secondary data, reports, published papers in national and international journals and periodicals.

Source of Information: https://www.ecronicon.com/

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Water use for livelihood, agriculture, industry and infrastructure has increased during last few decades in Bangladesh. Above all, due to increase in population, per capita availability of water is declining. Water resources have become vulnerable and inadequate for agriculture. Water availability is not optimum as and when required for irrigation to its efficient utilization. There are many agro-climatic variables which governs water resource in Bangladesh such as water conflicts, groundwater extraction, irrigation based rice farming, and inadequate water flow in rivers during dry and off seasons, variability in rainfall events and inefficient irrigation. The cumulative effects of these factors have led to water scarcity situations of varying extent for agriculture of Bangladesh; especially for dry season crops and irrigation based rice farming during Boro Season. How to relieve the worsening water crisis has become a major common-concerned strategic issue from agricultural perspectives in the 21st century for Bangladesh. Agricultural industry and or practices of Bangladesh require to be shaped into water saving technologies, and adoption off efficient water use will greatly contribute towards ensuring food security and water resource balancing in Bangladesh. Thus, developing innovative practices to save and optimize water use for agriculture will be significant strategic measure and challenge to ensure future food, water and ecological security in Bangladesh. Research emphasis and development of modern water-saving agricultural technology, low water consuming cropping pattern and efficiency in irrigation in the critical period and or dry cultivation period is required, and need to be implemented without delay to ensure strategic water and fresh water balance. Furthermore, there is also need for adoption of technologies during irrigation, training and education of farmers about the role of efficient water use in promoting and sustaining agricultural productivity without depleting water resource base. Government should explore ways to increase the participation of farmers in promoting and implementing programs related to sustainable water use during irrigation in dry season rice cultivation. This could speed up the adoption of new water saving methods of sustainable agriculture and facilitate the exchange of ideas among various stakeholders.

Knowledge Management: Online Circulation