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Water Resources and Its Management for Crop Production in Bangladesh

Dr. Engr. M. A. Sattar
Senior Scientific Officer
Irrigation and Water Management Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This is an assessment study of available water resources in Bangladesh and its use in irrigation for crop production. The development of agriculture in Bangladesh largely depends on extensive use of increasing number of irrigation equipments and expansion of irrigated areas. This will result in increased production via expension of HYV crop varieties with improved package of production practices. Since 1970 irrigated area has been increased remarkably due to adoption of DTWs, STWs and LLPs. This is achieved by Government efforst and public intervention. However, the efficiencies of these irrigation systems still lag far behind the optimum level. Emphasis should, therefore, be given to improve the irrigation efficiency instead of development of additional physical facilities. If this can not be achieved, it will be even difficult to sustain the present level of irrigation. The paramount objective of this study is to assess the past and present status of irrigation system and explore the irrigation potential based on land suitability, surface and groundwater availability. In Bangladesh about 33 percent of total cultivable land is under irrigation. Minor irrigation covered about 90 percent of the total irrigated area and the rest under major irrigation project (FCDI). About 70 percent of the total land is irrigated from groundwater sources. The groundwater resources mainly utilizes by minor irrigation equipments such as DTW, STW, LLP and other traditional devices. The minor irrigation systems are entirely managed by the farmers. In both major and minor systems the facilities are operating at about 50 percent of the rated capacities. Thus, improvement in the management and utilization capacity of the systems can significantly influence irrigated agriculture in Bangladesh.

Keywords: HYV crop, DTWs, STWs and LLPs, Irrigation efficiency, Surface, Groundwater availability

Location: BADC, BWDB, BRDB, public Health Office and other research organizations.

Start Date: 01-11-1989

End Date: 30-04-1991

Program Area: Resource Development and Management

Commodity: Water management

Objectives:

1. To improve the irrigation efficiency instead of development of additional physical facilities.

2. To assess the past and present status of irrigation system and explore the irrigation potential based on land suitability, surface and groundwater availability.

Methodology:

To quantify the total amount of water available, the National Water Plan (NWP) divided the country into five planning regions as northwest (NW), northeast (NE), Southeast (SE), South central (SC) and Southwest (SW). The regions are the largest sub-regional units used in water resources planning. Each unit consists of a unique set of hydrologic catchments. Then catchments are the basic computational unit for determining surface water and groundwater availability. The availability of groundwater in Bangladesh is determined by the properties of the groundwater storage reservoir and the volume of water that refiles the reservoir. The key factors include the capacity of the aquifers to store water and the characteristics that govern economic withdrawal of that water for irrigation, domestic and industrial uses. The sources of recharge are rainfall, flooding and stream flows in rivers. The sources of groundwater data were from different organizations. Such as BADC, BWDB, BRDB, public Health Office and other research organizations.

Source of Information: BANGLADESH SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURE ENGINEERS, Vol-1, pp. 188-196, December 15-17, 1997

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Most of the irrigation equipment is not working at its rated capacity. The numbers are increasing but the area is not proportionately increasing. Thus, there is a heavy national wastage. Therefore, an assessment of the present level of capacity utilization is needed to formulate a plan of action. A substantial portion of the water pumped is wasted due to heavy conveyance losses through the distribution systems in the command. Command area development approach should be undertaken through an alternative use of distribution method. A substantial portion of the water pumped is wasted due to heavy conveyance losses through the distribution systems in the command. Command area development approach should be undertaken through an alternative use of distribution method. Supplemental irrigation at the early part of Aus and later part of T-Aman can increase yield of rice. Therefore, a study may be conducted on safe yield of groundwater utilization by STW & DTW operation for balancing environmental effect. Study on-farm water management through command area development method, adoption of wet seeded rice (WSR) and other approaches should be undertaken to increase water use efficiency for major and minor irrigation projects. The salinity of surface water has a major effect upon the availability of usable water resources within Bangladesh coastal zones. Thus, reduction in fresh water flow would increase the penetration of saline water inland in southern belts of the country. Water quality of Bangladesh in general is acceptable for irrigation except coastal area and some ground water pockets. Nevertheless, the salinity intrusion in the coastal area is alarmingly increasing due to decrease in the river flow. Therefore, research is necessary for monitoring the salinity intrusion and updating the coastal saline belt and determining a maximum limit of salinity for rice and other non-rice crops without any loss of yield.

Knowledge Management: Journal