In recent years, the High Barind Tract, encompassing Rajshahi, Chapai Nawabganj, and Naogaon districts in mid-western Bangladesh, has seen a notable increase in fruit orchard cultivation, including mango, lychee, and papaya, over traditional rice and wheat fields. Raihan Kabir Ranju, a local farmer, highlighted the transition as a strategic move due to the scarcity of irrigation water for rice and other crops, with orchards requiring significantly less water and yielding higher profits.
A study underscored the benefits of this switch, pointing out the reduced water consumption, lower production costs, and increased turnover as key factors. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) provided data indicating the high water requirement for boro rice production compared to that for orchards. For instance, papaya orchards demand about one-tenth the water needed for boro rice, while offering at least 50% more profit, according to Ranju.
This shift has implications for the country's food production, particularly cereals. The Barind Tract's old alluvial soil has been facing reduced vegetation and agricultural output due to declining groundwater levels and rising temperatures. Despite the Ministry of Agriculture's efforts to maintain cereal production through high-yielding rice varieties, experts like Jiban Krishna Biswas, former director general of BRRI, express concerns over the potential impact on food security as arable land decreases.
The Barind Tract, a drier region relative to the rest of Bangladesh, relies heavily on irrigation for at least two annual crop cycles. The area receives less rainfall than the national average, prompting the formation of the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) in 1985 to manage irrigation through groundwater extraction. However, this has led to a significant drop in groundwater levels, with the Nachole area witnessing a decline from 3.5 meters in 1980 to 25 meters in 2017.
To address this, BMDA initiated irrigation rationing in certain sub-districts, aiming to encourage the cultivation of less water-intensive crops. Despite this, farmers have increasingly turned to orchard farming, as explained by BMDA's executive director, Md. Abdur Rashid. This trend reflects the ongoing adaptation to environmental and economic challenges in the region.
Source: Mongabay