Farmers in the northern region, particularly in Rangpur and Dinajpur districts, have long faced water scarcity, making farming a challenging task.
The heavy reliance on irrigation coupled with unreliable water sources and high costs of traditional irrigation methods are causing struggles for crop producers.
A groundbreaking project, however, involving solar-powered irrigation pumps is revolutionizing farming in these areas.
This project, funded by Standard Chartered Bank and implemented by the development organization BRAC, aims to provide farmers with a sustainable and cost-effective solution.
Solar pumps made water management more efficient, allowing farmers to irrigate their fields without the financial burden of traditional systems.
The introduction of solar-powered pumps has significantly reduced irrigation costs. In areas like Rangpur, where farmers previously relied on diesel-powered pumps, operational expenses were a major concern.
A diesel pump would cost up to Tk 5,000 to irrigate 60 decimals of farmland, but with solar-powered pumps, this cost dropped to around Tk2,500.
Additionally, solar pumps are eco-friendly and more reliable than traditional methods.
