Re-excavation canals can double-triple crop yield: Employment Minister

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Md Ariful Haque Chowdhury on Monday said re-excavation of canals would improve irrigation facilities and help increase agricultural production by two to three times in the country.

He made the remarks while inaugurating the re-excavation work of Katagang canal at Anikeli Baro area under Giasnagar union in Moulvibazar Sadar upazila.

The minister said the canal excavation programme initiated during the tenure of late President Ziaur Rahman had brought significant benefits to the country’s agricultural sector.

“Bangladesh witnessed a remarkable rise in food production during that period. Agricultural output doubled and the country was even able to export rice and other crops,” he said, adding that the initiative also created rural employment opportunities and boosted the production of robi crops.

He alleged that the programme was later discontinued in a planned manner.

Ariful Haque said the canal excavation initiative has now been revived across the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. “Through this programme, irrigation facilities will improve and farmers will be able to produce two to three times more crops. Vegetable production will also increase and it will help maintain environmental balance,” he added.

Referring to the demand of local farmers to use water from the Manu River for irrigation, the minister said the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) has already taken a project to bring water from the river to the canal.

He expressed hope that the work on the project would begin soon, allowing local farmers to benefit from improved irrigation.

The minister also said that around 20,000 kilometres of canals are planned to be excavated or re-excavated in 54 districts across the country within the next five years through coordinated efforts of different government agencies.

Speaking at the event, Moulvibazar-3 MP M Nasir Rahman, Deputy Commissioner Touhiduzzaman Pavel, Superintendent of Police Mohammad Billal Hossain, District Council Administrator Md Mizanur Rahman and BADC Chief Engineer Md Badrul Alam also addressed the programme.

Under the project, about 3.80 kilometres of the Katagang canal will be re-excavated to improve water flow and irrigation facilities in the area.