Modern Agricultural Technology and New Horizons in Farming
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the technological advancements recently achieved in Bangladesh’s agricultural system have essentially ushered in the beginning of a second “Green Revolution”.
Although the amount of arable land in this densely populated country is steadily decreasing, agricultural production has increased severalfold, largely due to mechanization. At present, the combine harvester has become extremely popular among farmers, as it allows harvesting, threshing, and cleaning of paddy simultaneously.
In addition, with the help of rice transplanter machines, seedlings can be planted in a very short time and in an orderly manner. Even the use of drone technology has begun for pest control and fertilizer application. Alongside alleviating labor shortages, all these modern tools have significantly reduced production costs.
There is no alternative to modern agricultural technology for ensuring the maximum utilization of limited land and guaranteeing food security. This also includes the introduction of advanced irrigation systems such as central pivot or valley irrigation.
Encouragingly, a few days ago the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) successfully completed the installation of the country’s first modern irrigation system—Valley Irrigation Central Pivot—in Ishwardi, Pabna. Its trial use has also been successful. This state-of-the-art irrigation project is being implemented with financial support from BADC’s Panasi Project and technical assistance from Austria.
It has been installed at the Muladuli Agricultural Farm in Ishwardi Upazila of Pabna, which falls under the North Bengal Sugar Mill of Natore district. Once fully implemented, and if its adoption increases elsewhere in both public and private farms, the country’s irrigation system will undoubtedly be transformed.
As we know, central pivot irrigation technology is widely used in advanced agricultural systems around the world. Through this technology, water is not supplied from below; rather, it is sprayed from above like rainfall through sprinklers attached to pipes. This is a modern method that can irrigate large tracts of farmland in less time and with less water.
It also makes it possible to grow multiple crops on the same land, thereby increasing the amount of cultivable farmland. Through this system, up to 150 acres of land can be irrigated at once. Using pumps to irrigate the same area would take nearly a month, whereas valley irrigation central pivot systems can complete the task in just 10 days.
In today’s modern agricultural system, water management is the greatest challenge, and this technology will make irrigation faster, automated, and cost-effective.
We believe this is good news for Bangladesh’s vast agricultural sector, as it will open up new horizons for farming. At a time of climate change and water scarcity, such innovative initiatives will help increase agricultural production.
Moreover, groundwater levels are currently dropping significantly, causing farmers severe hardship in irrigating their fields. This technology will help address that problem as well. By preventing the wastage of groundwater and maintaining soil moisture, it will serve as a safeguard in combating future food crises.
To ensure that the benefits of modern agriculture reach all levels, we recommend that expensive equipment such as harvesters and central pivot systems be made affordable for ordinary farmers. Marginal farmers should be provided with intensive technical training on the use and maintenance of modern machinery.
Furthermore, instead of dividing small plots of land by embankments, adopting cooperative-based or large-scale farming practices would make these large irrigation technologies more effective.
In conclusion, through the integration of science and technology, Bangladesh’s agriculture stands today at a critical crossroads. If the modern irrigation project installed in Ishwardi, Pabna, is expanded nationwide, it will be possible to ensure food security even in adverse conditions. This smart agricultural system will be the main driving force in realizing the dream of a Smart Bangladesh.
