More collaboration imperative to strengthen water security in Barind

Expressing their grave concern over the present water declining situation, government officials and scientists unequivocally called for more research, technology and collaboration for strengthening water security in Barind.

The vast barind tract is being detected as foot storage because diversified crops, including grains, fruits and vegetables, are produced here round the year contributing a lot towards ensuring food security to the people.

On the contrary, adverse impact of climate change together with abnormal lowering of underground water and declining condition of surface water resources are seen posing a serious threat to the farming system besides living and livelihood conditions of the people.

So, there is an urgent need of adopting need-based steps side by side with climate smart technologies to protect the region from all sorts of adverse negative impacts.
They came up with the observation while addressing the opening ceremony of a daylong workshop titled “Joining Forces for Catalyzing Transformation in Barind Hotspot” here today.

On behalf of their ‘Introducing Water Efficient Technologies in Barind tract (IWET)’ project, DASCOH Foundation and Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture jointly organized the workshop at the conference hall of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA).

The Coca-Cola Foundation and 2030 Water Resources Group, World Bank, supported the workshop apart from implementing the project.

In the workshop, impacts and lessons learnt and way forward plan development from initiatives implemented under public and private-development sector collaboration were demonstrated.

Commissioner of Rajshahi division Dr Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir addressed the opening session as chief guest, while former vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University Prof Abdus Sattar Mandal spoke as guest of honour with BMDA Chairman Begum Akhter Jahan in the chair.

BMDA Executive Director Abdur Rashid, Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan from the Department of Geology and Mining at Rajshahi University, Sumit Jugran from The Coca-Cola Company and Dr Mara Renn from Syngenta Foundation also spoke.

Syeda Sitwat from Water Resources Group, Jahangir Alam Khan from BMDA and Dr Motaleb Hossain from the Department of Agriculture Extension presented keynote papers highlighting their respective development and promotional activities in the region.

In his remarks, Commissioner Humayun Kabir said integrated efforts of all the government and non-government organizations concerned can be the best way for protecting agriculture in Barind as its living and livelihood condition is largely dependent on agriculture.

He said they are always prepared for supporting evidence driven community led technologically innovative solutions where administrative support is required.

Chief Executive Officer of DASCOH Foundation Akramul Haque moderated the discussion.
The inaugural session was followed by two panel discussions on ‘Greenhouse Gas Reducing Strategies for Rice Production in Bangladesh’ and ‘Challenges and opportunities of improving mango export readiness in Rajshahi’.

Around 80 multi-stakeholders from government, non-government, academics, private sector, civil society and farmers joined the workshop. (BSS)