<i>Creek barrages raise hope of farmers</i>
A Creek Barrage at Echachhara brings 2500 hectares unused land under cultivation helping more than 200 farmers in the hilly area.Photo: STAR
The barrages built on the creeks running down the hills have raised hope of farmers in Khagrachhari, bringing over 500 acres of fallow land under cultivation to produce additional 2500 metric tons of food grains annually. The barrages will not only help cultivate fallow and barren land and produce Aman and Boro paddy but also help farmer cultivate fish and raise ducks in the creek water. At least 3,000 farmers are now being benefited from such 14 barrages in six upazilas, following the method of Malaysia and Thailand. District Agriculture Extension Office constructed the barrages to harness the hilly water in the upstream to use them for cultivation of crops as well as for fish and poultry farming, sources said. Five creek barrages have been built at Matiranga upazila, three in Ramghar upazila, two each in Mohalchhari and Dighinala upazilas and one each in Manikchhari and Laxmichhari upazilas in the last seven years that began in 2003, sources at agriculture office said. Tk 30 lakh has been spent to construct the barrages, sources said. According to District Agriculture Extension Office, there are over 64,000 hectares of cultivable land. Of them, two thirds could be cultivated that hardly fulfilled the annual demand of about 2 lakh tonnes of food grains required for seven lakh people living in the district. Rest of the land remained fallen for years due to water crisis in the hill areas. The creek barrage method was followed considering the fallow land, geographic condition, remoteness and upper stream from hill, they said. The correspondent talked to the farmers in the remote areas of Lemuchhari under Mohalchhari upazila and Echachhara under Matiranga upazila about the changes following the barrages. Md Rahmat Ali, 45, a farmer at Natunpara in Matiranga upazila, said at least 300 farmers have been benefited from the barrage in the locality that helped bring more than 150 hectares of land under cultivation. The local farmers' cooperative also cultivated fishes in the stuck up water of the barrage and earned Tk 3 lakh from the fish sale, he said. Shantimoy Chakma 41, a farmer at Lemuchhari, said the creek barrage in the area benefited at least 175 farmers as it helped bring at least 100 hectares of land under cultivation. “We have cultivated fishes in the creek water and fulfilled our local demand,” he said. Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Amzad Hossain of Matiranga upazila said they have followed the method to develop the areas that inspired the farmers of neighbouring areas to approach us for constructing barrage in their locality. Agriculture Officer Mohammad Rafiqul Islam of Mohalchhari Upazila said the creek bridge not only meets the farmers' demand for food grains but also that of protein like fish and meat. Deputy Director (DD) of Agriculture T M Monjurul Islam said they are happy over success in cultivation due to the creek barrage method that helps farmers become solvent financially and alleviate poverty from the society. Inspired by the method farmers of different hill areas are now demanding creek barrage in their locality, he said.
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