EFFICIENT USE OF GROUND WATER FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION: PROSPECTS IN BANGLADESH

ABSTRACT: Bangladesh is a developing country where contribution of agriculture in national gross domestic product is 12.68%. In agricultural sector, about 79% irrigation has been provided by groundwater. This review paper is prepared on the developing scenario of groundwater and its utilization efficiency, problems in groundwater use and relevant remedies to attain sustainable agriculture in Bangladesh. Due to the over extraction of groundwater, the depth of groundwater table has been declined (15%) miserably. Using redundant amount of irrigation water, conveyance loss (8-40%), arsenic contamination, insufficient recharge of groundwater etc. are the major problems behind inadequate groundwater use efficiency. Using alternate wetting and drying (AWD) method, reducing conveyance loss, diversifying cropping pattern, reforming national policies etc. are some effective measures to increase groundwater use efficiency required for sustainable agriculture. About 10,000 Tk. ha-1 can be saved just by minimizing the cost required to extract excess groundwater for irrigation. In Bangladesh, maximum national policies are focusing exclusively to the resource development rather than the resource management. The awareness can be built through different teaching programs among all the stakeholders. Rather than just imposing restriction on installation of tubewells, more constructive policies have to be announced by the policy makers. Seven different agencies are now working for the management of groundwater in Bangladesh. Besides other technical solutions, there should be a coordination among different organizations related to the groundwater management for the effective implementation of their target policies. 

Keywords: Efficient water use, sustainable agriculture, underground water