Bangladesh has launched automated centre-pivot irrigation technology in agriculture for the first time. The Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) has initiated the modern irrigation system on a pilot basis at the Muladuli sugarcane farm in Ishwardi, Pabna, and the Bhabanipur sugarcane farm in Natore under the North Bengal Sugar Mills zone. Officials hope that once fully operational, the technology will bring about a major transformation in the country’s irrigation practices.
In this system, water is supplied through long pipelines mounted on wheels and distributed using sprinklers that mimic rainfall over the crops. As a result, water can be applied precisely where needed, significantly reducing wastage. Compared with conventional flood irrigation, the method saves time, labour and cost.
According to BADC executive engineers, the automated system has been installed at a cost of around Tk 4 crore. If the pilot proves successful, more units—large and small—will be set up in different agricultural zones across the country. The technology is expected to benefit not only sugarcane cultivation but also paddy, maize, pulses and other cash crops by boosting production.
New prospects for Sylhet region
Agronomists say the centre-pivot system is not limited to sugarcane fields; it can also be used in suitable lands for tea, orange, malta and lemon orchards. Because water can be controlled with precision on sloped and terrace lands, the technology offers special potential for the Sylhet region.
Tea and citrus orchards usually require well-regulated moisture levels. During prolonged dry spells or irregular rainfall, centre-pivot irrigation can:
protect tender seedlings and newly planted orchards
enhance fruiting and leaf growth
reduce water wastage
lower labour dependence and simplify management
If applied in Sylhet’s tea gardens and citrus orchards, the technology may even allow multiple seasonal crops to be cultivated on the same land. It would also reduce management time and cost while improving overall productivity.
Experts optimistic
Experts believe that automated irrigation will enable:
precise water application
shorter irrigation time
higher yields in drought-prone areas
modernisation of water management
They note that if the pilot project succeeds, tea, lemon, orange and malta orchards in Sylhet—along with farms across the country—will benefit from the technology. This could bring revolutionary changes to Bangladesh’s agriculture, promote crop diversification and open up greater export opportunities.
