BADC expands irrigation infrastructure to improve water management

Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) plays a key role in strengthening irrigation management nationwide, supporting agricultural productivity through expanded surface- and groundwater-based systems.

Bangladesh remains largely dependent on agriculture, which continues to support livelihoods for a substantial share of the population and contributes significantly to the national economy. Ensuring sustainable agricultural growth, therefore, requires reliable access to quality inputs and efficient water management.

Established in 1961, BADC was created to support farmers by improving access to agricultural inputs such as quality seeds, balanced fertilisers, and irrigation facilities, while optimally utilising both surface and groundwater resources. The organisation operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Irrigation expansion and coverage

BADC's irrigation management has evolved over decades. In the 1960s, surface-water use was introduced through 1,555 power-driven pumps. In 1967–68, 102 deep tube-wells were installed, followed by 1,998 shallow tube-wells in 1973–74, expanding irrigation access for farmers.

During the 2024–25 irrigation season, BADC provided irrigation coverage for 5.65 lakh hectares of land across the country.

At present, irrigation is largely delivered through two systems: small-scale irrigation covers around 95 per cent of irrigated land, while large-scale irrigation accounts for around 5 per cent. In terms of water sources, 27.93 per cent of irrigation coverage is supported by surface water, while 72.07 per cent relies on groundwater.

Infrastructure and programmes

BADC's irrigation activities include canal re-excavation; construction of underground and above-ground irrigation channels and buried pipelines; irrigation infrastructure development; crop-protection embankments; jhiri dams; establishment and rehabilitation of deep and shallow tube wells; solar-powered irrigation pumps; dugwells; and rubber dams.

Over the last decade, BADC reported the following activities nationwide:

• 13,665 km of canal and canal re-excavation
• 14,637 km of underground irrigation channel construction
• 3,610 km of above-ground irrigation channel construction
• 321 km of crop protection embankments
• Installation and rehabilitation of around 14,000 deep and shallow tube-wells
• Deployment of 9,651 power-driven/floating pumps
• Installation of 1,337 dugwells
• Construction of 14 rubber dams and one hydraulic elevator dam
• Construction of 36 polythene sheds for safer flower and vegetable production

To support sustainable groundwater use and better water-resource planning, BADC has installed 460 automatic water-level data loggers in different upazilas and prepared a groundwater zoning map.

Sustainability focus

As arable land gradually declines and food demand rises, irrigation efficiency and cost management remain critical. BADC said it is working to reduce irrigation water wastage and lower irrigation costs through more efficient management.

The organisation is also aligning activities with national priorities, including the SDGs and the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100. It has set targets to raise irrigation efficiency to 38–40 percent by 2030, increase surface-water use to 30 percent, and reduce groundwater dependence to 70 percent.

BADC said its irrigation wing continues to support agricultural production by delivering irrigation facilities to farmers nationwide during the irrigation season.