Soni Azad, Charghat (Rajshahi): In the Charghat Upazila of Rajshahi District in Bangladesh, a growing trend is challenging traditional agriculture.
Subsidized water—originally allocated to support crop irrigation—is increasingly being diverted to power fish farming operations, a shift that threatens crop production and forces farmers to seek costlier alternative water sources.
About one and a half generations ago, the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) established deep tube wells in the Shalua-Baludiyar Beel and the Chowdhury Beel to alleviate chronic water shortages for farming.
At that time, these areas had few ponds. Over the years, however, nearly 80–95% of the surrounding agricultural land has been transformed by the digging of new ponds.
This transformation is evident today: in Shalua-Baludiyar Beel, only 14 bighas of land under tube well water are used for cultivating Boro rice, while approximately 115 bighas have been converted into fish ponds.
Similarly, at Chowdhury Bil, rice cultivation now spans a mere five bighas compared to nearly 100 bighas used for fish farming.
Across the region, BMDA’s 64 deep tube wells are now surrounded by thousands of newly dug ponds. The government’s subsidized water, available at a reduced cost for irrigation through rebate facilities, is now being exploited by fish farmers.
With the lower cost of electricity for deep tube wells, fish entrepreneurs are increasingly leasing land and converting it into fish farms.
This practice not only alters the landscape but also inflicts financial and resource-related hardships on traditional crop farmers.
Local farmer Rezawul Karim from Chowdhury Bil recalls a time when the entire beel area supported a variety of crops. “Everything has now turned into fish farms,” he laments.
“The deep tube well water that was meant for our crops is instead keeping these fish farms afloat. When we try to irrigate our fields, operators are reluctant to run the tube wells for just a few minutes.”
The diversion of subsidized water has significant repercussions. Local agriculture officer Al Mamun Hasan points out that the practice forces farmers to resort to alternative water sources—sources that are considerably more expensive.
BMDA’s Assistant Engineer Hanif Shikdar adds that there is no official regulation permitting the use of irrigation water for fish farming.
“We are investigating the issue and will speak with the operators to implement the necessary measures,” he explains.
Observations in BMDA-managed areas—including Shaluwa, Bhatpara, Nimpara, and Chowdhury Beel—reveal that most of the cultivable land has been overtaken by fish ponds.
Even when deep tube wells are not actively irrigating crops, their water frequently ends up flowing into these ponds. As a result, farmers still engaged in crop cultivation have had to resort to less efficient methods, such as using shallow machines for irrigation.
Economic data further underscores the issue. According to information from the Natore Rural Electrification Association-2, water drawn through subsidized deep tube wells costs around BDT 4.82 per unit. In contrast, water used in fish farming is charged at BDT 9.88 per unit—more than double the cost.
Ranjan Kumar Sarkar, Deputy General Manager of the association’s Charghat zonal office, noted that fish farming does not benefit from the government rebate, and a formal appeal has been made to the Electricity Department to address the discrepancy.
Local fish farmers, too, feel the pinch. In the dry season, ponds often run dry, forcing them to rely on deep tube well water to keep their operations viable.
Abdulkader, a fish cultivator from the Bhatpara area, explained, “During the dry season, our ponds cannot retain water. Pumping water from deep tube wells is our only option, despite the higher electricity costs when not operating under subsidy.”
Even BMDA operators are caught in the crossfire. Operator Rabiul Islam, who has established fish farms on approximately 18 bighas of land adjacent to his tube well, maintains that his well still supports 14 to 16 bighas of rice cultivation.
He denies allegations that farmers are being deprived of water, attributing changes in land use to broader market forces favoring fish farming.
This ongoing shift—from diverse crop cultivation to predominantly fish farming—raises critical concerns. The transformation leads to waterlogging, diminished agricultural diversity, and economic strain on traditional farmers.
As the debate intensifies, local authorities and water management bodies are under mounting pressure to reassess the policies governing subsidized water allocation and ensure that the interests of crop farmers are safeguarded.
Disclaimer: This article was originally published in The Daily Samakal. We have translated it into English for the readers of Bangladesh Agriculture (BA).
