|| Online Desk: Solar-powered irrigation systems introduced under a government initiative are transforming agriculture in Bangladesh's Barind region by cutting irrigation costs, expanding cultivation opportunities and promoting efficient use of water.Over the past two years, 32 solar-powered irrigation pumps have been installed in eight districts of Rajshahi Division, particularly in off-grid, drought-prone remote areas.According to project officials, the initiative has brought farmers' irrigation costs close to "zero" and increased cropping intensity by approximately 50 percent. The initiative is being implemented under the Rajshahi Division Agricultural Development Project to expand the use of renewable energy, significantly reduce farmers' irrigation expenses and ensure the efficient and judicious use of water. The Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) and the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) are jointly working to expand the technology across the region. Officials concerned with the Ministry of Agriculture said the project is directly benefiting 3,200 farmers across 67 upazilas in the Rajshahi Division. The project is scheduled to conclude in June 2027.The initiative primarily aims to reduce farmers' dependence on conventional fossil fuels, particularly diesel, and the national electricity grid, thereby helping establish a more self-reliant agricultural system. Through the long-term expansion of renewable energy, the project seeks to make agriculture in the Barind region more modern and climate-resilient.