‘Bengal Water Machine’ Data Offers Potential For Increasing Food Security
Resource ID
11221
Access
Open
Contributed by
admin
Other
groundwater irrigation Bengal Water Machine Aditi Mukherji pump data food security
Date
07 October 22
Country
Bangladesh
Summary
The People’s Republic of Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries on Earth, with a population of 168 million people in an area a bit smaller than the state of Iowa. To feed everyone, farmers in Bangladesh work year round. In addition to growing crops during the rainy monsoon season, they grow a second or even third crop during the dry season. To do so, they irrigate with groundwater—which helps store water and improves food security.
Although using groundwater for irrigation isn’t always an effective agricultural technique, research published in the journal Science proved that under the right conditions, pumping groundwater can actually help replenish aquifers. By irrigating crops in the dry season, Bangladeshi farmers create space in the water table, helping them capture more of the rainy monsoon season. The researchers call this irrigation technique the ‘Bengal Water Machine.’
Source
Science Friday