Farmers Trained on Automatic Irrigation system at GAU

A two-day training and field exhibition on automatic irrigation systems was held at Gazipur Agricultural University (GAU) to promote climate-resilient, productive, and sustainable agriculture.

Organised by the Department of Agricultural Machinery and Precision Engineering at GAU and funded by Standard Chartered Bank, the programme took place at the university’s research field on January 25 and 26, starting at 10:00am each day.

The training focused on water conservation, reducing production costs, and the practical use of modern irrigation technology. Key topics included paddy cultivation using the automatic alternate wetting and drying (AWD) method and vegetable production through smart drip irrigation systems.

Speakers explained the working process, benefits, and field-level application of these technologies to help farmers better manage water resources.

GAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr GKM Mostafizur Rahman attended the inaugural session as chief guest. Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr M Mainul Haque, Treasurer Professor Dr Md Shafiul Islam Afrad, Director (Research) Professor Dr Md Mosiul Islam, and Director (Outdoor Centre) Professor Dr Farhana Yasmin were also present.

Professor Dr Md Mostafizur Rahman of the Department of Agricultural Machinery and Precision Engineering conducted the main training sessions. Additional training support was provided by Professor Dr Md Mainul Hossain Oliver of the Department of Irrigation and Water Management and Abdullah Al Mohaimin, assistant researcher at Standard Chartered Bank.

A total of 100 farmers from different areas of Gazipur participated in the programme.

Addressing the event, Vice-Chancellor Dr Rahman said adopting water-saving and smart irrigation technologies is essential in the context of climate change. He said such technologies can lower production costs, increase farmers’ income, and ensure sustainable agriculture for future generations.

During the field demonstration, trainers said the use of automatic AWD and smart drip irrigation systems can save up to 20–30 percent of water, while reducing labour and irrigation costs and supporting environment-friendly farming.

At the end of the programme, participating farmers expressed satisfaction with the training and said they were interested in applying the technologies on their own land. The GAU Outdoor Centre provided overall support for the programme.