By Biswajit Mondal, from Shyamnagar, Satkhira
In the coastal area of Shyamnagar, although water is abundant, most of it is saline, creating a severe shortage of usable freshwater for agriculture. Farmers depend on rainwater during the monsoon, which they store in canals, wetlands, and ponds for later use.
During the dry months of Chaitra and Boishakh, drought becomes intense, making crop cultivation extremely difficult. Only farmers with access to larger ponds or canals can manage to grow crops both in fields and homesteads.
To address this challenge, local farmers have taken an innovative step by excavating mini ponds. According to community members, around 2018, farmers in Koikhali village began digging small ponds in the middle of wetlands to preserve water for irrigation and crop production. Currently, about 25 mini ponds have been established in the Modhya Koikhali wetland through farmers’ own initiatives.
When asked why mini ponds are dug the community people mention that ss time goes on, the area is facing an increasing shortage of safe drinking water and irrigation water. Due to the lack of potable water, proper crop production is not possible. In this situation, mini ponds or small ponds are essential for water conservation.
These mini ponds now serve as reliable water sources for irrigation throughout the year and also help conserve local fish species. As a result, farmers are able to increase crop production across different seasons.
