Water management in agri sector termed critical for productivity
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—The government has launched a mega project of 1.1 billion US Dollars to improve 86,000 watercourses throughout the country for saving water on one hand and improving resource productivity on the other.
He said “The project on resource conservation technologies has been initiated to conserve water”. Another major project to improve application efficiency, irrigation systems (Drip/Sprinkler) is being planned, he said adding, government is also taking policy measures for collection of water charges and transfer the management of irrigation system to the users.
Minister of State for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Muhammad Ali Malkani said here on Friday. The only way that we can continue to deliver to our people their needed requirements is to formulate the practical recommendations and suggest ways for their implementation. The Minister said Water demand management in agriculture is critical to conserve environment and improve productivity. “Water is considered an economic good as well natural resource and the climate change has introduced changes in water availability”, he added.
Malkani said the fresh water demand is increasing for human and industrial use and Agriculture had been and shall continue to be the major user of fresh water. However, the water saving can be achieved by improving its application efficiency, he added.
There are variety of issues and probable solutions to achieve optimal water application efficiency, he said adding, it is imperative to avoid water stress in agriculture to ensure quality output.
He said the water demand management underpins agricultural profitability and food security and the demand for water in developing countries is rising rapidly due to increase in population, changes in life style and industrial expansion.
The growing fresh water scarcity, deteriorating water quality, inadequate funding for irrigation development and maintenance and trans- boundary water sharing, water logging and salinity, ground water depletion, high sedimentation load and poor drainage are some of common problems in the region, he added.
Minister of State said the countries of the region need to formulate and implement prudent policies both at national and regional level that promote water saving through efficient use of water resources, possible re-allocation of water supplies from low-value uses to higher-value uses and allow the recovery of at least the operation and maintenance costs needed to maintain, rehabilitate and develop the water infrastructure.
Pakistan is endowed with the world’s largest surface irrigation system,which has been built over the past 100 years, he said adding, the increasing demands for water lead us think and act differently. He expressed the confidence that experts from ECO Region have thoroughly examined and discussed water related problems faced by our nations. These are the issues that any planner with the Government would advise these recommendations to be implemented not merely through words but by action, he added.