SARMAD MAHMUD

SIALKOT: Punjab government has prepared a detailed plan costing Rs.3.68 billion to introduce modern irrigation system in the Province.

The step was being taken to overcome the wastage of irrigation water in the Punjab. The new system will curtail production expenditures, enhance per acre yield, promote modern and profitable cultivation, help in land leveling and save electricity and water. The government will provide 50pc subsidies to the farmers for installation of sprinkler irrigation system in the Province.  

Official sources told Business Recorder on Sunday that under the program solar system would be installed for drip sprinkler irrigation on 20,000 acres of land in different areas of the Punjab. At present huge irrigation water is being wasted due to outdated system in the Province and keeping in view the gravity of the situation the Agriculture department will initiate drip sprinkler irrigation system to facilitate the farmers’ community of the Punjab.

The adoption of drip sprinkler system would enable the growers and cultivators to save 50 percent irrigation water from wastage and increase the standard of productivity. Sources further told that 25 percent canal water, 30 percent watercourses and 35 percent water waste in fields that reduced availability of irrigation water for agriculture. The basic concept of the plan was to create awareness among farmers to make agriculture sector more profitable, to enhance productivity and save the irrigation water from wastage across the Punjab. 

Agriculture experts foresee that agriculture sector of Pakistan will facing serious shortage of irrigation water in future. Under the prevailing circumstances the experts had suggested that government should adopt preventive measures to cope with the wastage of irrigation water.