The Prime Minister was chairing a meeting here on Monday to determine ways for a more efficient water management system in the agriculture sector.

The approval came a day after it was reported that Pakistan might face a severe drought in the future with no chance of rains during the next two months.

Drip and sprinkler irrigation is a mechanism of spraying water through fountain in accordance with the land's requirement rather than traditional practices. It plugs unnecessary wastage.

The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) made a presentation on the issue, a senior official told Business Recorder.

Agriculture Development Commissioner (ADC) Dr Qadir Bux Baloch said Shaukat Aziz had directed the ministry to execute the project through private companies in all four provinces and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

Baloch added the project cost (Rs 15 billion) would be met out of agriculture ministry's Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) and no funds would be sought from outside the country in the form of either loans or grants.

He said the Prime Minister had asked the ministry to fine tune the plan by consulting the companies through which it would be executed and re-submit it for the final approval.

Meanwhile, a statement quoted the Prime Minister as saying that water security would be one of the biggest future global challenges. It would also affect the food security, he added.

The government was taking all necessary steps for an efficient water management to meet the imminent challenges that included the plan to construct five new mega water reservoirs.

He said the construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam had been started and its completion would lead to better agricultural and industrial production by providing more water for irrigation and power generation.

He emphasised the need for introducing innovative technologies in the agricultural sector to improve efficiency in the use of water for maximum benefits.

"Water must be looked at as a scarce, high economic value resource and we should adopt technologies for more efficient use and better impact of this resource", the Prime Minister said.

Food Minister Sikandar Hayat Bosan his ministry's secretary in their presentation said that adoption of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems would result in approximately 40 to 50 per cent water saving, 30 to 100% agricultural productivity increases, 25 to 40% saving in fertilisers and 40 to 45% increase in cropping intensity.

It would also lead to employment generation for 68,000 persons and overall additional income to farmers at the rate Rs20, 000 per acre per year, the Food Ministry said.

The Prime Minister was informed that the program would be implemented by the Federal and Provincial government with ownership of the farmers.

Giving guidelines on the project, the Prime Minister asked the ministry to adopt a cluster approach and initially launch the program as a pilot project.

Shaukat Aziz said a targeted and focused approach should be adopted. The district and crops should be identified for initiated the pilot projects.

The Prime Minister emphasised the need for introducing the farmers about the benefits of these irrigation systems through mass awareness programs.

He said there was a need to change the mindsets and behaviours of people to implement the proposed changes in a sustained manner.

Intensive training program for officials, farmers and service providers should also be initiated, the Prime Minister added.

Source: Business Recorder