COMBATING WATER CRISIS

Challenges & Opportunities

Mushtaq Ahmad Gill (T I )Mushtaq Ahmad Gill (T.I.)Executive Director

South Asian Conservation Agriculture Network (SACAN)http://www.sacanasia.org

PAKISTAN’S AGRICULTURE CHALLENGES

• Low agricultural productivity

C NG S

• Increasing population pressure

• Dwindling land for agriculture

• Shrinking water resources

• Limiting/diminishing energy resources• Limiting/diminishing energy resources Shortage of electricity High cost of diesel

• High water losses in irrigation system

• Over exploitation of groundwaterOver exploitation of groundwater

WATER CRISIS IN PAKISTAN (AFTER INDUS WATER TREATY- 1961) Deprivation from water of eastern rivers (20 MAF) Deprivation from water of eastern rivers (20 MAF) Water logging, salinity & sodicity

i d i d i d i l i Increase in domestic and industrial requirement Deterioration of groundwater quality Increase in demand of irrigation water Persistent droughtg

Cereal Requirement Status of Selected Countries by 2025ISSUES

Cereal Requirement Status of Selected Countries by 2025Deficit/Surplus (MMT)

18.715.3

22.1

20

25

10

15

-11-7.4-1.6-2.40

5

-10

-5

IndiaBangladesh Ira

n

Pakis tan

China

Argentina

Australia

-15 Ba

ISSUES (Cont’d)

2006

150

MA

F)L

DIV

ER

SIO

N (

M

103 CA

NA

L

1,200 m3

PAKISTAN WATER BUDGET - INDUS BASIN IRRIGATION SYSTEMSHRINKING WATER RESOURCES

OVER EXPLOITATION OF GROUNDWATER

(Tubewells Growth)957,916

Electricity, 128,823 (13%)

Diesel829,093(87%)

OPTION Productivity Enhancement in Canal and Non-Canal

Command areas (marginal land and waterconditions)and desert and semi desert areasconditions)and desert and semi desert areasthrough Water Saving Technologies and Practicesin order to:

foster sustainable food security improve livelihoods improve livelihoods reduce poverty environment friendly agriculture environment friendly agriculture

Water Saving Technologies ( For Desert and Arid   Agriculture)

POTENTIAL DESERT AREAS

Desert Province Area (MA)

Cholistan Punjab 6 4Cholistan Punjab 6.4Thal Punjab 5.7Pachad/Hill Torrent areas Punjab & NWFP 0 6Pachad/Hill Torrent areas (D.I. Khan, DG Khan, Rajan Pur etc.)

Punjab & NWFP 0.6

Thar Sindh 10.6Chagi-Kharan Balochistan 1.5

Others 3.0

Total 27.8

Challenges and IssuesPOTENTIAL DESERT AREAS

Scarcity of irrigation water High cost of development of irrigation schemes Colossal loss of land due Water and Wind erosion Undulated topography Limited infrastructural facilities Heavy farm machinery requirements for traditional

cultivationcultivation

DEVELOPMENT OF DESERT AGRICULTURESUCCESS STORIESSUCCESS STORIES

Desert Crops GrownGhobi Desert, China Cotton & Tomato

Sanai Desert, Israel/Egypt Fruits & Vegetables

Alien Desert UAE Fruits Vegetables FodderAlien Desert, UAE Fruits, Vegetables, Fodder

R ji t D t I di F it V t bl Oil S dRajistan Desert, India Fruits, Vegetables, Oil Seeds

D ht K i & Qi Q i I Hi h V l CDasht-e-Kavir & Qir Qazim, Iran High Value Crops

CHALLENGES AND ISSUES

Scarcity of irrigation water High cost of development of irrigation schemes Colossal loss of land due water and wind erosion Undulated topography Prevailing poverty g p y Limited infrastructural facilities Frequent weather/climate changes Heavy farm machinery requirements for cultivation Heavy farm machinery requirements for cultivation Scattered and small holdings Shortage of skilled and unskilled labour

i Poor access to inputs

DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS

Supply of canal water to the desert/semi-desert areas

Establishment of mini dams, check dams, dugwells, lift irrigation schemes etc.

Construction and renovation of water storage ponds, underground tanks (Kunds), and Tobas by use of cost effective lining/layering materials (e.g. HDPE/plastic sheets etc.)

Adoption of Resource Conservation Technology

Use of alternative energy sources (solar and wind) powered pumps for conveyance of water from water storage tanks to fields by use of drip/sprinkler and Flexible Gated Pipes

Management of groundwater by treated, cyclic and conjunctive use g g y , y j

Ongoing Development Strategies

• Construction of Large and Small Dams• Construction of New Canal SystemsConstruction of New Canal Systems

– Greater Thal Canal (GTC) - PunjabKatchi Canal Balochistan– Katchi Canal - Balochistan

– Rainee Canal - SindhCh Ri ht B k C l (CRBC) KPK– Chasma Right Bank Canal (CRBC) - KPK

GREATER THAL CANAL PROJECT

MAIN CANAL HEAD REGULATOR

MAIN CANAL

NURPUR Dy OF PHASE - I

TEMPORARY PIPE OUTLET

WAY FORWARDWAY FORWARD• National Water PolicyNational Water Policy• Provincial Water Visions in Accordance with

Post IWT Scenario 1961 – Indus WaterPost IWT Scenario 1961 – Indus Water Apportionment Accord 1991 (CBM’s)C ti f Thi k t k ( Pl i C i i• Creation of Think tank ( Planning Commission, HEC, Universities, PEC, PSAE) for Water R D l t d M tResources Development and Management

WAY FORWARD (Cont’d)

Desert areas may be developed following the models of Alien (UAE), Sanai (Israel/Egypt) Ghobi (China) Rajasthan (India) and Dasht-e-Sanai (Israel/Egypt), Ghobi (China), Rajasthan (India), and Dasht-e-Kavir (Iran)

Feasibility study and preparation of development projects for Conservation Agriculture may be carried out through involvement ofConservation Agriculture may be carried-out through involvement of private sector (consultants/companies e.g. PSAE,SACAN etc.)

A body on the pattern of Thal Development Authority and Arid Land D l t A th it I di b tit t d d thDevelopment Authority, India may be constituted under the Supervision of Prime Minister at federal and CMs at provincial levels.

A project for development of 50,000 acres at Head, Tail and Middle of Th l d t ith i f GTC b l h dThal desert, with main focus on GTC area, may be launched

Outsource the project implementation to the private sector following the example of Rajistan Development in India with full support from public sector

Resource ConservedIsIs

A Resource Generated

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