The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is preparing a $450,000 technical assistance (TA) project for Punjab agriculture development in irrigated areas of the province to help boost country's agro-based economy. The official sources told Business Recorder here "Punjab Irrigated Agriculture Development Sector Project" was under consideration and bank's management was giving it final touches.
The agriculture and natural resources, water resources management sector project will focus on the improvement of irrigation system in the province as well as on-farm water management.
It will also include irrigation rehabilitation project to address all levels of the irrigation system; from head works and the barrage to field channels, water management activities. The executing agency of the project will be the Ministry of Water and Power.
It will have substantial institutional strengthening and participatory elements that build from the reforms started under the National Drainage Programme (NDP).
Sources said that besides all these it might include agricultural support services to maximise benefits from improved water supply and management.
Integrated water resources management concerns will also be addressed under this project to ensure the sustainability of the water resource.
They said that this would add more to the agriculture development of the country and in response enhance the economic growth.
It is being anticipated that the project will be implemented in close co-operation with a provincial irrigation and power department. The TA will include sector analysis; development of institutional reform options; technical studies and designs; creation of capacity development programmes; and development of detailed TOR for Ensuing project activities.
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