The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) has launched a project titled 'Sustainable Technologies for Efficient Water Management in Irrigated Areas of Southern Indus Plain', which will be completed at a cost of Rs 38.57 million in five years.
According to official sources, the Drainage Research Centre (DRC), Tando Jam of PCRWR was established with the objective to conduct research on problems of irrigated agriculture in general and drainage in particular.
DRC has provided advancement in the field of drainage and reclamation playing pioneer role in the introduction of Tile Drainage in the country, establishing skimming well technology, determining crop water requirements for various crops, vegetables, etc.
The project would help identify the impact of sea-water intrusion and groundwater pumping in the Lower Indus Basin and would evaluate and disseminate various technologies for better use and management of water resources.
The project would lead to optimum use of land and water resources, which are otherwise left unutilised. Besides benefits to land owners, the areas would serve as demonstration plots for the Extension Services. These technologies would be very useful to manage vast areas in need of drainage, use of saline water, efficient use of water resources contributing in the economic uplift of the area.
The project would introduce efficient technologies for water resources management for sustainable agriculture development in irrigated areas of Southern Indus Plain at farmers' fields.
FOLLOWING ARE THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
-- To identify water management and agriculture related issues and problems in Southern Indus Plain and develop plan for sustainable water resources management to enhance water productivity.
-- To implement and evaluate efficient technologies at appropriate locations by establishing pilot projects with active farmers' participation.
-- To devise strategies for wide scale extension of efficient technologies.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2006

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