The government will sign a $ 0.378 million Technical Co-operation Programme (TCP) agreement with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Tuesday for water management in Sindh.
Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Sikandar Hayat Bosan will preside over the signing ceremony here.
The agreement for "Project Preparation and Capacity Building in Support of Water Sector Improvement Programme in Sindh" would enable the government to overcome projected water shortage in coming Rabi season.
Official sources told Business Recorder on Monday that the main thrust of the project would be to utilise available water for increasing agriculture production through effective management.
The agreement, they said, would help the government to cope up with the forecast water shortage in the province for wheat crop for 2004-05 Rabi season.
Indus River System Authority (Irsa) has already informed the government that only 19.680 million-acre-feet (MAF) water, 48 percent less than last year, would be available.
In the wake of Irsa's estimates, it will be difficult for the government to achieve wheat production target set at 20.15 million tonnes for the next season.
Under the said agreement, according to the sources, an international and three national consultants would be hired for a period of nine months.
These consultants would be responsible for guiding the government and suggesting measures on how to utilise available water in the province to get better results, sources added.