Four pilot sites are being established for research and demonstration of high efficient irrigation systems and crop management in Pothwar Region under "Integrated Land and Water Management Studies for Agriculture Development in Pothwar Region".
Sources in Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) said that improved land and water management activities being carried out under the project would help improve crop production inter-alia resulting in better socio-economic conditions.
The main objective of the project is to alleviate poverty by enhancing agriculture productivity through integrated land and water management activities in Pothwar.
In this regard, sources mentioned that the four research and dissemination studies will be undertaken including, Assessment of water resources potential in Pothwar Region for sustainable management of water resources; Evaluation of soil and water conservation activities for sediment control and land management for agriculture in Pothwar; Evaluation and dissemination of integrated land and water management activities by establishing a Research and Demonstration Centre in Pothwar; and Demonstration of efficient land and water management techniques to the farmers by establishing pilot sites at farmers' fields with their participation.
PCRWR sources explained that the testing and optimisation of local trickle and sprinkler irrigation systems would guide local industry to improve quality as well as curtail cost. The project activities would help improve land and water utilisation by farmers for increased crop production and ultimate farm income by dissemination of information and undertaking research at field research station/farmers lands as pilot sites.
The sources said that water resources assessment in Pothwar region is underway by collecting primary and secondary data on various aspects of water and agriculture in all basins of Pothwar. Sediment sampling has been started in small basins of Pothwar region. Establishment of Integrated Land and Water Research and Demonstration Station are in progress.
They said another project "Participatory National Ingenerated Water Management Programme" is underway which is of research in nature and its findings will help the farming community to improve their agricultural productivity by judicious use of scarce irrigation water. Under this programme, PCRWR have selected and developed 11 pilot sites in the country for execution of water conservation technologies including watercourse improvement, construction of check structures and mini dams, dug wells, lift, sprinkler and drip irrigation systems, and laser land levelling.