"Pakistan has fertile land and suitable climate for agriculture, but there is a need to improve agricultural practices, especially age-old irrigation methods, by promoting mechanization, which will help in lowering water consumption, labour cost and time spent on sowing and irrigation," said Louis Lategan, farm manager of Nishat Agriculture Farming (Pvt) Limited.
While talking to Business Recorder, he said, "We need to focus on the biggest spender in agriculture and that is irrigation. The water we save by using efficient irrigation methods can be used by hundreds of other farmers and sectors."
Louis Lategan, originally from South Africa, had the vast experience working in different water-scarce countries like Sudan and Ghana for the promotion of modern agriculture, is now attached with Nishat Agriculture Farming, a project of Nishat Group.
He is supervising the pivot system being used at two separate farms of Nishat Group, which according to him is the best irrigation method against flood watering. Nishat group leader living to its reputation has brought the best agricultural machinery and best agricultural practices to get more out of the land with fewer expenses and less burden on natural resources like water, he added.
"We have achieved a saving of 65 percent water because of uniform use of water in pivot system against traditional flood watering, while yield is 25 per cent more and is producing good quality fodder (with higher crude protein) under this system," Louis told a select group of reporters during their a recent visit to NAFL farms.
He said that two crops are being grown on NAFL farms ie, Alfalfa and Rhodes grass. In Alfalfa NAFL has achieved 26-29 percent crude protein under pivot system in these crops against 17-18 percent which is achieved under the flood system. While the same treatment shows that in Rhodes grass, 12-14 percent crude protein is achieved in pivot while only 5-7 percent under traditional flooding system. It also helps in low consumption of electricity (65% less), precision application of inputs, time and labour savings, etc.
When asked about drip irrigation system, he said that water saving is more in drip irrigation system but with a drip system, you must apply acid and periodically chlorinate the drip line to dissolve mineral concentration that can plug emitters. The above-ground sprinklers on a pivot are visible at all times, so plugging and leakage are not a problem. An average nozzle on a pivot is 16 times larger than a drip emitter. Subsurface drip systems cannot stimulate seed germination if the drip tape is placed below the root zone. Sprinkler heads on a pivot apply water similar to the effect you get from rain, causing seeds to germinate. In fact, pivots can easily be fitted with a dual sprinkler package - one for germination and one for irrigation.
Talking about time-saving, he said that 121 acres of land can be irrigated in just eight hours by pivot system. Traditionally it takes four hours to irrigate one acre in a flood irrigation system. He also said that pivot system also includes soil moisture sensor-meters which inform about the water requirements at any place in the farm and also generates weather forecasts, so water can be saved in case of rainfall which will irrigate the land. He said it is an efficient system both for dry land or sandy soils while having minimum risk of crop failure as it saves both from low irrigation or excessive watering.
He said that at present land size in NAFL project is 1200 acres, all being irrigated through pivot system while more land is being explored. He disclosed that the pivot irrigation system installed on their farm can also be accessed online through a mobile app to perform various functions.
Keeping in view the success of NAFL farms, the government should focus on extending subsidy on installing and promoting pivot systems instead of encouraging drip irrigation, because expenditure in pivot systems are higher initially. However, once installed, its infrastructure lasts longer, he added.
He also disclosed that extensive training was imparted to local labour while some of those were trained in Dubai by the firm which installed the pivot system in Pakistan. Students of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) are provided opportunities for the internship at Nishat's Agriculture Farms, University trips also come to the farm to learn new agriculture-related techniques and processes in addition to internees, who are also trained from other universities too.
Journalists were also taken to the farm where different machines including pivot system irrigating Alfalfa crops, machines cutting crops and making hay bundles, seed planters etc. Hustam Jalal, General Manager Operations Nishat Dairy also told visitors that the Nishat Group is also exporting Rhode Grass Hay.