High-efficiency irrigation system to start from February

Water will be saved and farm productivity will be increased.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Food and Agriculture Minister Nazar Mohammad Gondal has said that a high-efficiency irrigation system would kick off from next month.

“The government is committed to implementing the much-needed modern irrigation system to enhance agricultural productivity and save water in the face of depleting water resources,” he said. He was presiding over a meeting on a project titled “Water conservation and productivity enhancement through high-efficiency irrigation system” at the ministry.

Gondal said the delay in implementation could only be offset when the project is started next month in all provinces simultaneously. He said water is a national issue and the government will help farmers in the installation of modern irrigation systems for conserving water and enhancing farm output. “All the provinces are sensitised to the importance of the issue and have agreed to start work as quickly as possible,” said the minister.

Gondal said that under a revised plan, the provinces are empowered to identify the beneficiaries and companies and supervise and implement the project themselves. Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (Parc), he said, will be given the task of registering the service-providing companies and monitoring of the work done.

“Provinces can ask for our help if and when required. Our single point agenda is to make it happen soon,” added the minister.

He said that there was a complete consensus among all stakeholders on the revised implementation plan owing to its growing popularity and demand from the farming community.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th,  2011.