New canals on Indus in Punjab to cause water shortage in Sindh: SAB

Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB), an association of farmers, has warned that the construction of new canals fed by the Indus River in Punjab will not only slash share of water for rural Sindh's agricultural land but the metropolis Karachi will also be hit by a crippling shortfall.

A meeting of the board in Hyderabad on Sunday, presided by Mahmood Nawaz Shah, reminded that Karachi drew water from the last barrage on Indus at Kotri, Jamshoro.

The farmers cautioned that the reduced water flows in the river at Kotri barrage would inevitably entail a curtailment of water share for the barrage's all four canals, one of which -- KB Feeder Canal -- supplied water to the metropolis. "The piecemeal initiatives of constructing new canals for which there is no water, will be detrimental to existing life and agriculture in Pakistan," the meeting warned.

The growers underlined the need to realize the issues of the water availability in Pakistan and the existing ageing irrigation network, in addition to assessing drainage and stormwater infrastructure requirements. They pointed out that the provinces are already at loggerheads over water distribution by the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) and that such complaints are repeatedly raised in the Council of Common Interests (CCI).

"It is reflective of the fear that any added infrastructure and added [cultivable] land on river Indus will be a threat to water availability." The SAB strongly recommended upgrade of the irrigation infrastructure, referring to the recent collapse of two gates of the Sukkur barrage.

The farmers cited some irrigation experts who have been saying that the construction of a new barrage as a replacement of Sukkur barrage has been indispensable keeping in view recurrent issues with the 1932 built barrage during the last decade. But the board acknowledged that the construction will be an uphill task and will require immense funding. The agriculturists also pointed out that not only the barrage is ageing but many canals in the province are in the same situation, requiring an overhaul of the head works, structure, gates and reinforcement of the embankments.

The farmers emphasized on the need for the government initiated measures to stop wasteful use of water for irrigation. They said even if 10% reduction is the wasteful use can be brought about, the available water will be sufficient to fill one large dam. "The State needs to make a strategic plan for the provision of energy, technical expertise and financial resources and for the lining of water courses and laser land leveling initiatives."

The growers also referred to the climate change and said new challenges entailed by the climate required plans to restore waterways and to reinforce embankments to mitigate flooding threats.

Income Tax

The SAB reiterated its opposition to levying agriculture income tax, arguing that the growers are already paying a host of direct and indirect taxes. On the other hand, they added, the rising cost of inputs, natural disasters, unstable commodity prices, water unavailability and the financing woes are already affecting the sector unremittingly.

They maintained that the sector is indeed in the want of fresh investments for the purpose of value addition, adoption of new technologies and mechanization. "The understanding that the potential of agriculture income should be to the extent of its contribution to GDP [Gross Domestic Product] is incorrect."

The meeting pointed out that the agricultural GDP growth was 6% in 2023 but as per governments' own calculations farmers received prices which were less than the cost of production. The growers were paid on average about Rs 5,400 per 40 kilogram for cotton against the support price of Rs8,500. Likewise, the sale of wheat fetched between Rs2,600 to Rs3,200 per 40 kg even though the government fixed procurement price was Rs4,000. The farmers said 60% of the agricultural GDP is contributed by the livestock sector in which a majority of the livestock owners have less than a dozen animals. The meeting was attended by Dr Zulfiqar Yousfani, Syed Nadeem Shah, Sindh United Party's President Syed Zain Shah, ex Additional Chief Secretary Ghulam Sarwar Khero, Mohammed Aslam Mari, and other farmers' representatives.