Mubarak Baloch
Pakistan has agro-based national economy as agriculture has a major contribution in its GDP and employs bulk of the labour force. Besides, there is a large number of people engaged in industrial sector which is mainly fed by agriculture like cotton ginning factories, sugar mills, textile sector etc. Rearing livestock for various reasons like producing meat, wool or hide etc is also depending on agriculture mainly for fodder and feed. Procurement and import of capital tools used in agronomic practices also remain in boom for obvious reasons. Everything is intimately connected and is interdependent.
Alas! government could have extended due attention to agriculture. The poor amount of government’s attention towards this sector is evident from its recent abortive attempt to take back a chunk of land used by National Agriculture Research Centre for research related experiments. Government wanted to convert it into a residential colony. This is simply lamentable. Countries with agri-economy are spending much to promote research in agriculture whereas in Pakistan government is converting the land earmarked for research oriented farming into a residential colony. In view of the ever increasing yawning mouth of population, there is need to invest in agriculture research programmes with an aim to get maximum yield per acre. As a researcher said, “You cannot increase the size of land but must maximize the yield per acre”.
Agriculture without proper irrigation is impossible. Pakistan has an efficient canal system formally developed during the British era. However, after partition following Indus Water Treaty (1960) brokered by World Bank between Pakistan and India three eastern rivers went to India namely Sutlej, Beas and Ravi though with some conditions to be complied with whereas Pakistan was given three western rivers namely Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.
Irrespective of the ‘dos and don’ts’ to be followed India started machinations against Pakistan’s share of water. It has constructed several
hydro-projects in contravention of provisions given in Indus Water Treaty. This has been creating problems for Pakistan. On the other hand, the fast increasing population of the country has brought agriculture sector under pressure to meet various domestic demands. In the face of uneven supply of irrigation water caused by India’s aggressive fiddling and inefficient use of water by farmers the situation is getting worse. From river up to the farms there are canals, water courses and other methods involved to deliver water to the farms. En route to farm water losses do occur but in Pakistan such losses are huge.
Due to unlined canals seepage takes place and annual loss amounts to around 18.3 maf (Million Acre Feet) and that is equivalent to almost two Tarbela reservoirs and more than two Kalabagh reservoirs. On the other hand, losses reported in water courses stand to around 7.5 maf annually. Again, it is almost equal to one Tarbela reservoir. Besides, there is tendency in the farmers to over-irrigate farms thereby 12.1 maf is wasted annually. Water losses from canal to farm land stand around 4.6 times more than reservoirs capacity of Kalabagh dam.
Despite robust irrigation system having sixteen barrages, two
head-works, twelve interlink canals, over one hundred thousand water courses with 1.6 million km length Pakistan is becoming water starved country as around 40 maf average escapage of water is reported from Kotri downstream to the sea.
Besides, the country is also facing electricity (energy) crisis with serious adverse impact on the industry and domestic consumption. Electricity shortfall disturbs industrial wheel and closure of such units generates job loss and subsequently disappointment further adds to peoples’ woes. There is a serious need to take steps help reduce water losses, rationalize irrigation use including conveying required water to Kotri downstream to check sea-erosion and enhance electricity generation.
All the canals may be lined including water courses. Both irrigation and agriculture engineering division should be entrusted with the responsibility to undertake this exercise. Besides, farmers may be educated by the agriculture extension department about the loss of water due to over irrigation of agriculture field. It is a proven fact that over-irrigated farms don’t give expected yield and this practice also is against the universal agronomic practices. There is genuine need to allow 5000 cusecs water daily to Kotri down-stream to maintain ecological balance, soil fertility and saving arable land from sea-erosion. By this yardstick there will be the need of 8.7 maf to be released annually to downstream. Of 40 maf water entering sea 8.7 maf is the actual requirement to check sea water-erosion and rest 31.3 maf water is available for being stored in dams/reservoirs so that hydal electricity is generated and water so stored is used for irrigation purpose as and when required. Controversy over construction of Kalabagh dam has now taken political hue hamstringing this important project. Decreasing volume of water and receding acqufiers foreboding ill omen ahead. Therefore, an integrated approach may be adopted. On-farm water losses may be reduced, water seepage may be controlled and water going into the sea over and above what is essential to go may be stored in dams. Besides, flood water may also be contained and harnessed. There is absence of trust among the federating units particularly Sindh being tail-ender. Telemetry anomalies, Chashma-Jhelum link canal and Thal canal confusions may be addressed to the satisfaction of fedeterating units raising objections. This will help develop consensus and bridge the trust deficit so that optimum use of irrigation water is ensured and hydal-power is generated to meet power crisis.
