Punjab agriculture department to help farmers adopt DIS

Adopting drip irrigation system (DIS), farmers can save 60 percent electricity and diesel costs augmenting per acre yield by 100 percent. Punjab agriculture will help farmers to follow this system by providing drip irrigation equipment at subsidized rates and providing 60 percent subsidy on installation of drip irrigation system
Agha Jehanzaib, senior officer of Punjab agriculture department said, "There is 40 percent to 50 percent saving of fertiliser if drip irrigation system is used. Currently, the system is used for small scale cultivation eg 12.5 acre of land. However, other techniques and methods are underway to extend the program for large scale cultivation.
He further said that drip irrigation technology is being provided to farmers by government on subsidized cost with financial assistance from the World Bank. Spokesman of Agriculture Department further says that it is need of time to move towards modern resource conservation technologies such as drip irrigation to cope with the situation of water scarcity in upcoming years.
Government of Punjab is encouraging drip irrigation to overcome scarcity of water. Drip irrigation system is suitable for crop cultivation when irrigation water or rainwater is not enough for conventional farming.
He further said drip irrigation technology, so far, has been adopted by many farmers across Punjab owing to acute shortage of river water and limited rains. Keeping in view its high efficiency in conserving water, increasing per acre yield and reducing cost of cultivation, there is a need to create awareness among farmers about the drip irrigation system.