ISLAMABAD: A World Bank-backed flagship agriculture project in Punjab has delivered strong early results, with sharp gains in water productivity, crop diversification and farmers’ incomes, indicating that climate-smart agriculture and efficient irrigation can significantly strengthen Pakistan’s farm sector amid growing water scarcity.
According to the latest World Bank Report, the Punjab Resilient and Inclusive Agriculture Transformation (PRIAT) project remains on track to achieve its development objectives, retaining “Satisfactory” ratings for both progress and implementation while maintaining an overall Moderate risk profile.
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The report states that the project has improved around 6,800 watercourses, benefiting nearly 1.3 million people and enhancing irrigation across 1.5 million acres of agricultural land. Farmers participating in the programme are also being trained in climate-smart farming practices and efficient on-farm water management. Water productivity has increased by 41 percent for wheat and an impressive 71 percent for rice, while equitable water distribution at canal tail ends has improved by 41 percent, addressing a longstanding complaint of downstream farmers. Meanwhile, the area under high-value crops has expanded by 38 percent, and participating farmers are earning 17 percent higher incomes than before the project and compared to non-beneficiaries.
The report further notes that 181 Farmers Entrepreneurs Groups, representing 2,330 farmers, have been established across the mango, citrus, tomato, onion and groundnut value chains to improve quality standards and strengthen links with agribusinesses.
The project’s direct beneficiaries have reached 1.29 million, placing it close to its end-of-project target of 1.33 million beneficiaries by June 2027. Female beneficiaries account for 47 percent of those reached so far.
Performance indicators show the project has already exceeded several end targets. Water availability disparities between head, middle and tail-end farmers have fallen by 41.37 percent, surpassing the final target of 40 percent. Similarly, wheat water productivity has reached 41.3 percent against a target of 15 percent, while rice water productivity has climbed to 71.7 percent, far exceeding the target of 20 percent. High-value crop cultivation has increased by 38.6 percent, outperforming the target of 30 percent.
The project has provided improved irrigation or drainage services across 673,861 hectares, already exceeding its end target of 559,000 hectares. Nearly 586,000 hectares of watercourses have been improved or reconstructed, while 12,955 hectares have been equipped with High-Efficiency Irrigation Systems (HEIS).
In addition, 2,382 irrigation conveyance schemes outside canal command areas have been completed, cropping intensity has risen to 178.5 percent, and yields of major crops have increased by 32.9 percent. Mango orchard productivity has improved by 59 percent, while vegetable yields have increased by 30.1 percent.
The report says 4,533 field workers, private-sector service providers and extension staff have been trained under the project, while 80 percent of beneficiaries expressed satisfaction with its implementation. Financially, the project has also made substantial progress. Of the revised financing envelope of USD 202.29 million, approximately USD 160.89 million, or 79.53 percent, has already been disbursed. The project is scheduled to close on June 30, 2027.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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