The government of Punjab has launched a mega project "Punjab Irrigated-Agriculture Productivity Improvement Project (PIPIP) of worth Rs 36 billon to bring revolutionary change in irrigation sector with an aim of crop per drop. This was stated during a project briefing session to representatives of World Bank, which is a co-sponsor of the project, farmers and technical experts here in committee room of Agriculture House Lahore.
The irrigated agriculture is the lifeline of Pakistan`s economy, which is contributing 90 per cent of total agricultural output (over 21 per cent in GDP). Over 70 per cent cropped area of Indus food machine is situated in Punjab producing about 80 per cent cotton, 70 per cent wheat, about 60 per cent sugarcane and 50 per cent rice out of total production of these crops in Pakistan.
The availability of water for agriculture sector is becoming a challenge as more than 40 per cent of canal water is lost due to poor condition of tertiary conveyance system and to cope the challenge of water scarcity in agriculture sector government of Punjab with co-sponsorships of World Bank has launched mega project.
The project will cover the entire Punjab province over a period of 6 years. Drip and sprinkler irrigated system will be installed on 120,000 acres with a cost of Rs 13716.84 million, 3,000 Laser units will be provided to farmers on subsidised rates the cost of Rs 4,800 million. Rs 225,000 will be provided to each farmer to purchase the Laser unit.
The rehabilitation and up-gradation of existing tertiary system will cost Rs 12361.566 million to enhance water conveyance efficiency. PIPIP will support improvement of 5500 unimproved canal irrigated water courses at an estimated cost of Rs 9767.12 million. 1500 improved water courses during the last 35 years, which need to be improved again with the cost of Rs 1625.20 million. 2000 new irrigating schemes at the cost of Rs 969.25 million will be completed during this project.
This project will identify, evaluate and promote modern irrigation technologies through research, awareness creation and demonstration at farmer field level. Modern technologies like GIS, RS, and satellite will be used for monitoring of this project. Three regional projects co-ordination units will be established at Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi to provide technical support, capacity building and training to all stakeholders of the project at a cost of Rs 4352.29 million.
Mian Khalid, Director EIA, Chaudhry Irshad Ahmad, Director Head Quarter, Dr Maqsood Ahmad, Project Director PRB, Malik Muhammad Ikram, Project Director HEIS, Umer Khalid, Environmental Expert (World Bank), farmers and members of civil society also participated in the project briefing.