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Modern technologies suggested to save
irrigation water
ISLAMABAD (April 27
2004): Around 40 to 50 percent water used for
irrigation through conventional means could be
saved by adopting modern technologies and methods.
Federal Minister for Food & Agriculture and
Livestock, Yar Muhammad Rind stated this while
addressing the D-8 countries seminar on 'Water
Conservation and Drip Irrigation' here on Monday.
Since Pakistan belongs to arid and semi-arid
region, which faces frequent droughts due to
insufficient rains, therefore, management and
judicious water distribution among the federating
units is need of the hour, he said.
Rind said that present government is fully
cognizant of the water shortage and its judicious
use, adding President Musharraf has directed to
explore avenues of new dams along with de-siltation
of the existing irrigation system to reduce the
water losses.
Minister for food further said that required funds
have been made available for renovation and lining
of the distributaries and watercourses to ensure
the optimal use of irrigation water.
The government has introduced latest technologies
of land leveling by laser application, he said
adding, drip irrigation as well as sprinkle
irrigation is being adopted with the cooperation
of industry.
He said that this requires heavy outlays and the
farmers, whose affordability is at lowest ebb,
need subsidies for utilisation of these
technologies particularly in areas where the water
resources are dwindling.
Speaking on the occasion Director General Federal
Water Management Cell, Engr. A Karim Chaudhry said
that increase in population, improved standard of
living, urbanisation and industrial growth have
led to a heightened demand for water in the D-8
countries.
He urged the D-8 countries to realise the
seriousness of the issue and conserve maximum
water for the betterment of agriculture sector and
meeting public demand and added that the seminar
would help formulate strategies and plans for
effective implementation of programmes of water
conservation in the D-8 states.
The participants of the seminar will deliberate
upon the water resource conservation technologies
in agriculture, which mainly include watercourses
lining, precision land leveling, zero tillage bed
and furrow irrigation and drip irrigation.
The experts of various disciplines of water
resources, management and conservation and
representatives of the private sector are
participating in the seminar to discuss the
current availability of water resources and
constraints.
The outcome of this seminar would be set of
recommendation in the form of framework for
action.
Courtesy Business Recorder
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Pakissan.com; Advisory Point
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