KARACHI (January 17 2004): Sindh Food and Agriculture Minister Arif Mustafa Jatoi has said that the adoption of drip irrigation system would help in economising on the use of water in arid zones and water shortage areas.

The minister who visited the drip irrigation system installed at a fruit farm at Gadap on Friday said that the time was right to think about introducing drip irrigation system on large scale.

The minister said that the initiative of individual farmers, who at their own levels and with the assistance of private companies such as Engro had gone for innovations, were getting better results.

He said that such farmers were improving quality and quantity of crops such as 'bair', palm and 'pan'.

The minister said that adoption of such irrigation systems that conserve water should be understood properly by the farmers.

"It is not always the flood irrigation that gives result, but controlled use of water proves effective."

He said he was actively thinking on devising ways and means to introduce drip irrigation system and other such methods that would take out farmers from the old fashion irrigation system.

Jatoi talked with the farmers and the officials of Gadap Town assembled at the farm and asked for their views.

He asked the officials of the Food and Agriculture Department to help the local farmers and solve their problems arising out of water shortage, plant diseases, quality seeds and timely help when they were in distress for one reason or the other.

The minister said that farm-to-market roads would be constructed where necessary.

Courtesy Business Recorder