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Weather's impact on water
By Zafar Samdani
Weather was harsh in Pakistan for some years and created
protracted drought in many parts of the country. But nature
relented this year with timely rains that have been a boon
for crops and enhanced availability of water in the country.
 Conditions
were favourable to the extent that Indus River System
Authority (IRSA), usually hard put to the conflicting ends,
managed to distribute water among provinces without
confronting high demands, strong objections and far apart
views containing no room for compromise by any province.
There is general agreement between private sector experts,
farmers and government officials that rains have been a
blessing for standing crops though the later seem to be
going overboard with visions of a bumper wheat harvest.
No one would grudge them if the assessment proves correct
and damage from hailstorms and high velocity winds turns out
to be minimum and whatever the harm, it is offset by late
sowing in cotton and cane fields. But it is too early to
start counting grains. This is also unwise approach as
evaluations have an impact on the market that is invariably
out to exploit farmers and take them for a ride. This
amounts to opening the doors for speculating sharks that
have no sympathy for tillers of the land.
The chances of damage and benefit to the crop evening it out
seem fair, the two should cancel out each other with the
result that the target should be met. That would be splendid
and bail out the country from dependence on import of wheat,
something most regrettable and ignominious for an
agricultural country.
However, not merely the benefit to the Rabi crop, the rains
have produced enough water to satisfy agriculturists during
Kharif to ensure optimum produce in the next season.
Agriculture should receive a general boost in the Kharif
season.
That is the reason why IRSA, mostly caught between hard
position of provinces and their excessive sounding bills of
irrigation requirements that sounded unfair in the context
of available water, has succeeded in getting its water
distribution arrangements accepted without a murmur from any
federating unit.
The country would have 121.9 Million Acre Feet (MAF) water
available during Kharif while the requirements, according to
IRSA, stand at 74 MAF. This is considerably more than
surplus quantity of water the country has known for some
years.
This is a positive development for the sector. The farmers
should be happy; the manager's sigh of relief can be heard
from a distance. This makes for an occasion to be grateful
to nature and to be pleased with the turn of events. But the
reprieve should also be seen as time for organizing things
on, of course within the constraints that would still be
there in prolonged dry weather, to organise water
distribution on firm, consistent and equitable footing.
A high percentage of the surplus water would remain
unutilized and would flow into the sea for lack of storage
reservoirs. Building them is a controversial and contentious
issue.
Gross mishandling of issue by the authorities is adding to
divisiveness, the rhetoric of the officials seemingly aimed
at bridging distances is only leading to widening gaps and
deepening mistrust.
A certain quantity of water must be directed into the sea to
counter intrusion in Sindh but a substantial percentage
going unused and unpreserved is serious waste of nature's
bounty. These issues are, however, outside the purview of
IRSA.
The governments of NWFP and Punjab missed a major
opportunity to store rainwater. Both governments have plans
for building storages in rain fed areas and, from what one
knows, funding is currently not a great constraint.
That the administrations could not be there in time is
unfortunate and as in the past lip service remains the order
of the day more than practical work. They must undertake
construction of small dams to be in a position to take
advantage of the next sympathetic turn of nature.
The other possibility currently explored by the government
with the massive financial outlay of about Rs66 billion is
through lining of watercourses is a long drawn project. Work
on the project is reportedly in progress in earnest.
Its importance cannot be minimized but, considering the
country's resources and news, it is not a complete and
comprehensive solution. It would make contribution but the
impact would be limited.
Pakistan's agriculture and the country's expectations cannot
be met merely by conservation efforts. They can lend support
to plans for increasing water resources marginally rather
than contributing significantly towards resolving them.
Further, an evaluation of the project is indicated in the
international context, particularly with India because
productivity of Pakistani agriculture, particularly that of
Punjab is constantly compared with the Indian province
across the Wagah border.
It is consequently vital to check whether such practices
have been adopted in the lands where produce is higher than
similar acreage in Pakistan. There is every reason for
undertaking this exercise when all other factors are taken
in to account.
What IRSA can do in this period of plenty is embark on an
assessment of needs based on cultivated land across the
country, types of crops sown, quantity of water essential
for properly and fully irrigating them to obtain the best
from the land and ensure a minimum of wastage.
IRSA and provincial governments should coordinate to make an
inventory of needs. A survey along thee lines would help the
sector a great deal because this would promote more
efficient use of limited and dwindling water resources of
Pakistan.
The availability of water suggests that there wouldn't be
much complaint from tail end farmers during Kharif and theft
would not take place because it does not offer any mileage
to these indulging in this nefarious activity. But one can
regrettably trust that the ugly practices would be revived
the moment scarcity returns to the scene.
One hopes that wouldn't happen soon but there is now time
and suitable conditions for protecting rights of small
farmers at the tail end an organized basis and enabling them
to produce more for themselves as well as for the country.
IRSA has little to do with this issue, which is entirely the
domain of provincial administrations but the two, IRSA and
provinces can pool resources to undertake a survey of water
needs and interest of tail end farmers. This would be
harnessing the windfall from nature to a productive end.
Courtesy: The DAWN
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