Seminar on “Reimaging Cost Recovery in Pakistan’s Indus Basin Irrigation System”

Pakistan agriculture production may face severe setback in years to come as the threat of water scarcity looms large. The promotion of cost-effective efficient irrigation system and water storage capacity at the farm level can help fight the challenge. It was echoed at the seminar titled “reimaging cost recovery in Pakistan’s Indus Basin Irrigation System” arranged by Institute of Agri and Resource Economics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. The session was chaired by UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan while Dr Andrew Bell, Research Fellow, IFPRI, USA was the guest of honor on the occasion. Dr Andrew Bell said that the Pakistan was having one of the largest gravity-fed irrigation system in the world. He said that the country was suffering from lack of resources and low cost recovery. He said that surface water is more reliable and according to a survey in Punjab, a large number of farmers consider surface water more appropriate. He also coined the idea of developing a scale-able irrigation system with the consent of farming community so that the rational usage of water can be ensured for the irrigation purpose. He also said that pumping of groundwater for irrigation is causing the salinity in the land. UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said it is prerequisite to make efficient use of natural as per modern trend by adopting latest techniques. He said that glaciers were melting drastically due to climate changes and after fifty years, the country would be left with the limited glaciers if tangible steps were not taken. Keeping in view, we have to save the water for the coming generation. He also stressed the need to avoiding the food irrigation. He said excessive pumping of groundwater is also posing the threat in term of groundwater availability. Dean Faculty of Social Sciences Prof Dr Muhammad Iqbal Zafar said per capita water availability was only 1,000 cubic metre In Pakistan, which is raising the question mark on the future agri production. The country has become water scarce country. Institute Director Prof Dr Muhammad Ashfaq said that the country population is increasing with the large pace. We have to use the natural resources rationally in order to provide the better future for the coming generation.