Water is the most critical input for sustained agricultural productivity, economic development and environmental protection.
This was stated by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) Mr. Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan at here while addressing in the inaugural session of two day international workshop and meeting on Watershed Rehabilitation and Irrigation Improvement in Pakistan.
He said that higher water productivity with efficient use is vital for the development of sustainable agriculture, which only can lead to poverty alleviation through increased agricultural productivity and profitability, enhanced food security and large-scale employment generation.
The meeting and workshop was organized by Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) in collaboration with ICARDA, USDA and other national organizations.
Bosan said availability of water in the wake of growing population and urbanization has become one of the largest constraints in the development of the country to meet its agricultural, domestic as well as industrial requirements.
Minister said the gap between water demand and supply is increasing day by day. Based on current population growth rate, it is estimated that there would be about 50% shortage of water by 2025. Inspite of huge gap between water demand and supply, the over all irrigation efficiency in the country is generally less than 40 percent.
He said the increasing in population and its increasing food requirements lead us to think and act differently. The traditional operational procedures and in-efficient irrigation methods need to be revised and updated for increasing our productivity from the same piece of land and available water.
He said the Present Government has thus focused on agricultural growth by introducing farmer friendly policies, enhancing farm profitability and ensuring competitiveness amongst various food crops. The Government aims at providing food at affordable prices which is a pre-requisite for fighting malnutrition.
He said he is delighted to know that as a result of United States Government’s Afganistan-Pakistan-US Trilateral initiative taken during 2009, United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) sponsored the project on watershed rehabilitation and irrigation improvement in Pakistan to be completed in three years with a total cost of US$ 2.83 million. The ICARDA is implementing the project in collaboration with the national partners to disseminate promising land and water management technologies to the farmers to help improve land, water and crop productivity. He appreciated the efforts made by PARC, USDA, ICARD and other partner institutions under this programme.
Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Chairman Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad said the efforts of agricultural scientists and experts under this programme will help Pakistani farmers to improve their irrigation efficiency, crop productivity and farm income, reduce soil erosion and cost of production. He said the programme will also help Afghanistan and Pakistan to share their experience for the better of communities of both the countries.
Agriculture Counselor US Embassy in Pakistan Mr. Clay Hamilton and Dr. Otto Bonzalez (USDA) also highlighted the various aspect of this programme and ensured their full support for this programme.
On this occasion, Dr. Muhammad Ashraf presented project overview and key achievements made under this programme.
This was stated by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) Mr. Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan at here while addressing in the inaugural session of two day international workshop and meeting on Watershed Rehabilitation and Irrigation Improvement in Pakistan.
He said that higher water productivity with efficient use is vital for the development of sustainable agriculture, which only can lead to poverty alleviation through increased agricultural productivity and profitability, enhanced food security and large-scale employment generation.
The meeting and workshop was organized by Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) in collaboration with ICARDA, USDA and other national organizations.
Bosan said availability of water in the wake of growing population and urbanization has become one of the largest constraints in the development of the country to meet its agricultural, domestic as well as industrial requirements.
Minister said the gap between water demand and supply is increasing day by day. Based on current population growth rate, it is estimated that there would be about 50% shortage of water by 2025. Inspite of huge gap between water demand and supply, the over all irrigation efficiency in the country is generally less than 40 percent.
He said the increasing in population and its increasing food requirements lead us to think and act differently. The traditional operational procedures and in-efficient irrigation methods need to be revised and updated for increasing our productivity from the same piece of land and available water.
He said the Present Government has thus focused on agricultural growth by introducing farmer friendly policies, enhancing farm profitability and ensuring competitiveness amongst various food crops. The Government aims at providing food at affordable prices which is a pre-requisite for fighting malnutrition.
He said he is delighted to know that as a result of United States Government’s Afganistan-Pakistan-US Trilateral initiative taken during 2009, United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) sponsored the project on watershed rehabilitation and irrigation improvement in Pakistan to be completed in three years with a total cost of US$ 2.83 million. The ICARDA is implementing the project in collaboration with the national partners to disseminate promising land and water management technologies to the farmers to help improve land, water and crop productivity. He appreciated the efforts made by PARC, USDA, ICARD and other partner institutions under this programme.
Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Chairman Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad said the efforts of agricultural scientists and experts under this programme will help Pakistani farmers to improve their irrigation efficiency, crop productivity and farm income, reduce soil erosion and cost of production. He said the programme will also help Afghanistan and Pakistan to share their experience for the better of communities of both the countries.
Agriculture Counselor US Embassy in Pakistan Mr. Clay Hamilton and Dr. Otto Bonzalez (USDA) also highlighted the various aspect of this programme and ensured their full support for this programme.
On this occasion, Dr. Muhammad Ashraf presented project overview and key achievements made under this programme.
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