Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan Thursday said that shortage of water for agricultural needs could be addressed by efficient management of existing water resources and through proper utilization of annually wasted water.
The Minister said this while chairing a meeting to discuss project proposals for National Program for Improvement of Watercourses in Pakistan (NPIW-Phase-II) and National Program for Development of Rodkohi Irrigation System, said a press release here.
The meeting was attended, among others, by representatives of Planning & Development Departments and Agriculture Departments of all the provinces as well as by members of Agriculture Departments and Planning & Development Departments of AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan.
It may be noted that a presentation on the project concepts was given to Federal Minister in October 2013 wherein Federal Minister directed quarters concerned to formulate project concept papers and then circulate it to provinces for seeking their views before formulation and finalization of national level umbrella projects.
The project concept proposals were prepared by Federal Water Management Cell (FWMC) and circulated.
The aim of proposed project of NPIW-Phase-II is to minimize conveyance losses, reduction in water logging and salinity and to increase farm productivity by efficient utilization of irrigation water through improvement of the watercourses whereas the objective of the other project is to harvest hill torrents to bring culturable wastelands under cultivation and to increase cropping intensity through improved water availability in water scarce areas.
During the course of meeting, the Minister observed that more area can be brought under cultivation to ensure future food security in the country through effective utilization of water and by harnessing the rainwater potential.
The participants of the meeting deliberated on the project concept proposals and it was agreed that consultation on the said projects will continue until its final formulation.