Lahore: The Punjab Agriculture Department (PAD) plans to build small dams under the Punjab Irrigated Agriculture Productivity Improvement Project (PIPIP), a news source reported. The civic body will level 150,000 acres of land for this purpose. The areas targeted under this project include Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Chakwal, and several other regions.
Special Secretary (Marketing) Ehsan Bhutta provided details on this plan while chairing a meeting held to review the progress of PIPIP. The Punjab government, via its collaboration with the World Bank. is carrying out this project, worth PKR 67 billion.
The plan for small dams will improve water availability for agriculture in the province. PIPIP itself is geared towards enhancing the supply of irrigation water through efficient conveyance, and its effective usage at the farm level. The project will also help in the cultivation of more profitable crops. For this purpose, the High Efficiency Irrigation System (HEIS) is being utilised.
PIPIP will strengthen private sector services delivery, and aid in the capacity-building of stake holders for better management of irrigation water.
Meanwhile, PAD is supporting farmers in installing drip/sprinkler irrigation systems, and levelling land by using laser-land levellers. They are also being aided in their restorative efforts concerned with barren lands, tunnel farming, pavement of water courses, and solar panel installations for tube-wells. PAD is offering subsidies to farmers for working on these projects. About 60% subsidy is available to the growers for the installation of drip irrigation systems in their land.
The regional managers attending the meeting have been directed to ensure achievement of all goals set under PIPIP.
