MAJOR ACTIVITIES

Organization Of Water Users Associations (WUAs)

Water Users Associations are organized and registered on every watercourse taken up for renovation under the On Farm Water Management and Water Users Association Ordinance [Act]-1981. These WUAs are representative bodies of the water users, and participate in all major improvement activities of the program. The associations arrange and provide labor for watercourse renovation, settle all disputes, manage distribution of work, make arrangements for alternate watercourse during construction, maintain proper record of materials received and utilized, and arrange periodic cleaning, maintenance and repair of the watercourse after its construction.
In total nearly 33,000 WUAs have been organized and registered under On Farm Water Management & Water Users Association Ordinance [Act] 1981 since inception of OFWM Program in the Punjab.

Watercourse Improvement through Community Participation

Objective of improving conveyance efficiency in tertiary irrigation system is being achieved by improvement/rehabilitation of already existing watercourses in the province through cost sharing program wherein, government provides a portion (70 - 80%) of cost of construction material and beneficiary farmers contribute its remaining cost up front in addition to all skilled and un-skilled labour. In this way, farmers’ over all contribution comes to about 60%. So far, over 27,000 watercourses involving about 125,000 kilometers of total length have been remodelled and reconstructed according to engineering design, since the inception of the project. This includes more than 21,000 kilometers of lining and installation of about one million water control structures. Different impact studies have indicated significant reduction in water losses with the implementation of these activities.
A large number of watercourses in the province are still un-improved, which are a source of colossal irrigation water loss and a major constraint in achieving potential agricultural productivity.

LASER Land Leveling

Studies have indicated that a significant (20 to 25 %) amount of irrigation water is lost during its application due to poor farm designing and uneven fields. It has been found that the farmers keep on applying water until the highest point in a field is covered. This leads to over-irrigation of low-lying areas and under-irrigation of higher spots that results in uneven supply of all nutrients to the plants besides accumulation of salts in such areas. The fields not properly leveled, cause wastage of land, low irrigation efficiencies, and ultimate result is substantially lesser yields than the potential .Precision Land leveling (PLL) consists of grading and planning land to a smooth level or no slope to facilitate efficient irrigation. Modern method of carrying out PLL is by using LASER equipment that helps in achieving requisite degree of precision at lesser cost and effort. LASER land leveling equipment is provided to the farmers on nominal rental charges i.e. Rs 150 to 200 per hour.

An area of about 400,000 acres has been precisely leveled in the Punjab since inception of OFWM program that includes over 113,000 acres leveled with LASER technology.

Promotion of Resource Conservation Technologies

In order to make efficient use of land, water, energy, human resources etc., OFWM wing of Agriculture Department is promoting various Resource Conservation techniques. Zero-Tillage technology is being introduced for sowing wheat after rice harvest without ploughing the land. Use of Furrow Bed shapers is being demonstrated in cotton growing areas to grow cotton with Furrow and Bed Irrigation System for proper application of irrigation water. Mechanical transplanting of rice is being tried with transplanters modified in Pakistan. Presently, the later two technologies are at experimental stage and results attained so far are quite encouraging.
Resource Conservation technologies are gaining popularity amongst farming community. Wheat area sown with zero tillage technology has increased from 50 acres during 1996-97 to 469,000 acres in 2002-03. Sowing wheat area through Bed Planting was demonstrated on 135 acres in 1999-2000 and on 3,500 acres in 2001-02. Moreover, cotton has been sown on about 200,000 acres using Bed and Furrow Irrigation System.

Demonstration Centres

Demonstration Centres of 2 to 3 acres are established on each renovated watercourse with the objective to disseminate ways and means to translate water savings accrued from on-farm improvements into increased agricultural production. These centres demonstrate a full range of water management practices and irrigation agronomic techniques. OFWM staff provide technical assistance for the planning and design of the water management improvements and 50% cost of precision land leveling for establishing these centres. In addition, agricultural inputs and pipe nakkas, syphon tubes required to demonstrate value of good water management and irrigation agronomic practices are also provided as incentive for establishment of the Demonstration Centers.A total of about 20,000 Demonstration Centers have been established throughout the Punjab since inception of OFWM program.

On-Farm Drainage

Excess soil moisture in soil root zone impairs the soil aeration, thereby causing hindrance in root development and uptake capacity for water and nutrients of most plants. Surface drainage at the farm level provides ways and means to the farmers to get rid of excess surface runoff from low lying fields into the main drainage system. The work is accomplished by organizing the Drainage Beneficiary Groups (DBGs) to help in carrying out the physical work on cost sharing basis, wherein farmers contribute by donating land, dispersing excavated materials, and constructing small field channels. As such, this cost sharing arrangements result in 50:50 partnership. In addition, beneficiaries are also responsible for post improvement maintenance / cleaning of the on-farm drains.
So far, 30 on-farm surface drainage schemes, covering catchment area of approximately 50,000 acres, have been constructed in the Punjab under three different projects.

Water Storage Tanks

The available water sources (tubewells and perennial streams) in mountainous and barani areas often have small discharges and direct application of these low flows results in higher conveyance losses. Water storage tanks are constructed in these areas to conserve water by increasing the volumetric flow through its intermittent and timely release. Water from these storage tanks is conveyed to the point of use either through lined watercourses or through small diameter pipes. New barren lands can be brought under cultivation due to ensured supply of water. These tanks are constructed on cost sharing basis consistent with the provisions for watercourse improvement.A total of 156 Water Storage Tanks have been constructed in barani areas of the province under different OFWM projects.

Micro-Irrigation Schemes (Sprinkler/Drip)

In barani areas, water being the most scarce source demands that it must be used most judiciously for crop production without wasting a single drop. In most of these tracts, the land is undulating and gravity flow irrigation from tubewells and other sources is not possible, while at other locations, where soil is sandy, gravity irrigation results in significant water wastage due to seepage. At such locations, higher efficiency irrigation systems like drip/trickle, portable single gun units or multi sprinklers, hand moved systems etc. can be used for raising high value crops.
To demonstrate value of good Water Management in barani areas, 21 micro irrigation schemes have been installed under different OFWM projects on cost sharing basis, wherein farmers have contributed 30% of equipment cost.

Human Resource Development

Existing curricula of the universities / colleges of agriculture and engineering do not cover much of OFWM activities such as watercourse design & improvement techniques, land forming for irrigated agriculture, farm level irrigation practices, organization of WUAs etc. Training of field staff and beneficiary farmers in these disciplines is, accordingly, considered highly essential.

A total of 1,005,000 personnel including OFWM staff, farmers and professional/sub-professionals of allied departments have been imparted training in improved on farm water management techniques / technologies.