FAISALABAD – Experts speaking at a policy dialogue held at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad on Wednesday warned that significant volumes of water are being lost during conveyance from canals to agricultural fields, urging immediate corrective measures to address the crisis. The policy dialogue on “Climate-Smart and Resilient Water Management at Farm Level” was organized by the Agricultural Policy, Law and Governance Centre in collaboration with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, CSIRO Australia and the Punjab Higher Education Commission through its Centre of Excellence for Public Policy and Economic Development.
Key Findings Presented at the Dialogue
Addressing the seminar, Director Agricultural Policy Professor Dr M Asif Kamran, Dr. Mobin-ud-Din Ahmad from CSIRO Australia, Dr. Asif from SACAN Services, Engr. Mushtaq Ahmad Gill from SACAN Services, Engr. Kashif Manzoor from PCRWR, Dean Faculty of Agriculture Prof. Dr. Ghulam Murtaza, Director Institute of Agricultural Extension Education and Rural Development Prof. Dr. Babar Shahbaz, Dr. Naeem Siddique, along with other experts, cautioned that Pakistan loses approximately 50 million acre-feet of water annually due to inefficient irrigation practices. They noted that this amount of water is equivalent to nearly five Tarbela Dam reservoirs or seven Mangla Dam reservoirs, highlighting the severity of the crisis.
Focus on Farm-Level Solutions
Experts emphasized that national discussions on water issues are often focused on large-scale infrastructure projects, while the real challenge lies at the farm level, where irrigation efficiency remains around 50 percent. They stressed that addressing Pakistan’s water challenges requires more than infrastructure development alone. Instead, it demands targeted interventions at the farm level, climate-smart agriculture, efficient pricing mechanisms, sustainable groundwater management, and evidence-based policymaking. A large number of faculty members, researchers, and students from various disciplines attended the seminar.
