Advisor to Chief Minister for Food and Agriculture, Murtaza Khan Jatoi said that some 4,000 watercourses in Sindh will be lined at a cost of Rs 4.8 billion under the On-Farm Water Management project. Jatoi has directed his department to gear up work on the project started with the World Bank co-operation. He was chairing the meeting of Agriculture Engineering department and On-farm water management project here on Thursday.

The Advisor was informed that, besides lining of these 4,000 watercourses, precised laser land levelling would also be carried out on an area of 40,000 acres as part of step to meet the water shortage.

Murtaza Jatoi said that in order to meet irrigation water shortage, it is imperative for the growers to equip themselves with modern agriculture technology and adopt methods for the efficient use of water for crop cultivation.

He pointed out that water shortage can be overcome with the use of modern technologies like zero tillage drip and sprinkle systems and also such crops can be cultivated which may require minimum use of water.

He directed the department to launch a large-scale campaign whereby the farmers could be educated as to how a better and increased profit be earned despite the use of less water.

The Advisor told them to remain in close liaison with the farmers and apprise them about benefits of lining of watercourses so that unnecessary wastage of water could be controlled.

He said, though better land levelling, also the shortage of water can be overcome.

The meeting was informed that under the project, 100 farmers organisations will be set up.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2005