INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF WATER IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR OF PAKISTAN DUE TO DEPLETING WATER RESERVOIRS AND REDUNDANT IRRIGATION SYSTEM

Abstract

Present study aim is to reveal current situation of water availability for agricultural productivity through factors responsible for water depletion and improper use of irrigation water. The paper discuses major problems identify future scenario and suggests making policies implementation to increase agricultural productivity in Pakistan. In Pakistan, agricultural productivity decreases due to the facts that the available natural water resources get depleted due to pollution, silting in reservoirs, leaching, salinity etc leads to water scarcity. It’s a world known fact that Pakistan is an agricultural country; however, the irrigation traditional methods used here are a major reason to decrease the yield per drop. Moreover, certain considerations like barriers to technical adaptation, farming system practices for enhancing water productivity, integrated land and water management, water logging and reclaiming irrigated lands needs to be implemented to fulfill the sufficient water supply for agricultural lands. Protection of water sources, wastewater reuse, low-cost water supply and treatment systems, impacts of farming practices, climate change effects and efficiency of water transport and distribution systems are the key points needs to execute to overcome the water scarcity problem for agriculture sector. Water governance, technology transfer and knowledge sharing are mandatory for the sustainable agricultural development.