EFFECTS OF IRRIGATION WATER MANAGEMENT ON RURAL FARMING FAMILIES OF DISTRICT FAISALABAD, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Agriculture is an integral component of Pakistan’s economy as sixty-five percent of the population resides in rural areas and their livelihood primarily depends on agriculture. Pakistan has the world contiguous irrigation system. Unfortunately, the farming community is facing severe water shortage. The prime objective of current study was to explore the effects of irrigation water management on crops productivity and socio economic implications for rural farming families of District Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. A study sample of 160 household farmers was selected through multistage sampling techniques. This study explained that the irrigation water management has positive impact on socio economic condition of farming families and crops productivity. Irrigation water management has potential to decrease farmer's expenses for purchasing fuel. At the same time, it can increase income level in the form of high crops yield. Moreover, irrigation water management has capacity to increase soil fertility, increase in cultivated area, decrease in poverty and frustration. Thus, it effects positively on the lives of farming families.