HYDERABAD: A World Bank task team visited the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (Sida) secretariat on Monday to discuss the Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation (SWAT) project, being funded by the bank, with officials of Sida and agriculture department. Task team leader Greg Browder told the officials that agricultural productivity was supposed to be increased through the project by introducing modern techniques in the agriculture sector, besides helping the agriculture and irrigation departments in mending the system.

He said the project would help improve Pakistan’s economy and farmers’ economic conditions.

Sida chairman Kabool Mohammad Khatian said that under the canal modernisation component of the project, irrigation channels like Imam Wah Jagir would be improved as this was the longest of channel in Badin district and was faced with chronic problem of water shortage.

Official delighted to see satellite technology being used for water regulation and monitoring of crop patterns

Sida managing director Pritam Das underscored the need for close coordination with agriculture department for the implementation of project’s components. He said that training programmes were under way for stakeholders under the canal modernisation activity.

SWAT director Mir Ghulam Ali Talpur said that a long crossing weir was being built on Jarki minor which would resolve water shortage issue in future.

SWAT project coordinator Nazir Essani said that he had been part of Sida thus he was delighted to see that satellite technology was being used for water regulation and crop patterns’ monitoring.

WB task team co-leader Francois Onomus said that modernisation of Jarki minor must be laced with data collection and it should be reviewed properly.

Sida General Manager Ghulam Mustafa Ujjan said that modernisation was being carried out in consultation with stakeholders. He said that proper training was ensured in this regard.

Engineer Sujawal Soomro gave a presentation on canal modernisation, saying that the Jarki minor, a non-perennial channel, was part of left bank canal system under the area water board. He said that its designed discharge was 244 cusecs and it has 67 RDs with a command area of 18,000 acres irrigated through 102 watercourses.

Environmental and social issues relating to the project were also discussed at the meeting.

WB experts on environmental, social, agriculture and water issues, as well as Ahmed Junaid Memon of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Jai Ram Bhatia, Mohammad Umer Karim and others also attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2023