RAWALPINDI: The World Bank mission visited Rawalpindi and Chakwal to review the performance of the ongoing projects of the Agriculture Department, Punjab, that are being executed with the assistance of the World Bank.

Director General of Agriculture (Water Management) Punjab Malik Mohammad Akram accompanied by the World Bank mission headed by Senior Agricultural Specialist Maryiam Chaudron and Senior Water Resources Specialist Francois Onimus, visited the ongoing projects.

On this occasion, Mr Akram briefed the delegation that with the support of the World Bank, the Punjab Irrigated-Agricultural Productivity Improvement Project (PIPIP) was successfully completed, through which drip and sprinkler irrigation systems were installed on an area of 20,649 acres in Rawalpindi Division and a solar system was also installed.

Apart from this, as many as 1193 lift action schemes and 562 water ponds were constructed.

In the Potohar region, this project produced two important results, whereas Rawalpindi Division is a rainfed area where the availability of water to crops depends only on rainfall. The PIPIP project promoted irrigated agriculture in this region.

This project helped to increase the area of gardens; besides, drip irrigation systems helped to make olive cultivation successful in this region, and under this scheme, a 60% subsidy was given to farmers.

After the success of this project, another project was launched last year with the support of the World Bank, which is called Punjab Resilient and Inclusive Agriculture Transformation (PRIAT).

In this scheme, farmers have been provided a 75% subsidy on modern irrigation systems and other schemes; an increase in the production of agricultural products from farmers’ crops is also a part of this project.

The PRIAT project will have a very positive impact on the economy of farmers and help reduce unemployment.

This year, 3360 acres of land in Rawalpindi Division will be brought under irrigation.

The World Bank mission appreciated the effort of Agriculture Department Punjab Water Management for successfully completing the PIPIP project.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2024