HYDERABAD, Sept 8: The Sindh agriculture department has launched a project to line 4,000 watercourses, rehabilitate 100 channels, establish 100 demonstration centres for farmers, provide 150 laser levellers and repair 25 canal branches.

The inaugural function of the on-farm water management programme, launched with the assistance of the World Bank, was held at a hotel here on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Sindh agriculture secretary Sabhago Khan Jatoi and World Bank representatives Kazi Azmat Essa and Usman Qamar said the project would cost Rs4.5 billion, out of which 80 per cent funds would be provided by the World Bank and 20 per cent by the agriculture department.

They said 200 water storage tanks would also be purchased. They said in the first phase of the programme, training of farmers' organizations would be started, 10 channels would be repaired, 1,000 watercourses would be lined and 30 laser levellers would be purchased.

The meeting was told that the project would be completed in four years and it would be supervised by the irrigation department and the Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority. Project director Agha Zafar Durrani explained other features of the project, including steps for plugging water losses and storage of water.

The meeting was also attended by Sida official Nazeer Hisbani, Farmers' Organization Council chairman Ali Gohar Shah, Sindh Chamber of Agriculture president Syed Qamaruzzaman Shah and farmers.

Later, the agriculture secretary told journalists that with completion of the project, 500,000 hectare additional land would be brought under cultivation and water supply to tail-ends of canals would be ensured. He also advised farmers to cultivate sunflower, which needed less water.