MIRPURKHAS, May 8: The chairman of the Sindh Irrigation Drainage Authority, Abdul Haq has said that the Sindh government has agreed in principle to levy drainage cess (tax) on beneficiaries of drains.

He was speaking at a workshop on transfer of drainage facilities to farmers' organizations on Saturday at the Bhittai cultural hall.

The workshop was attended by over a 100 people including FOs' office-bearers, growers and landlords.

He said that the irrigation system was not given due importance in the country despite being the biggest one in the world.

"Water channels are desilted but irrigation officials do not pay attention to clean nearby drains" he said. He said in developed countries growers themselves give attention to clean drains.

He said that growers wanted to cultivate maximum crops but results were not encouraging. He urged growers to adopt modern techniques for cultivation, use less quantity of water and save money.

Mr Haq said that unless growers participated equally in utilization and distribution of water system could not be improved.

The managing director of Sida, Ali Mohammad Baloch called for activating saline water drains to improve the irrigation system.

He said that 3.3 million acres land were affected due to salinity and water-logging in Sindh. He said that the government and growers should discharge their responsibilities for saving fertile lands from becoming barren.

Chairman FO Ali Gohar Shah suggested that a detailed dialogue at subdivision level should be held prior to levy of drainage cess and transfer of drains to FOs.

Chairman Nara Canal Area Water Board Khair Mohammad Bhurgari and agriculturist Nazeer Memon also spoke on the occasion.

WFP: The project director of the World Food Programme, Dr Rizwana Memon, and in charge WFP Sindh, Dr Aslam Khan have said that vegetable oil will be distributed among pregnant women in six districts of Sindh.