Canal Irrigation Fails To Meet Demand: Farmers Struggle Amid Water Crisis

According to farmer Samiullah from Kheshgi Aranda in Charsadda, his total land is 17 acres, which is connected to the canal irrigation system. However, he faces a severe water shortage. He says that because water does not arrive from the canal on time, crops cannot be irrigated as scheduled, which affects farming and results in financial losses.

Samiullah explains that often he has to stay awake three to four nights to irrigate the crops, yet a large part of the land goes dry due to insufficient water, causing a significant drop in production.

He adds that if water were available on time and in adequate amounts, crop yields could increase manifold. Today, if he earns a profit of 10,000 rupees, proper irrigation could raise it to 100,000 rupees.

According to Dr. Kifayat Zaman, senior regional researcher at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a large portion of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa consists of rain-fed areas, while the rest of the land is irrigated through canals.

In canal-irrigated areas, there are issues in water distribution and supply, whereas in rain-fed areas, farmers face limited irrigation resources and lack knowledge about the correct timing and amount of water needed for crops.

Dr. Kifayat Zaman says that just as water scarcity is harmful, excessive water can also damage crops. The IWMI has installed advanced sensors in various areas to monitor soil moisture levels, helping farmers decide when and how much water to apply to their crops. This technology aims to reduce water waste and increase production.

Farmer Zain Abbas from Chakwal, Punjab, says that rainfall has decreased compared to previous years, affecting rain-fed lands. He explains that previously, farmers could not accurately measure soil moisture, leading to crop losses due to either water shortage or excess water.

The sensors and solar systems provided by IWMI have helped him make timely and accurate irrigation decisions.

Samiullah says that although sensors have been installed on the land, severe water scarcity persists. He has a tube well, but it requires electricity to operate, which is a major obstacle.

He demands that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government provide solar panels, as the Punjab government has done in various areas, to facilitate water delivery to fields and fully benefit from modern technology.

He further adds that IWMI's efforts are positive, but until alternative energy sources, particularly solar systems, are provided at the government level, the effects of water scarcity cannot be fully mitigated.

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