Post by University of Agriculture, Faisalabad

💧🌾 Pakistan’s Greatest Untapped Opportunity for Water Conservation Lies at the Farm Level Pakistan loses an estimated 50 million acre-feet (MAF) of water annually at the farm level due to inefficient irrigation practices—an amount equivalent to the storage capacity of five Tarbela Dams or seven Mangla Dams. Addressing this challenge requires urgent action to improve water-use efficiency, strengthen water governance, and promote climate-resilient agriculture. These concerns were highlighted during a policy roundtable on “Climate-Resilient and Adaptive Water Management at Farm Scale” held at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF). The event was organized by the Agricultural Policy, Law and Governance Center (APLGC) in collaboration with ACIAR, CSIRO Australia, and CEPPED-PHEC. Prof. Dr. M. Asif Kamran, Director APLGC, emphasized that while national discussions often focus on large-scale infrastructure, the real challenge—and opportunity—lies at the farm level, where irrigation efficiency remains around 50 percent. He called for climate-smart agriculture, sustainable groundwater management, efficient pricing mechanisms, and evidence-based policymaking. Experts including Dr. Mobin-ud-Din Ahmad (CSIRO Australia), Dr. Asif (SACAN Services), Engr. Mushtaq Ahmad Gill, Engr. Kashif Manzoor (PCRWR), Prof. Dr. Ghulam Murtaza, Prof. Dr. Babar Shahbaz, Dr. Naeem Siddique, Dr. Zulfiqar Ahmad Saqib, and Dr. Raza Ullah shared valuable insights on sustainable water management, groundwater governance, irrigation technologies, climate adaptation, and agricultural resilience. Dr. Mobin-ud-Din Ahmad highlighted Australia’s experience in water governance and stressed the need for sustainable groundwater extraction limits and improved water accounting systems. Engr. Mushtaq Ahmad Gill underscored the importance of “Crop per Drop, Cash per Drop, and Job per Drop,” while Engr. Kashif Manzoor discussed the role of soil moisture sensors and irrigation scheduling tools in reducing water losses. Prof. Dr. Ghulam Murtaza warned about the growing threats of salinity, waterlogging, and deteriorating groundwater quality, emphasizing the need for improved drainage systems and farmer participation in water management. Prof. Dr. Babar Shahbaz called for proactive policies to address the combined pressures of climate change, population growth, and rising water demand. The discussion concluded with a strong consensus that Pakistan must transition toward climate-resilient farming systems, promote crop diversification, strengthen water governance, and maximize water productivity to ensure sustainable agriculture and national food security. #UAF #UniversityOfAgricultureFaisalabad #WaterManagement #ClimateResilience #ClimateSmartAgriculture #WaterConservation #FoodSecurity #SustainableAgriculture #APLGC #ACIAR #CSIRO #CEPPED