Water for Balochistan Policy Briefingswaterinfo.net.pk/sites/default/files/knowledge/Policy Briefing...

Water for Balochistan Policy Briefings Volume (1), No. 2, 2005

TA-4560 (PAK) Project for “Supporting Implementation of IWRM Policy in Balochistan – Government of Balochistan - ADB and Royal Government of Netherlands

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1. Micro-irrigation Systems The terms "drip", "trickle" and "spray" irrigation are merged in "Micro-irrigation" by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE). It includes all methods of frequent water application, in small flow rates, on or below the soil surface. Water is applied directly to the root zone to maintain soil moisture closer to field capacity for optimal water productivity. Nutrients can be controlled precisely under fertigation systems having a significant effect on quality and quantity of yield, pest control and harvest timing. Water is distributed using an extensive pipe network (Figure 1) that conveys water to the plant through emission points in the form of droplets, tiny streams or sprays and hence classified as drip, bubbler and micro-sprayer systems (ASAE EP 405). Figure 1. Layout of Micro-irrigation System Emitters can vary from sophisticated, pressure compensating to very small and simple orifices. Different types of emitters have been developed in attempts to have uniform discharge under small pressure variations in the system. The cost and the size are also important. Emitters are placed along laterals, which are made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and often placed above the ground. For row crops, in the line-source type of micro-irrigation system, a thin flexible lateral

Combines the function of the line and evenly spaced built-in emitters. Laterals are attached to manifolds, which distribute water to fields, and are usually constructed using black carbon and UV stabilized LDPE pipe. The controls for adjustment of flow rate and pressure are usually located in manifold along with valves and timing devices. The manifolds are attached to the main line and usually constructed from white PVC or HDPE pipe which is buried for UV protection. The pipe should be properly rated for the particular application and able to withstand the design pressure.

A main control station is usually located close to the water supply; which includes pump, backflow prevention system, chemical injection system (for fertilizers, chlorine, etc.); a combination of different filters, a main line valve and a flow-meter. The controller is often located next to other components of the control station. It can control the main valve, chemical injection, backflushing of filters, solenoid valves, and other controls located at remote locations. Depending on the system, all or some of these components can be automated. 2. Why Innovative Micro-irrigation Systems

Needed for Pakistan Standard micro-irrigation systems are normally capital-and energy-intensive. Energy is one of the major issues in tubewell pumped-water due to high electric-tariffs and rising prices of diesel fuel. Thus criterion of cost-effectiveness (capital and O&M) is essential for adaptation of innovative micro-irrigation systems for smallholders. During September 2005, a group of experts and representatives from the public development agencies and the private sector met in Quetta to explore reasons for the failure of drip irrigation in Balochistan and identified that high capital cost is one of the reason, in addition to the lack of availability of materials and services for installation of these systems. Later on efforts were made to develop Framework for the “Introduction of High-efficiency Irrigation Systems

Micro-irrigation and Role of Private Sector for Innovative Developments – Need for Policy Shift in Balochistan

Dr. Shahid Ahmad



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for Hi-tech Horticulture” under the President’s Programme on “Special Initiatives”. The major point of discussion was that what type of systems and arrangements are needed to have a successful introduction in Pakistan. During December 2005, Balochistan Water Group meeting organized by the IUCN, further reinforced the issues for the failure of drip irrigation already identified in the previous meeting. 3. Potential for Innovative Micro-irrigation

Systems Access to irrigation water is a limiting factor to the productivity and profitability of many small farms in Sailaba and Khushkaba systems, in particular in areas where water is becoming increasingly scarce. Most micro-irrigation systems are not affordable for resource-poor farmers. Standard drip irrigation systems are designed to serve larger areas, and cannot be broken down to fit the small plots. Thus, innovative micro-irrigation systems have a potential to improve livelihood of resource-poor families. The farms of Balochistan province can be divided into three major categories: • Large farms of more than 4 ha and having at least 2

ha under orchards can be considered for standard micro-irrigation systems.

• Medium farms of 1-4 ha and having at least one ha under orchards can be considered for innovative micro-irrigation systems.

• Small farms of less than one ha can be considered for hose-fed irrigation systems.

• Household gardens having area of less than one ha to support kitchen gardening can be considered for small-scale bucket- and drum-type drip or hose-fed irrigation systems.

3.1. Commercial-scale Innovative Micro-irrigation

Systems Large-size Farms Large-size farms are normally commanded by electric- tubewells and standard micro-irrigation systems can be installed to irrigate orchards and creaper-type vegetables. Micro-tube type emitters are recommended to keep the capital cost low, to avoid clogging and to provide higher discharges of water to replace the costly bubblers. For field crops, low-pressure sprinkler irrigation systems can also be used. The watercourse has to be converted to mainline using PVC or HDPE buried pipes. Manifolds and laterals of LDPE can be used to allow application of water to plants. Fertigation systems

can be avoided as labour is easily available but can be added if water soluble fertilizers are available. Medium-size Farms Medium size farms are normally commanded by diesel-tubewells and micro-irrigation systems can be installed using micro-tubing emitters to irrigate young orchards and creaper-type vegetables. For matured orchards and field crops, hose-fed irrigation systems can be used. The watercourse has to be converted to mainline using PVC buried pipes. Burried manifolds of PVC can be used to allow application of water to plants using PVC flexible Hose. The innovative adaptation recommended is the low-pressure hose-fed system using shiftable PVC flexible hose as laterals (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Hose-fed micro-irrigation system for matured orchards. Small Size Farms Small-size farms are normally irrigated using water from an earthen pond, dugwell, spring or stream. Handpump based drip irrigation systems have been successfully tested for these farms in the Barani lands (Figure 3). Windmills can be used in areas having desired speed of wind, where either shallow groundwater or flood water stored in earthen ponds can be used (Figure 4).

Figure 3. Handpump drip irrigation systems using shallow groundwater in Barani areas of Punjab.

PVC Moveable Hose

Plants

PE Buried Manifold

Hydrant



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Figure 4. Windmill based micro-irrigation systems in coastal areas of Balochistan. 3.2. Household-scale Micro-irrigation Systems Low-cost micro-irrigation systems have been adopted for resource-poor farmers and for household kitchen-gardens in India, Nepal, and Zimbabwe. Drip irrigation kits ranging from an area of 40 m

2 to 2 ha have been

developed, tested and are now used by over 30,000 families in these countries. These kits have reduced the cost to irrigate 0 . 4 h a of land to 250 US$ compared to 1000 US$ under standard drip irrigation systems. They require little initial investment and can be gradually extended (Figures 5 and 6). With a 200 litre drum kit for 25 US$, a poor family can irrigate 500 plants (vegetables crops) and may earn over 100 US$ cash income per year, a substantial improvement in their livelihood (Figures 7 and 8). The technology leads to a significant savings in water (upto 60%) compared to flood-irrigation. Figure 5. Basket-kit for household drip irrigation systems in India There are other innovative pumping technologies like treadle-pumps, rope-pumps, hand-pumps and windmills, which can be used to recycle wastewater at household- or village-scale for raising fruits and

vegetables. Figure 6. Basket-kit drip irrigation Family in India. Figure 7. Household Drum-kit drip irrigation systems in India. Figure 8. Household Drum-kit drip irrigation and smallholders in Zimbabwe.



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4. Development of Micro-irrigation and Role of Private Sector – Selected Case Studies

4.1. Case Study of Central and Western Himalaya Overview of Micro-irrigation Systems Development International Development Enterprises (IDE), an international non-profit NGO, has been involved in promotion of micro-irrigation systems for marginal farmers. IDE took a unique approach: which nurtured private sector capability and interest in providing these products. IDE was not involved directly in any transactions but instead acted as a catalyst to stimulate private sector-led development of rural markets and quality products that small farmers can afford. In the mountainous areas of Himachal Pradesh, India, and Central and Western Nepal, farmers face problems in accessing water and having unconsolidated lands, which might be divided into many scattered plots. Access to water was there, but for few farmers having partial command. Public irrigation projects have made large investments to increase irrigation by building tanks/reservoirs to store water. Their full value is marginally achieved because water is still wastefully used. These projects have failed to observe that by increasing water-use efficiency more land can be commanded. Evidence from several parts of the region indicated that how a combination of effective water use and market access had helped to transform farmers and many districts of Himachal Pradesh, India and Rapti River basin of Nepal, where farmers have converted rice-wheat to vegetables (tomatoes, capsicum and peas). Many farmers in these regions are growing flowers, herbs and temperate fruits. With a combination of water access, reasonable market access and agriculture extension, farmers would likely grow cash crops. While the economic benefits from access to water are clear, there has been a lack of appropriate technology. IDE launched the Micro-irrigation Program (MIP) in India and Nepal to develop and promote water-efficient technologies that suit smallholders’ needs in terms of dependability, and affordability. To meet these needs, IDE has taken existing micro-irrigation systems, integrated low-cost components, reduced the scale and reconfigured the layout. After developing and testing various components, IDE has fielded a team of professionals to stimulate technology adoption

through the private, non-profit, and government sectors as well as directly to farmers. Adoption of Micro-irrigation Systems in India Farmers who could afford the micro-irrigation systems have been reluctant to invest. There was a gap in farmers’ understanding of the technology - its applicability and benefits. Most irrigation systems, even of farmers who could afford otherwise, continue to be based on basin/furrow methods despite the low efficiency, poor soil-water interaction and relatively high cost. The government of India is likely to adopt recommendations of the “Task Force on Micro Irrigation” headed by Mr. Chandrababu Naidu, former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. One of the key recommendations was to increase the area under micro-irrigation (current area is 1.2 million ha) by 3 million ha over the 10th Plan (2004-07), and a further 14 million ha over the 11th Plan (2007-12). This would entail an investment of Rs. 615 billion (US$ 13.7 billion) during 2004-12. The Indian experts expect that new policy measures would bring about significant improvements in productivity while conserving water resources. While the subsidy has encouraged some farmers to install drip systems, it has had paradoxical results. Public-sector culture and long delays in releasing subsidy payments to manufacturers has eroded the subsidy discount and in some cases doubled the real consumer price. Predictably, marginal farmers have installed less than 100 subsidized systems. Given this evidence and that from other subsidy programs, overall effectiveness is at best uncertain. Achievements of Micro-irrigation Project Product Development: The principal goals in the product development process were to create micro-irrigation systems that are easy to use, reliable, scaled-down and affordable. Perhaps the most important breakthrough in developing affordable products was making the system divisible. IDE has found throughout its project areas that small-scale drip and sprinkler systems, packaged in ‘product kits’, appeal more to consumers than large systems. This demand is understandable because micro-irrigation systems kits: a) start at 100 m2 of area but expandable; b) require limited quantities of water; and c) affordable for marginal farmers.



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Micro-irrigation product kits were most suited to farmers growing vegetables with a contained source of water. Farmers also shared water from large storage tanks, elsewhere they have their own tanks, and some have tapped springs and streams. These products succeed because they were more suited to farmers’ interests; government initiatives and subsidized systems were limited to larger farms and have thus never attempted to popularize small-scale systems. Most significant technical step in making micro-irrigation affordable in India was replacing emitters with LLDPE micro-tubes of 1 mm diameter. Microtubes are less expensive and can be extended across rows, thereby reducing the number of laterals. Since laterals and emitters are the costliest component in drip irrigation, thus significant cost savings were achieved. Also a design advantage with microtubes is that they have a wider, straighter path than the internal zigzag path in emitters. As a result, microtubes are less prone to clogging, the single greatest technical problem with drip irrigation. Microtubes are also easier to install and unclog than emitters, making it possible to use simpler, low-cost filters, and to lower the system pressure. In Nepal, microtubes are not commonly available so pinholes were instead punched into laterals and covered with baffles to prevent clogging. These systems have the advantage that laterals can be shifted to cover 2-4 rows of plants. With each lateral shift, the unit cost of the system is reduced by 50%. Field tests of these low-cost systems in India and Nepal showed that the products were dependable, could significantly save water and increase crop yields. Tests were conducted on a variety of systems to measure uniformity, which was only 5-10% less than standard drip systems. Micro-irrigation Products: Since one system cannot meet all needs, IDE has developed a variety of products to meet different crops, water availability, and farmers’ investment capacity. The Kit-systems particularly suited to conditions in the hills are: a) Bucket- or Drum-type drip; and b) Sprinkler. These systems have the advantage of being small enough to be set up for kitchen gardens. In addition, they are simple in design and user-friendly; any enlightened farmer can install these systems himself. Bucket-kits provided affordable entry points for small farmers to begin using drip irrigation. Designed for

kitchen gardens, these products greatly improve water productivity and have potential for improving nutrition and food security of poor families. The drum- and sprinkler-kits are larger than the bucket kit but also pre-packaged to make the systems easier to use. In layout, the drum kit covers a rectangular area, through five laterals. The sprinkler systems require more pressure, which is created by locating the drum either on a higher terrace or a fixed stand (Figure 9). Figure 9. Household-scale drum-size drip irrigation in the Himalayan region. These larger systems are important because they enable farmers to begin earning cash income from horticultural crops and can double their area under irrigation with same amount of water. Product Promotion Strategy: Making micro-irrigation products available to farmers was the other crucial element in IDE’s approach. Often appropriate technologies developed by the non-profit sector, have difficulty reaching farmers because they were never adopted by the private sector, but instead promoted under subsidy. IDE followed a different approach that directly tried to integrate the private sector in all aspects of technology proliferation. This process fundamentally involved creating financial incentives for making, distributing or selling the product. The goal of IDE’s micro-irrigation program was to work as effective catalyst for product adoption. This role included activities for wider dissemination of product information and convincing the private sector that they could make profits from these products. IDE believed strongly that technology transfer could be



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best achieved when financial incentives for all concerned are large and positive. The process in which IDE promoted these technologies combined networking and mass marketing. IDE has been contacting and educating all interested persons from the private sector, non-profit organizations and government development agencies in an effort to demonstrate these products. Simultaneously, IDE was involved in identifying farmers and highly visible farms through which these products could be demonstrated to wider audiences. The strategy was to target sales to the most innovative farmers. Their interest and purchase had two important implications. Every sale supported earnings of private sector retailers that IDE was trying to interest in stocking this product. Also, each individual sale tended to lead to more sales as product reactions were passed from consumer to consumer. Initially, IDE has had to fill a variety of roles due to a lack of private sector involvement. Most notably, IDE had undertaken product development and had established product prices. IDE organized manufacturing and distribution of systems by appointing private sector manufacturers, distributors, and dealers. These private sector entities had direct incentives to participate with IDE because the selling prices incorporated profit margins that they took directly. Although the projects in India and Nepal are still relatively young, positive impacts are already being witnessed. A number of farmers who have purchased these systems have earned substantial profits. To date, 30,000 low-cost drip systems have been sold and installed on farmer’s fields in the mountain zones of India and Nepal. Micro-irrigation Opportunities In a global context, several factors are driving the need to develop technologies that enable greater efficiency in water use. By 2025, an additional 2.5 billion people would demand more water for growing food. At the same time, farmers would face greater competition for water from growing urban demands, which generate more revenue from water than farming. In addition, the high financial and environmental costs of new dams and canals make them unlikely to contribute more than a fraction of additional useable quantity of water. Today, 92% of the world’s irrigation practices depend on surface irrigation characterized by low efficiency, i.e. water productivity of wheat is less than 1.0 kg/m3

of water. Water productivity of wheat can be increased to 2.5 kg/m3 of water using sprinkler irrigation. Drip irrigation, which is the most efficient, represents less than 2% of global irrigated area; sprinklers cover another 6%. Converting from basin to drip and sprinklers or, at least integrating them, would save a large amount of water and increase water productivity. With these new technologies, irrigated area can expand to more than double over surface irrigation methods. While micro-irrigation technologies are neither solutions for all irrigation needs nor solutions in themselves (because they must be coupled with delivery or storage technologies) their potential value is great. The preliminary research conducted by the IDE has shown that there is significant potential for expansion across the region. Thus far in the hills, IDE has concentrated on promoting only small systems. In the future, IDE is interested to promote larger overhead sprinklers for wheat and maize farmers in several areas of Himachal Pradesh. 4.2. Case Study of China A cursory assessment of China’s agricultural sector indicated a significant potential for utilizing micro-irrigation technologies. China has the most land under irrigation of any country in the world about 50 million ha. Yet, water scarcity, increasing water demand for non-agricultural uses and a deteriorating infrastructure are at the forefront of issues facing irrigation and agriculture sectors. Not far behind are the impacts of erosion, salinization and water-based toxic contamination on land quality. In addition, widespread poverty in rural areas, especially amongst people living in mountainous zones, complicates any effort to increase their competitiveness. To explore the potential for micro-irrigation in China, a focused technology promotion program was established. Canals, reservoirs tubewells and pumps are all extensively used in schemes to divert and store water. Micro-irrigation systems, on the other hand, are used on much less than 1% of the country’s irrigated land (2005). Sprinklers are now being used on much wider scale (less than 3% of the area). The comprehensive assessment conducted for market creation and for the introduction of micro-irrigation systems in China includes: Farmer profile: perhaps the most important step is researching farmers’ needs to understand different



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kinds of farming systems, crops, practices, and production constraints prevailing in the potential areas. Product development: testing performance of locally available and imported systems; farm-based trials to get farmer’s reactions; and iteratively modifying system design as required. Market research: analyzing data on farming systems, irrigation systems, infrastructure, and demographics across the country to identify potential focal areas; holding product demonstrations in public to elicit mass feedback; evaluating product promotion options and integration with other irrigation technologies; and assessing downstream and upstream linkages that support the agriculture sector.

4.3. Case Study of Egyptian Agriculture Development of Egypt’s agriculture has long been a cornerstone of development cooperation between US and Egypt. During the last 25 years, USAID has provided US$ 1.3 billion to boost crop production and raise incomes of farmers. As a result, significant increases in crop production were realized, progress in irrigation systems, and greater access to credit for 2.3 million small farmers. Activities have focused on policy reform, research, financial services, farm management techniques, expanded access to improved inputs and technologies, and the formation of water-user associations for local irrigation systems. Early in the US-Egypt partnership, the USA assisted in the improvement of irrigation practices. More than 17,000 irrigation structures have been replaced. In the 80s, support for Egypt’s first sectoral policy reforms led to phenomenal yield gains and significant increases in production of major crops. The liberalization of the agricultural sector starting in the mid 80s led the national efforts in other sectors of the economy. Increases in agricultural productivity were the foundation that underpinned the macro-economic stabilization efforts of the 90s. Greater domestic production and reduced imports of food commodities allowed increased imports of producer goods and services. Food aid imports from the United States were ended as a result of this success. In the late 90s, US Agriculture Programs focused on demand-driven horticultural production and innovative post-harvest and marketing technologies, collaborative research aimed at increasing productivity of food crops, and biotechnology. Activities also aimed at

identifying promising marketing activities and new commodities for export, and analyzing constraints to increasing horticultural exports using micro-irrigation (Figure 10). Efforts in this sector were buttressed by over 1,500 trainings in agricultural and irrigation engineering, providing over 400 Egyptians with masters, doctoral, and post-doctoral trainings, with another 570,000 benefiting from short-term trainings. The US government was committed to continued support for increased agricultural productivity and employment generation. Greater emphasis was placed on increasing net value added, including the production of high value fruits and vegetables using sprinklers and micro-irrigation systems. These farms were established primarily for production of quality products for export purposes to Europe and USA. Results to date have seen a tripling of some non-traditional high value exports in recent years.

Figure 10. Egyptian farmer with his produce under micro-irrigation systems. 5. Market Creation Approach for Pakistan

The many development organizations and programmes which are working in rural areas of Pakistan could easily distribute low-cost micro-irrigation kits free of cost to poor farmers and train them in how to use these. However, such a strategy is neither sustainable, nor does it ensure large-scale access of rural people to the equipment, because development organizations have limited reach and duration of their projects. Therefore, to ensure widespread and sustainable availability of innovative micro-irrigation systems a market creation approach is more promising based on the experiences in India, Nepal, China and Egypt. This means to



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establish an independent, economically viable and profitable supply chain in the private sector (i.e. Engro-Asai and Dadex Eternit), which covers all the steps from raw materials over manufacturing and assembly to distributors and spare part dealers who sell the equipment to the users in rural areas. This would also require establishment of Irrigation Service Companies to provide support in design and installation of systems. To be able to utilize the potential of the micro-irrigation systems well, farmers need access to other services like agricultural inputs (quality seed, true-to-type plants, fertilizer, and pest and disease control measures), credit, markets and advisory services. Where the access to such integrated services is not ensured, interventions to build it must complement the interventions for developing the supply chain. In practice market creation for innovative micro-irrigation equipment requires activities like: • assessing the feasibility of the technology in a

given area; • adapting the technology to the local

circumstances; • social marketing of the technology (raising

awareness, showing how it works, demonstrating the economic benefits, etc.)

• analyzing the requirements for the supply chain and building a locally adapted supply chain; and

• analyzing the requirements for agricultural support and establishing the required links or building the necessary structures.

Market creation approaches have been successfully employed for the dissemination of e.g. water “Nacca” and tubewell technology in Pakistan. Making innovative micro-irrigation technology widely available Innovative micro-irrigation systems have proven a substantial potential for poverty reduction in many rural areas around the world – in semi-arid and arid areas as well as in regions with rainfalls distributed unevenly over the year. Farmers make considerable profits out of micro-irrigation systems even in water abundant countries (Vietnam, Thailand & Bangladesh). The capacities to disseminate the innovative micro-irrigation systems are limited in Pakistan. There are a number of institutions with relevant experience, on the technological end, as well as, with the market

creation approach in Pakistan. But the dissemination of innovative micro-irrigation systems by market creation requires a strategy, which involves organizations, which are ready to work in an integrated fashion. Organizations which want to disseminate innovative micro-irrigation need to be capable to facilitate the building up of independent supply chains for the equipment, if necessary complemented by other services in an integrated fashion. This requires skills and knowledge which may not be available with many of the interested organizations. To develop the capacity and to ensure desired quality standards, they will need access to technical and methodological know-how and support. The challenge thus is to establish a structure which allows organizations such as profit-organizations, NGOs, development programmes, farmer organizations, private dealer networks of agro-input companies, and other organisations which are interested in micro-irrigation, to link up with those people and organizations, who have the relevant know-how and experience. Initially the private-sector led Irrigation and Horticulture Companies can deliver services to the farmers. The Company would require services of agricultural engineer, horticulturist and socio-economist. These Irrigation Companies have to be networked with profit and non-profit organizations for technical backstopping and market creation. 6. Establishing National Network for Technical

Backstopping and Dissemination During 2001 a group of experts and organizations interested in innovative micro-irrigation met in a workshop in Switzerland to initiate the establishment of a global network for the dissemination of this innovative technology. The purpose of the workshop was to provide an opportunity to share: a) experiences with low-cost micro-irrigation; b) market creation approaches and different forms of networking; c) muster support for the network initiative; and d) discuss options for the functions that such a network should take. Based on the recommendations of the workshop, focus for Pakistan is outlined as under: Emerging Visions of a Micro-irrigation Network Immediate goals at the Network level should be to help: • actors to implement innovative micro-irrigation



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activities effectively and build sustainable supply chains; and

• donors to make the micro- irrigation activities, they fund, more effective.

Key objectives at the end user level should be to help: • Enabling large- and medium-landholders to improve

their water productivity and enhance quality of their produce;

• Enabling smallholders to generate income; and • Promoting more efficient energy and water use. The basic functions of the National Network on Micro-irrigation are: a) management of knowledge and information system

through the establishment of an information collection, storage and retrieval system;

b) offer support services for agencies implementing micro-irrigation programmes through training, technical backstopping, consulting, process coaching, market creation, etc.

Network Fi nancing A key question for establishing network is how to finance it. There is a need to have a combination of core funding on the supply side (for the knowledge management part, and possibly for coordination functions) and demand-based funding (for the skill development part) – most realistic funding pattern. Task-oriented contributions by the involved organizations in cash and in the form of staff working time need to complement the funding base. Supply side funding means that the funder directly gives finance to the Network or its institutions for defined tasks. Demand-based funding means that the organization which requires services from the Network pays for these services. If a funding agency wants to fund Network Services it may give the finance to the organization which demands the services which then pays t o the Network. This has the consequence that the Network gets funds only for services which prove their usefulness by being demanded. Both the core and demand based funding would be required for the Network. How will the initiative move on? The first step for initiating the establishment of the Network would be to constitute a “Task Force” comprising the most motivated and interested persons

to work out a more detailed Network proposal, possibly with different options to choose from. This proposal would then be discussed among a wider range of possible stakeholders. Until late 2006 the National Network on “Micro-irrigation” should then be ready to be launched. The Project Coordinator of the TA-4560 (PAK) has already arranged a meeting of all concerned from the province of Balochistan as Chairperson of the “National Water Conservation Committee” to identify the reasons for failure of past 25 years efforts of introducing drip irrigation in Balochistan. Based on the discussions made in the meeting, a revised strategy was prepared and then presented to the Federal and Provincial Secretaries of Agriculture in a series of presentations during September-November 2005. The revised strategy was approved after the third presentation on November 8th in Islamabad, which was chaired by the Federal Secretary Agriculture and attended by the Provincial Secretaries and DGs On-farm Water Management. Based on this strategy, the provincial DGs OFWM would prepare the Project Documents for funding under the President’s Programme of Special Initiatives. Later on, a meeting was organized with the private sector to have their viewpoint and ownership of the Policy Briefings presented in this paper. Further initiatives would be taken with active support of the private sector, as the proposed Network has to primarily respond the needs of the private sector and the end users. Thus involvement of Engro-Asai and Dadex Eternit is necessary in establishing this network in the private sector. 7. Policy Shifts There is a need to have policy shift, where the roles are clearly defined for public- and private-sectors and NGOs. Policy areas have to be defined where partnerships are needed. The policy elements are: • Role of public-sector be restricted to:

o Defining and implementing the policies and strategies for the development of micro-irrigation;

o Funding the research, technology development and training programmes;

o Institutional development and strengthening for implementing research, technology development and training programmes;

o Develop partnerships with the private-sector and NGOs for innovative development in micro-irrigation;



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o Define and implement regulatory measures for quality control and incentives for the private sector; and

o Design of functional subsidy for the dissemination of micro-irrigation systems.

• Encourage private sector in market creation for micro-irrigation systems through: o Development of micro-irrigation components with

the local PVC and PE Plastic Companies; o Encourage the manufacturers of the Micro-

irrigation to establish Irrigation Service Companies to provide services for design, installation and operation of micro-irrigation systems including production technologies; and

o Encourage and support the Irrigation System Manufacturers to produce quality products.

• Encourage public-sector institutions to develop linkages with the private sector Irrigation Service Companies to develop innovative adaptations for small-scale and household micro-irrigation kits with an objective to strengthen the poverty reduction programmes; and

• Encourage NGOs and donors financed projects to introduce interventions for smallholders/household micro-irrigation systems to provide opportunity to rural poor and women in earning the cash income.

8. Policy Reforms and Recommendations The major reforms and recommendations for supporting the policy shift for development of products, establishment of irrigation service companies and dissemination of innovative technologies in the private- sector and through partnerships are: 1) defining and implementing comprehensive strategies

for micro-irrigation development – large-, medium- and small size landholders;

2) launching national action-oriented programmes for the promotion of efficient micro-irrigation technologies – private-public sector partnership;

3) launching action-oriented programmes for the development of local micro-water resources;

4) launching programmes for national capacity building in irrigation design and use – private-public sector partnership.

8.1. Comprehensive Strategy Evidence from India, Nepal, China and Egypt shows that strategy for development of micro-irrigation systems must address different categories of landholders – large, medium and small farmers and poor farm families for household micro-irrigation

systems. The focus on small holders and poor farm families for developing micro-irrigation systems can make a significant contribution towards poverty alleviation, rural employment and food security. Thus there is a need to formulate a comprehensive strategy to promote micro-irrigation, including the accessibility of appropriate and affordable technology. Such a strategy should include the following components: • Review existing regulations and policies that

influence innovative micro-irrigation development; • Review administrative regulations and restrictions

on marketing and trade of irrigation equipment; • Review import duty and tax structures, including

import duties on raw materials, machine tools and irrigation equipment;

• Define the role of government institutions, private sector and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in promoting the adoption of innovative micro-irrigation technologies for varying size of landholders. The private sector and NGOs should be encouraged to participate. However, it is recognized that government should play an active part in the identification and development of innovative technologies and in the wider issues of rural infrastructural development.

• Develop a legal framework to ensure land and water rights of farmers especially the smallholders.

• Develop policies and guidelines so that basin is considered as basic unit for planning and development of micro-irrigation in the province. Encourage mechanisms that will permit balancing of benefits and costs of water development in a river basin i.e. Lora-Pishin basin.

• Widening the knowledge base with regard to: o Farmer knowledge: Assessment of technology

needs, on-field and on-station demonstrations of technology, deployment of micro-irrigation technology experts;

o Design of systems and equipment: Training technicians in irrigation equipment and system design to work in both private and public sectors.

o Design norms: Review existing design norms/criteria and modify with the aim to simplify and reduce costs of small-scale systems. Ensure that schemes are designed with active participation of water users so that they are responsible for operation and management of these systems.

o Quality: Encourage voluntary submission of products for certification and verification of design characteristics.

o Marketing: Promote the concepts of rural marketing through private sector and NGO’s initiatives.



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• Promote local manufacturing of equipment, complemented by imports of critical components. Encourage local manufacturers, joint ventures and foreign investors through: o Tax incentives; o Provision or guarantee of credit; o Provision of services - warehousing, building sites

and connection to services; o Simplify administrative procedures for licensing;

and o Regulations for the repatriation of profits.

• Encourage private investment in irrigation through provision of credit and financial incentives targeted to micro-irrigation systems including the smallholder’s irrigation.

• Improvement of rural infrastructure, specifically relating to roads and energy supply.

8.2. Launching Action Programmes The following-action programmes are recommended to federal/provincial governments, NGOs, the private sector and the donor community, for coordinated implementation. Adaptation and Dissemination of Innovative Micro-irrigation Technologies Experiences in India, Nepal, China and Egypt have shown that innovative micro-irrigation technologies could be easily disseminated and would rapidly boost the agricultural and rural development if strategy addresses all the categories of landholders and the investment capacity of farmers for capital and operations of irrigation interventions. Among these the recommendations for the development of innovative micro-irrigation technologies and services are: o Low-cost drilling techniques for fractional-tubewells

which are efficient in water and energy use efficiency and suitable for micro-irrigation;

o Low-cost lining techniques for water tanks to design gravity-fed micro-irrigation systems using hydraulic head of 2-3 m;

o Appropriate design of micro-irrigation systems to address the investment capacity levels of the farmers and easily understood by the staff of the development agencies, private-sector Micro-irrigation Services Companies and NGOs;

o Development of products addressing the needs of all sizes of landholders and their investment capacity levels;

o Pipe-flow irrigation system to replace the watercourse for tubewell-irrigated farms;

o Standard and innovative micro-irrigation systems to meet the needs of the clients;

o Kit and drum based drip irrigation systems for household level kitchen gardening;

o Provision of services to the clients. Programmes aimed at promoting such technologies should be jointly undertaken by the public and private sectors and NGOs. These programmes should include awareness building and participation of beneficiaries (including women), training of beneficiaries, field testing, when necessary, and commercialization of equipment. 8.3. Launching Programme for Development of

Minor Water Resources for Micro-irrigation This programme is aimed at improving farmers' access to water for small-scale irrigation, through the construction of mini-dams, earthen ponds and water diversion structures using cost-effective technologies. The programme also entails farmer participation in all phases of water development for micro-irrigation, such as construction of mini-dams, ponds, diversion structures, springs, wells and other water sources. To achieve the above objectives, the programme will develop appropriate guides on planning, site selection, design, and construction of cost-effective structures, operation and maintenance of such structures as well as installation of micro-irrigation systems. The programme also includes activities designed to promote local manufacture of appropriate equipment for the construction of small-scale irrigation works, arrive at optimal combinations of mechanical and labour inputs in small-scale irrigation development and other actions that will ensure technical, economic and social viability of small-scale irrigation schemes. More specifically, the programme includes the following components for implementation: • Developing a manual on simple design and

standards for mini-dam, ponds and streamwater diversion structures including: o site selection; o design parameters; construction methods and

management; o operation and maintenance; and o installation of micro-irrigation systems.

• Promoting local manufacture of equipment for small-scale construction, such as improved manual, animal drawn and tractor powered compactors, transport carts, scrapers, scoops; etc.



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• Assessing performance and status of existing small-scale irrigation schemes, water points, mini-dams and traditional schemes, and recommending action to improve their performance, rehabilitate infrastructure and restructure the existing management system.

• Studies on the relative roles of labour and machinery in small-scale irrigation construction in the context of cost reduction, employment generation, availability of labour and related socio-economic factors.

• Pilot projects to evaluate options of incentives and other mechanisms that ensure equity of benefits to upsteam and downstream communities.

8.4. Programme to strengthen national/provincial

capacity in micro-irrigation development The programme aims at national/provincial capacity building in micro-irrigation development which includes: • A programme directed towards strengthening the

capacity of the private sector, the public sector and NGOs. This programme will cover the areas of planning, designing, installation and post-installation system management. The programme will have a strong element of on-the-job training and will also incorporate the strengthening of the irrigation component of agricultural engineering/horticulture programmes of national universities and Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, through exchanges, short courses and research grants.

• Provision of technical, in-service training to technicians and extension agents on construction, maintenance, operation of micro-dams, streamwater diversions, well development, on-farm water management and design, installation and operation of micro-irrigation systems.

• Organization of specialized training for engineers, graduates, national consultants and contractors in planning, design, site selection and construction of mini-dams, streamwater diversion structures, on-farm water management and design, installation and operation of micro-irrigation systems through the Training Programme of TA-4560 (PAK). Such trainings would be organized for building capacity of line departments, R&D institutions, NGOs, private sector and farmers from Balochistan province. However, the training materials developed for capacity building for Balochistan can be used for other provinces and organizations; therefore, it will have impacts beyond Balochistan.

Literature Reviewed 1. Ahmad, S. et al. 2001. Pressurized irrigation

systems and innovative adaptations. Hand Book. Water Resources Research Institute, National Agriculture Research Centre, Islamabad. 82 p.

2. Behr C. and G. Naik. 1999. Applying micro-irrigation in the Himalaya: A Case Study on IDE’s Experience, Draft Report.

3. Heierli, U. 2001. Marketing and Development: An effective strategy for poverty alleviation with and through the private sector. Draft of a study of 5 SDC projects in Asia and Latin America. Business Services for Small Enterprises in Asia: Developing Markets and Measuring Performance - International Conference, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and German Technical Cooperation Agency, ILO, UNO.

4. Heierli, U., P. Polak, and E, Katz. 2001. Low-cost micro-irrigation – I: An Initiative to set up a Global Network to Disseminate a Promising Technology. BeraterInnen News 2/2001, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Freiburgstrasse, 130, 3003, Berne, Switzerland.

5. International Conference on Irrigation Management Transfer. 1994. Wuhan, China, September 2-24, Draft Conference Papers, Volumes 1-3.

6. ITC and HR Willingford. 2001. Affordable micro-irrigation for the poor. Project funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) for the benefit of developing countries. http://www.itcltd.com/final_reports.htm.

7. Pande, D.C. Ed. 1996. Dimensions of Agriculture in the Himalaya. Shri Almora Book Depot, Almora.

8. Polak, P., N. Bob, and A. Deepak. 1997. A Low cost drip system for small farmers in developing countries. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, Vol. 33, #1, February.

9. Polak, P. and R. K. Sivanappan. 1998. The potential contribution of low cost drip irrigation to the improvement of irrigation productivity in India, IDE.

10. Postel, S. 1994. The last oasis. Worldwatch Institute.

11. Proceedings of the National Seminar on Micro Irrigation and Sprinkler Irrigation Systems. 1998. Delhi, April 28-30.

12. Sivanappan, R. K., A. S. Rao, and N. K. Dikshit. 1994. Drip Irrigation in India. Indian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, Jolly Reprographics, New Delhi, 110 008.

13. T Khosa, W. Van Averbeke, R. Bö. hringer, J Maswikaneng and E. Albertse. 2003. The drum and drip irrigation systems tested in South Asia. UA Magazine, Technikon Pretoria, South Africa, August.



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The Policy Briefings is a Series of Issues, which are being prepared and circulated to the policy and decision makers in the province of Balochistan and in other provinces of the Country with an objective to synthesize and disseminate the studies outputs under the TA-4560 (PAK). The TA Project entitled “Supporting the Public Resource Management in Balochistan is being implemented by the ADB with the Department of Irrigation and Power, Government of Balochistan under the Balochistan Resource Management Programme. The funding is being provided by the Royal Government of Netherlands. The Policy Briefings are also based on the research work done by other national and international institutions with an objective to get benefit of the work done elsewhere. The comments and suggestions can be sent at the following address: Project Coordinator, TA 4560 (PAK), Arid Zone Research Centre, P.O.Box.63, Brewery Road, Quetta, Pakistan. Email: [email protected] Phone No. 0321-9561517 Fax: 081-2853616 Reference: Ahmad, S. 2005. Policy Briefings: Micro-irrigation and Role of Private Sector in Innovative Development – Need for Policy Shift in Balochistan. Vol. (1), No. (2), TA-4560 (PAK) Quetta

The topic to be addressed in the next Issue of Policy Briefings is: Institutional Set Up of Water and Agricultural Research in Balochistan – Need for Development of Coordinated Research Agenda. This topic would include aspects of current institutional set up of water and agricultural research institutions (federal and provincial), existing approach followed by research institutions for the development of research agenda and the level of participation of stakeholders in the formulation of Perspective and Annual Research Plans.

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