On-farm water management : USAID/Pakistan

PES covers the period 7/75-4/78 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews. Due to start-up delays and administrative problems, the project is 1 year behind schedule. Recruitment of qualified personnel and training teams has been difficult. Provinces have allocated only the funds to cover the actual rate of implementation, not the full amounts planned. In spite of these difficulties, sound procedures have been established for helping small farmers improve their water courses and level their lands for irrigation. Research is underway to determine how to give permanent status to ad hoc water user associations. Implementation is now accelerating and prospects for achieving project purpose are good. A total of 20 recommendations are made regarding project staffing, management and finances, farmer participation, cost-sharing, land leveling and ownership, the use of private contractors, extension and information dissemination, watercourse construction, the establishment and functions of water user associations, and coordination among project participants.