Pakistan on - farm water management

The GOP"s Ministry of Food and Agriculture will implement the project. Water management teams will be formed and deployed in each of Pakistan"s four provinces. The teams, comprised of trained technicians, will directly assist farmers in watercourse rehabilitation, precision land leveling, and crop and water management. Research results and management procedures will be used to improve a total of 1,500 watercourses, level 425,000 acres of farmland, and train farmers to use techniques for improved crop and water management. The GOP will execute a publicity campaign to arouse farmer interest in the project, including field days to discuss project benefits and costs with farmers. Follow-up technical assistance to farmers will be provided. Approximately 1,380 GOP workers will receive a month of classroom "core training" and on-the-job training. The core training will also be open to non-GOP employees with sufficient educational background and the desire to learn water management. In addition, 188 bankers, contractors, and farmers will be trained in water management. A credit mechanism will be established for farmers whereby Pakistani banks will loan money to farmers or water user associations, examine loan applications prior to work inititation, check completed work, and handle GOP cost-sharing funds, in exchange for receiving training at project expense. A data feed-back system will be designed to provide specific measurable objectives and targets for each program component. These components will be evaluated and revised to reflect additional economies in improvement through field experience, ways to increase private sector share of improvement costs, and continued use of project resources to maximize accomplishments. Project will be judged a success if half of the 60,000 to 100,000 participating farmers have doubled their water use efficiency, adopted improved technology, and increased agricultural output by 50%. Amendment No. 1 of 5/27/82 increases funding and extends the project completion date to 6/30/85. New funding will: reimburse the GOP for watercourse improvements and precision land leveling already completed and eligible for financing; provide participant training, TA, and commodities to participating institutions; and carry out a pilot program to examine the feasibility of using local councils to implement on-farm water management programs. (PD-AAL-411)