IRRIGATION WATCH

Digitization of Irrigation System for distribution of canal water in Punjab

Pakistan’s agriculture primarily depends upon irrigation and irrigated lands supply more than 90% of the total agricultural production, account for about 25% of GDP, and employ around 50% of the labor force. Timely availability of water greatly influences crop production and yields. In order to meet the agricultural needs therefore adequate and timely availability of water is an essential pre-requisite. The irrigation water is delivered to the field through a network of barrages, main canals, branch canals, distributaries, minors, sub minors and outlets.

The irrigation System of Punjab consists of about 23,184 miles length of canals, which command Culture able Commanded Area (CCA) of about 21 million acres. The 24 canal systems, which have a total capacity of 1.10 lac cusecs, draw their allocated discharges from 14 barrages of the Punjab. The barrages also control diversion of supplies to the inter-river link canals which transfer the water of the western rivers to the eastern rivers to cater for irrigation systems off taking from these rivers. The water from the rivers is diverted to Main Canals / Link Canals from Barrages and head Regulators and distributed to the farmer’s fields through 58,000 outlets after flowing through the lengthy irrigation network.

The application includes the digitization of the daily gauges and discharge data of all the rivers, main canals, branch canals, feeders, distributaries, minors and sub minors for ensuring proper management of the Irrigation System and equitable distribution of canal water.