• Introduction
• Objectives
• Functions
• Organization Chart
• Sub Departments
• Assignments
• Achievements
• Contact

INTRODUCTION:

Irrigation system of district Lahore comprises of seven major distributaries, 15 minors, and about 600 watercourses. This system of irrigation is more than century old and has deteriorated to such an extent that more than half of gross inflow is lost during transit. This water loss attributes to the transit losses (30%) in the poorly maintained community watercourses and application loss (25%) in the unleveled field at farm level. Poor quality groundwater and over mining (lowering of water table) is another potential threat to the farmers of district Lahore. There is, therefore, dire need to enhance the land and water productivity by utilizing every inch of land and each drop of available water efficiently and judiciously. On Farm Water Management was devolved as one of the wings of the Agriculture Sector in the districts during 2000-01 to achieve the abovementioned goal through active farmers participation

MISSION

To reduce the losses of water through improved watercourses and thus to increase water conveyance efficiency, ensuring more water available for irrigation purpose.

VISION

To make Lahore District self sufficient in its need of food by providing enough water available for production of different crops.

OBJECTIVES:

• Ensure efficient conveyance and application of irrigation water
• Promote improved OFWM practices for increasing agricultural productivity
• Mobilize farming communities to share investment costs
• Capacity building for operation and maintenance of irrigation facilities

FUNCTIONS

• Organization and registration of Water User4s Associations under Water Users Association Ordinance 1981 for promotion of watercourse improvement and other water management activities in the district.
• Preparation of water management development plans in the district
• Implementation of Watercourses improvement, Precision Land Leveling, Irrigation Agronomic Practices, Groundwater4 Management and Harvesting of Water Resources in Barani/rainfed area.
• Renting out agricultural machinery at approved rates
• Service matters relating to the district cadre
• Maintenance of government buildings.
• Purchase of stores and capital goods.
• Feedback to Provincial
• Agriculture Department on all the above, as per time-to-time instructions.

OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR WATERCOUSE IMPROVEMENT.

• Interested farmers submit application to District Office (OFWM) on prescribed format for improvement of their watercourse through Union Council Nazim.
• District Officer OFWM forward this application to the field staff who visit the concerned farmers and explain them the complete procedure of watercourse improvement.
• A “Water Users Association” is organized on each watercourse, which isregistered by District Officer (OFWM) under Water Management and WUA Act-1981.
• WUA of each watercourse sign an Agreement indicating roles and responsibilities of both parties with District Officefrk9OFWM0
• OFWM staff in coordination with concerned WUA complete the engineering survey and prepare the cost estimate.
• WUA of respective watercourse complete the earthen improvement of entire watercourse after leaving the section to the lined.
• After earthen improvement, Pacca Nakkas are installed at junction point’s appro0ved by the Irrigation Department and culverts are constructed at roadcrossings.
• 30% of total length of watercourse is lined with brick / precast concrete.
• Supervisory consultant of watercourse ensures the quality through two mandatory visits during its construction and certify the final completion report.

NOTE:- Water course improvement work carried out on cost sharing basis, wherein Government provide 100% construction material as their 64% share whereas beneficiary farmers contribution as skilled/ unskilled labour as 36% share.

ASSIGNMENTS

Organization of Water Users Associations (WUAs)

Water Users Association (WUA) is organized and registered under Water Users Association Ordinance-1981 on each watercourse, prior to its renovation. These WUAs are representative bodies of the farmers and are actively involved physically & financially in the implementation of OFWM activities. This arrangement of community participation not only reduced the administrative burden on the government exchequer but also developed the local leadership among the rural folk.

Watercourse Improvement

The huge amount of water wastage from badly construction and poorly managed watercourses demand their immediate renovation. Watercourse improvement consist of complete demolishing of community watercourse and its rebuilding / re-aligning according to the engineering design with clean compacted soil. Parts of reconstructed watercourse are lined and necessary water control structures i.e. Pakka Nakkas, culverts & drops are constructed to improve conveyance of the canal as well as tubewell water. The improvement of watercourse is carried out with the active involvement of the beneficiary farmers at planning, designing and construction stages after organizing and registering them under Water Users Association Ordinance-1981. This task of watercourse improvement is carried out on cost sharing basis between Government & Beneficiary Farmers. Wherein, all the construction material is provided by the government and skilled / un-skilled labour is contributed by the beneficiary farmers.

LASER Land Leveling

LASER Technology for precision land leveling was introduced first time in Pakistan during 1985 and a considerable work has been done on its development. By the Grace of God, this system has now been locally developed through collaborative effort of OFWM and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PINSTECH), Islamabad. The same was tested and has been proved beneficial, as it minimizes the cost of operation, ensures better degree of accuracy in much lesser time, saves irrigation water, ascertains uniform seed germination, increases fertilizer use efficiency and resultantly enhances crop yield upto 20%.

OFWM wing of Agriculture Sector has a fleet of six LASER units fitted on tractors, whichare provided to the farmers on rental charges @ Rs.200 per hour. The OFWM staff provides free technical assistance to the farmers for survey, planning, designing and leveling of their farms. Complete lay out of the farm is changed in accordance with the water availability, type of soil and other agronomic factors. Subsequently, most appropriate and economical irrigation method for a particular farm is suggested to the farmers.

Establishment of Machinery Pools for Productivity Enhancement

11 Machinery Pools were established in 11 Rural Union Councils by the City District Lahore out of its Annual Development Program 2001-02. The main objective of these pools is to facilitate availability of costly implements and equipment to small farmers attheir doorstep for improving Farm Level water use efficiency. The machinery pools are being operated by the Union Councils’ Nazims.

A committee constituted at Union Council level is responsible for operation of Machinery Pools and provide the implements to the farmers on rent at very nominal rates. The farmers of the Union Councils other than 11 Union Councils are benefiting from the facility available in nearby Union Council. OFWM staff in the district is responsible to provide the technical guidance for operation of Machinery Pools. An amount of Rs.723,000 has been recovered from about 820 beneficiary farmers.

Resource Conservation Technologies

Zero Tillage TechnologyZero Tillage is a special technique of establishing crops without tillage and seedbed preparations. The implement used for this purpose is known as Zero Tillage Drill, which is capable to seed through the residue cover, and provides a firm seed soil contact. City District Government Lahore has provided 30 Drills i.e. one in each U.C. Research studies carried out during the past three years indicated saving in cost of cultivation to the tune of Rs. 1500/acre and an increase in yield of wheat by 33% per acre.

Bed Planting Technology for Wheat Sowing

Bed planters are used behind the tractors to form beds to sow row crops. Sowing of vegetables on beds was common in Pakistan, but wheat sowing on beds has beenintroduced during last four years. Considering the benefits of said technology, City District Government Lahore procured two bed planters for sowing wheat for demonstration of wheat sowing on beds. Saving of 30% irrigation water & 20% increase in yield besides other local benefits have been reported by use of this Technology.

Groundwater Management

OFWM staff in district Lahore is providing technical guidance to the farmers regarding conjunctive, cyclic and treated use of groundwater. About 1,100 tubewell water samples have been collected and analyzed jointly by the OFWM staff. 1,300 Farmers have also been trained for saving of energy and safe use of groundwater.

Pressurized Irrigation System (Sprinkler / Drip)Present water crises situation demands judicious and efficient use of surface as well as groundwater resources. Considering the prime importance of irrigation water, OFWM wing of Agriculture Sector is pilot testing adaptability and operation of Pressurized Irrigation System at three sites. The systems are monitored closely and proper feedback is being provided to the farmers for improving their efficiency and further replicability on other sites in the district. So far, about 150 farmers have been benefited and trained regarding use of said system.

ACHIEVEMENTS

ORGANIZATION OF WATER USERS ASSOCIATIONS

Watercourse Improvement

LASER Land Leveling

ZERO TILLAGE

Bed Planting Technology for Wheat Sowing

Groundwater Management

Pressurized Irrigation System (Sprinkler / Drip)

Following table shows the sites and area.

PRESENT SCHEMES

Sevices / facilities for formers / general public

• Improvement of watercourses.
• Katcha improvement.
• Minimizing losses of water thus making available more water for irrigation purpose

CONTACTS

ORGANOGRAM: