adjusting crops & croping patern

8/13/2019 Adjusting Crops & Croping Patern

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ADJUSTING CROPS AND CROPPING PATTERN WITH

WATER AVAILABILITY

Zakir Hussain Dahri,* Shahid Ahmad** and P.M. Moshabbir***

Abstract

Fresh water has become an increasingly scarce resource, limiting agricultural development in

many regions and Pakistan is no exception where conditions of below normal precipitation, erraticdistribution of rainfall, and reduced snowfalls and consequent low flows in the river system haveattracted serious attention of the farmers and planners. Consequently more emphasis is needed toachieve the remaining development potential and the performance of the existing irrigationsystems to improve water productivity. The forecasts and long term predictions on the availability

of irrigation water also do not give much hope. Hence, the country needs right planning andmanagement alternatives to ensure the judicious use of the precious water. Development and

enforcement of appropriate cropping pattern for various agro-ecological zones can be a promising

alternative. In fact it is the first and foremost step towards optimized agriculture. This papersummarizes the state of existing water resources, presents the prevalent cropping patterns, pin-

points the available alternatives to replace higher delta crops with the lower ones, and offerssuggestions for various sectors to achieve these objectives.

1. INTRODUCTION

Fresh water has become an increasingly scarce resource, limiting agricultural development inmany regions. Therefore, sustainable water resources management is becoming a policy objectiveglobally. For ensuring sustainable food security for an increasing population, the agricultural

production must increase proportionately requiring efficient management of the available waterresources to increase water productivity.

Pakistan has been facing worst ever water crises in its history and water shortages during the lasttwo decades are worth mentioning. The conditions of below normal precipitation, erraticdistribution of rainfall, and reduced snowfalls and consequent low flows in the river system havegot serious attention among the farmers and planners to put more emphasis on the performance ofthe existing irrigation systems and take concrete efforts to improve water productivity. Theextended drought during 1993 2002 has reduced surface water supplies from 30 70 %,highlighting the importance of water resources conservation and management, which was neverrealized before. The condition is yet to be improved as the water shortage during the Rabi 2007-08season remained 23.4 %, adversely affecting wheat crop, production of which declined by 6.6%.The occasional above normal monsoon rainfalls can improve the situation substantially but againlack of storage facilities might not allow enough storage, which could fulfill the requirements offollowing Rabi Season and possibly for dry years. Due to changing climatic conditions, the

forecasts and long term predictions on the availability of irrigation water in the country do not givemuch hope for improvement but instead they foresee a scenario in which such supplies would beon the declining side. Growing water demands from other sectors would also add to the severity ofwater shortage problem. Such an alarming situation demands for immediate, concrete and long-term commitments for judicious use of irrigation water and optimized agronomic practices. Cropzoning and optimal cropping pattern can be promising alternatives but these solutions have bothtechnical and policy related aspects and decisions. This paper highlights the prevalent croppingpatterns, pin points the available alternatives to meet the growing food demands at depleted waterresources, and gives suggestions to achieve these objectives.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*Deputy Director, **Member and *** Director respectively, Natural Resources Division, PARC

Paper presented and published in the National Conference on Water Shortage and Future Agriculture Challenges and Opportunities, Agriculture Foundation of Pakistan. August 26-27, 2008, Islamabad,

Pakistan


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2. SITUATION ANALYSIS

2.1 Rainfall

The mean annual rainfall in the country varies from less than 100 mm in parts of Balochistan andSindh provinces to greater than 1500 mm in foothills and northern mountains. Based on thecountrys weighted average annual precipitation of 278 mm spread over the total geographical areaof 79.7 m. ha, the total estimated annual renewable fresh water resource is about 200 MAF. TheIndus Basin irrigated area receives about 40 MAF of annual precipitation, of which only 13.4 MAF(34 %) is actually available for crop consumptive requirements; 6 MAF (15%) seeps down andbecomes the part of groundwater; another part finds its way into the rivers and streams; and a smallportion is lost to direct evaporation and non beneficial evapotranspiration. Rainfall conservationpotential outside the Indus Basin Irrigated Areas is estimated to be approximately 20 MAF, of this,nearly 5 MAF (25 %) is being presently used through the construction of over 500 delay actiondams, dispersion and flood diversion structures etc. Thus, further development potential of 15 MAFexists in 13 major hill torrent areas of Pakistan including FATA, AJK and Northern Areas. Most ofthis water is being presently lost to evaporation and even the remaining is unable to find its way tothe Indus River System. It is anticipated that two to three MAF of this water would be harnessedthrough conventional structures by the year 2025.

Figure 1. Mean annual rainfall in Pakistan

2.2 River Inflows

Indus river system is fed by rainfall and snow- and/or glacier-melt. Rainfall in the country isgenerally low, erratic and its distribution is much skewed making storage and irrigation facilitiesinevitable, while snow and glacier melt is seasonal having greater intensity also requiring storagereservoirs. The extreme variability in seasonal rainfall has direct impacts on river flows which haverather larger variability during the Rabi and the Kharif seasons. The Kharif (summer) season flowsare five times greater than Rabi (winter) season flows as shown in Figure 2. This variability in riverflows restricts the assessment of real contribution of storage in regulating flows of the Indus RiverSystem. At 50 % probability, the total rivers provided 143.1 MAF of surface water in an averageyear during the post-storage period.


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Kharif Rabi Annual

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Figure 2. Variability of Rim-Station inflows to Indus River System

2.3 Canal Diversions

The variability in canal diversions is mainly dependent on the available river inflows. Hence, thereis a high variability in canal diversions during Rabi and Kharif seasons. The variability betweenthe highest and lowest post-Tarbela canal diversions is 24% (74.7 and 57.1 MAF) and 47% (40.8and 21.5 MAF) during Kharif and Rabi seasons, respectively. The variability in annual canaldiversions is around 28% (111.1 and 79.6 MAF) largely due to stochastic nature of river flows(Figure 3 ). At 50 % probability the annual canal water diversion remain around 99 MAF.

Kharif

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Figure 3. Variability of post-Tarbela canal diversions in the IBIS

2.4 Groundwater

Estimated annual recharge to the groundwater in the Indus Basin is 55 MAF, out of which 36 MAFis in fresh groundwater zone. The reservoir of fresh groundwater in the Indus Basin is around 1620

MAF, which is more than 10 times the mean annual river flows. During the last 30 years,groundwater contribution to irrigated agriculture has almost doubled from 25.6 to around 50.3

MAF. The country has made considerable progress in the development of innovative andindigenous tubewells technology. However, with the rise of electric tariff and diesel fuel prices,problem of secondary salinization in marginal quality zones and closure of SCARP tubewells, thegroundwater abstraction is now almost stagnant since 1996-97. The groundwater now contributesaround 46.16 % of surface water available at the farm head from around 1.0 million tubewells.


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The recent rise in prices of diesel fuel and enhanced electric tariff would affect the groundwaterabstractions as the cost of pumping will increase, which will have adverse effect on theprofitability of irrigated agriculture. Particularly, the Punjab province will be affected severely asalmost half of water available at the field level is contributed by groundwater.

2.5 Cropping Pattern, Crop Area and Net Crop Water Requirements

The cropping pattern in Pakistan is quite complex and on an average it is a mixed pattern. Themajor cropping patterns in the country are: a) rice-wheat; b) cotton-wheat; c) maize-wheat; and d)sugarcane mixed with other crops. The major crops like wheat, rice, cotton and sugarcane occupy

around three-fourth of the irrigated area. Each of the major cropping patterns is having mixedcropping either during the Rabi season or during the Kharif season or both. PARC conducted aspatial analysis of the existing cropping pattern by superimposing it over the WAPDAs IBM-Ragro-climatic zones (Figure 4) and found that there is very high intrusion of other crops (Ahmad2003a). The cropping pattern is usually based on farmers preferences and market forces. Thus

crop zoning could not be achieved in the past because of multiple factors

The irrigated area in Pakistan increased from 41.39 million acres in 1990-91 to 48.41 million acresduring 2006-07 including: wheat 18.125 million acres (37.44 % of total); rice 6.378 million acres

(13.175 % of total); cotton 7.598 million acres (15.7 % of total); sugarcane 2.542 million acres(5.25 % of total); and fodders 4.945 million acres (10.21 % of total). These five crops cover 39.59million acres, representing 81.8% of the total irrigated area. Other crops cover 8.82 million acres;which constitute 18.2% of total irrigated area in Pakistan (Table 1).

Figure 4 Existing cropping pattern

The actual crop water requirement data of PARC are used to estimate net crop water requirements.The net crop water requirements of 16, 26, 40, 47 and 18 inches were used for wheat, cotton, rice,sugarcane and fodders crops, respectively, in Punjab province whereas in Sindh province higherrates are used for some of the crops. These five major crops consume 82.7% of total water neededfor crop consumptive requirement. This includes: wheat 24.06 MAF (25.1 % of total); rice 21.51MAF (22.5 % of total); cotton 16.2 MAF (16.9 % of total); sugarcane 9.84 MAF (10.3 % of total);and fodders 7.6 MAF (7.9 % of total). Total net crop water requirement are 95.8 MAF (Table 2).Hence, to have tangible effects strategy is needed for these five crops.


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Table 1 Irrigated cropped area during 2006-07

Crop

Irrigated Cropped Area (million acres)

Punjab Sindh NWFP Balochistan Pakistan

Wheat 14.142 2.315 0.776 0.891 18.125

Rice 4.271 1.478 0.150 0.479 6.378

Sugarcane 1.759 0.531 0.252 0.001 2.542

Cotton 6.086 1.409 0.000 0.103 7.598

Fodders 3.950 0.707 0.200 0.087 4.945

Total of Five Crops 39.59

Other Crops 8.82

Total of All Crops 48.41

Area Covered by

Five Major Crops 81.78%Data Source: Agriculture Statistics of Pakistan, 2006-07;

Table 2 Net crop water requirement of irrigated crops in Pakistan

Crop

Net Crop Water Requirement (MAF)

Punjab Sindh NWFP Balochistan Pakistan

Wheat 18.55 3.42 1.07 1.02 24.06

Rice 14.01 5.33 0.44 1.73 21.51

Sugarcane 6.92 2.09 0.83 0.00 9.84

Cotton 12.98 3.00 0.00 0.22 16.20

Fodders 5.93 1.24 0.30 0.13 7.59

Total of Five Crops 79.21

Other Crops 16.60

Total of All Crops 95.81

Net Water Needs of

Five Major Crops 82.68%

Data Source: Agriculture Statistics of Pakistan, 2006-07;

Consumptive Use of Water for Major Crops, PARC (1982; 1993).

The important point to note is that net crop water requirement is a function of actual cropevapotranspiration which is more or less a fixed parameter for a given agro-climatic zone, whereasefficiency varies from location to location and farm to farm. Thus, gross crop water requirement orgross irrigation water requirement can change with the improvement in water conveyance systemand change of irrigation methods.

2.6 Water Budget for Agricultural Use

The average water conveyance efficiency of the Indus Basin irrigation system is 59.25%; which isbased on canal conveyance efficiency of 79% and watercourse conveyance efficiency of 75%. Thefield application efficiency is 75%. Thus, the overall irrigation efficiency is 44.44%. The net water

availability for crop consumptive requirement is around 81.72 MAF, whereas the net crop waterrequirement is 95.8 MAF. Thus, shortfall is 14.08 MAF (14.7%) without rainfall contribution and


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if rainfall contribution of 13.4 MAF is taken into account then the shortfall is only 0.68 MAF(0.71%). This indicates the importance of rainfall in our agriculture. The shortfall during dry yearswill increase due to reduced canal water supplies and less rainfall. However, the farmers usuallydo adapt to such conditions either by reducing their cropped area, deficit irrigation or enhancedgroundwater abstractions.

Budget of Agricultural Water Use in the Indus Basin MAF

Canal Diversions to the Indus basin at 50% probability 99.00Water Conveyance losses 40.34

Canal Water Available at the Farm Head 58.66

Pumpage from Groundwater during 2006-07 50.30

Net Water Availability at Farm Head 108.96Field Application Losses 27.24

Net Irrigation Water Availability for Crop Consumptive Requirement 81.72

Rainfall Contribution 13.40Net Crop Water Requirement 95.80

Shortfall in a mean year without rainfall contribution 14.08

Shortfall during mean year with rainfall contribution of 13.4 MAF 0.68

Source: Report of the Sub-Committee on Water and Climate Change of the Task Force on Food Security

3. WHY ADJUSTMENT OR CHANGE IN EXISTING CROPPING PATTERN

Increasing shortage of irrigation water due to growing demands from other sectors; uncertainty,high variability and possibly reduction of available water resources due to effects of climatechange; and need for optimized agriculture/precision farming to ensure sustainable food security

for ever increasing population are the prime motivating factors to revive our existing croppingpattern. Cotton-wheat, rice-wheat, maize-wheat, coarse grain-wheat, and sugarcane are the major

existing cropping patterns in the country. The country needs improved alternate cropping pattern,which ensures diversity, profitability, value addition, import substitution, export orientation, waterefficiency and requires less water to grow.

4. MAJOR STRATEGIES TO MEET INCREASING AGRICULTURAL

DEMANDS WITH LESS WATER

The solution to the seemingly impossible situation of producing substantially higher agriculturalcommodities to meet the needs of the population with insufficient irrigation supplies is through

modernization and optimization of the agricultural production system to bring about a substantial

increase in crop yields and improved water use efficiency for crop production.

In view of decreasing water resources, major change in the current land use practices especially thearea under different crops is required. The area under water-intensive crops especially sugarcaneand rice will need to be reduced while the area under crops that have a better water use efficiencywill need to be increased. Strategies for adjusting to the limited water availability will have to bedeveloped for different agro-ecological sub-zones. Different strategies will have to be developedfor the monsoon belt with heavy rainfall during July-August, and the non-monsoon low rainfallareas. A related consideration is for the Kharif (summer) and Rabi (winter) crops. The Kharifcrops are grown just before onset of monsoon season and utilize the heavy rainfall to meet the cropwater requirement, which is augmented with irrigation as and when needed. Traditionally, theKharif crops mainly consisting of rice, cotton, maize, sugarcane and fodder etc. were based on

sufficient monsoon rainfall with supplementary irrigation. However during the last few years withcomparatively low rainfall, there has been a heavier reliance on irrigation. The irrigation strategy


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in Pakistan is based on preference for the Rabi crops especially wheat, which is grown almostentirely on irrigation. Therefore, the policy is to store maximum rainwater during summer in thereservoirs so as to have sufficient supplies to meet the requirement of the Rabi crops (carryoverstorage).

Some areas which are unsuitable for any kind of annual cropping could be converted into

rangelands and forests to get some economic returns from low quality soils and other marginalareas. This would result in considerable water savings and the country would be able to cope with

a very difficult water availability situation and environmental degradation while still meeting therequirements for agricultural products for the increasing population.

4.1 Crop Zoning

In view of the increasing population pressure and dwindling natural resources base, optimizedagricultural practices by improving land and water productivity, reversing land degradation andwater loss and conserving biodiversity and environment seems to be the only option for achievingsustainable food security in Pakistan. Development of new Agro-Ecological Zones based on themost suitable climatic, soil and water conditions is the first and foremost step towards optimized

agriculture. The Agro-ecological zones developed by PARC in 1986 (Figure 5) and IBM-R Agro-climatic zones developed by WAPDA (Figure 6) are too wide and do not contain the recent change

in climatic conditions and varietal development of crop cultivars. The new developed crop zoningframework should be enforced in both irrigated and non-irrigated environments considering thedesertification and climate change impacts. Zoning should be based on the optimal range oftemperature, humidity and adequate levels of growing degree-days required for crop maturity toensure optimal and sustained productivity. Moreover, soil properties, depth to watertable and

groundwater quality must be given due consideration.

Figure 5 Agro-ecological regions of Pakistan Figure 6 IBM-R Agro-climatic Zones

4.2 Crop Substitution

Rice and sugarcane are less efficient users of irrigation as compared to other crops. Therefore, in asituation of water scarcity and increasing cost of irrigation supplies, it is essential to substitute

these crops selectively to other crops that would fit well in the agro-ecological conditions and givemore economic returns on water use. For this analysis, it is emphasized that the issue is of stored

water and not the water that is available from run-of-the river in the summer months. Therefore asimple comparison of the total water used by the crop till maturity and economic returns fromvarious crops would hide important considerations. In any case, the issue is complex and requiresfurther location-specific research to determine the most efficient water-user crops for differentareas to replace rice and sugarcane.


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4.2.1 Sugarcane

Sugarcane is a long duration crop and covers both the Kharif and Rabi seasons. It is an

uneconomical crop (high delta of water) if the real value of water is recovered especially underconditions of water scarcity. The crop however, is grown under a wide variety of agro-ecologicalsituations from the relatively mild, almost temperate conditions in parts of NWFP to the sub-

tropical conditions in Sindh. While the crop needs to be replaced in some parts of the country, theidentification of such areas has to be done very carefully. Sugarcane would still be an efficient

crop in some locations but in several others, it would be highly inefficient and need replacement.

Besides a wide variety of crops grown in the country can possibly replace sugarcane but sugarbeetis a logical and promising candidate for replacing sugarcane. However, this is a Rabi crop,although an efficient user of water for sugar production as compared to sugarcane. If sugarbeetsuccessfully replaces sugarcane, then the existing sugar mills established at a huge cost can also beused with the addition of slicing units and other minor modifications.

Average sugarcane yield is 53.2 t/ha compared with 41.8 t/ha of sugarbeet. Sugar recovery ofsugarbeet is a little higher than sugarcane. Net water requirement of sugarcane is 79 acre-inch(2006 mm) compared to 27 acre-inch (686 mm) for sugarbeet. Therefore sugarbeet is about 3 times

as efficient a sugar crop in terms of water requirement as sugarcane (Figure 7 & 8). However,sugarbeet is a crop of the temperate areas like Europe and North America and is not well suited tosub-tropical conditions as in most parts of Pakistan. Therefore feasibility of growing sugarbeet in

Pakistan will have to be undertaken including aspects of processing especially loss of sugar in thecrop due to fermentation during post-harvest storage.

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Figure 7 Water used by Sugarcane and Sugarbeet Figure 8 Water Productivity of Sugarcane and Sugarbeet

Source: Ahmad 2003 a & 2003 b.

SMEDA, Stube Dieckmann and SES (2007) studied the possibility of replacing sugarcane withsugar beet crop in Pakistan and found this replacement technically and economically viable. Theyconcluded that sugar beet can be grown in new areas depending upon the will power of the sugar

mills along with a clear strategy from the federal and provincial governments. The consultantsfurther stated that stakeholders were aware of the benefits that they can get by adopting a shortduration sugar beet crop that will not only boost the agriculture sector but will also meet theincreasing demand of sugar, by products like molasses and beet pulp that can be used as animalfeed in the country.

4.2.2 Rice

Rice is second largest staple food crop in Pakistan and basmati rice are an important source offoreign earnings. However, the crop consumes lot of water to mature and some people claim thatthe country is exporting water rather than rice. Logically, if the country restricts rice cultivationthen it must need additional reservoirs as this crop is grown during the period of highest suppliesand our irrigation system usually flows at its full capacity.

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For replacement of typically flooded rice crop (Figure 9), the country needs the adaptation ofaerobic rice (Figure 10), which is a fundamental approach to reduce water use in rice crop. Itrequires aerobic soil conditions rather than standing water and puddling. The approach is beingsuccessful working in China and Philippines at rainfed to supplementary irrigated conditions. Thepractice is proved to be highly productive and responsive to high inputs giving double waterproductivity. However, this technique needs to be tested for Basmati rice for water productivityand quality of grains with particular reference to aroma, which is a great source of peoplesattraction.

Currently rice is grown in all the provinces. Upland rice and the crop grown mostly on rain waterin heavy rainfall areas during the monsoon period may not be replaced initially since cropreplacement is a major issue and involves a major change in the crop culture, processing andmarketing regime. Serious consideration has to be given to replacement of rice grown in cotton

zone (i.e southern Punjab, left bank of river Indus in Sindh, and Balochistan). The potentialcandidate crops for replacement are: maize, cotton, sunflower, soybean, mung, mash, and summer

fodders. An important consideration in selection of the replacement crop is the fact that most riceareas are saline and prone to waterlogging. This will severely limit the choice of crops unlessmeasures to drain excess water and salt are taken.

Figure 9 Flooded rice crop Figure 10 Aerobic rice crop

Maize can be a promising alternative to rice crop as it is a food, feed, fodder and industrial cropand there is enormous potential for improving maize production in Pakistan. This crop can also

serve as the backbone of a successful meat, dairy and poultry industry if livestock productionprocessing and marketing is properly organized. Hybrid maize can give very high yield and maizevarieties can be developed with adaptability to a wide variety of agro-ecological situations.However, maize is also quite sensitive to soil salinity and waterlogging, even ponding of excessive

water due to monsoonal rains can destroy the crop. Therefore maize can replace rice in selectedareas provided the downstream processing industries and marketing system for this crop isefficiently organized so that the growers get a good price for their crop.

For the substitution of rice crop, the most important aspect is that such replacements have to bebased on canal commands and area approach; otherwise piecemeal replacement will not reduce theproblem of high water table, which is a limiting factor for most of the replacement crops. Researchis needed for the techno-economics of replacement crops.

4.2.3 Wheat

Wheat is the most important and widely used staple food crop in Pakistan. It has become a politicalcrop as governments have been struggling to address the adverse and unwanted effects of wheat

shortages. Country is nearly self sufficient in wheat production but low local prices and smugglingto Afghanistan are causing real shortages in the local markets. Governments have been trying hard


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to become completely self-sufficient and possibly export this crop. No replacement is availablehowever, barley, which is resistant to saline and alkaline conditions, can be grown in areas wherewheat can not give good yields. We have to look for improving water productivity of this crop asthere exists huge scope for it.

4.2.4 Cotton

Cotton is of course the crop of choice because of higher export earnings. Pakistan has been doingwell in cotton production, processing and marketing. No crop substitutes are available for cottoncrops rather additional production of cotton will further strengthen the national economy if exportof textiles and yarn is organized. Improving water productivity through optimized use of inputsand development of water efficient high yielding varieties is the area where major attention isrequired in view of water shortages. Cotton is a strong candidate not only to recover the areacurrently under rice and sugarcane but also expand further to earn more per drop of water used.However, cotton is sensitive to salinity and waterlogging and will be able to replace rice inselected areas only.

4.2.5 Fodders

Fodder crops are an obvious choice in most situations as a replacement for rice. However researchon varietal improvement and agronomic practices on these crops has been relatively neglected andneeds to be improved simultaneously. Also, if large areas are to be diverted to fodder crops, thenthe related aspects of animal production and processing and marketing of livestock products alsoneed to be addressed. Screening and development of water efficient high yielding fodder varietiesand improving their production technologies are the potential aspects to be researched upon.

4.3 Improving Water Productivity

Water productivity of major crops in Pakistan is among the lowest in the World. One of thereasons is treatment of irrigation water as a public good as farmers pay negligible price for it. Oncethe Abiana rates are rationalized by inducing higher rates for greater water consuming crops such

as rice and sugarcane, farmers will start giving value to the water use. Other reasons are primitive

production technologies, which are unable to match the changing climate and necessities of theincreased population. There is a need to initiate a mega program focusing on optimized use ofirrigation water under different agro-ecological conditions and varying water supply and waterquality conditions.

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aterPro

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Figure 11 Water productivity of major crops in Pakistan


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Figure 12 Economic productivity of major crops in Pakistan

4.4 Crop Rotation and Intercropping

In the context of limited land and dwindling water resources, our agriculture needs to beintensified. Potential for horizontal expansion is very little therefore we have to look for verticalexpansion by increasing cropping intensity and improving crop yields. Crop rotation is may be agood alternative to conserve soil health and intercropping may serve the means of getting moreoutput per drop of irrigation water. In fact these techniques have been adopted by the progressivefarmers but need to be expanded on a larger scale. In the context of very hot climate, where oursoils are having vaporization rather than evapotranspiration, the intercropping of trees with crops

can be a good alternative to cool down the local environment and reduce evaporation losses. Thispractice may be particularly beneficial in southern Punjanb, northern and eastern Sindh, andBalochistan provinces.

5. CONCLUSIONS

From the discussion presented above the following key points can be summarized.

Rainfall is low, erratic and unevenly distributed making storage and irrigation facilitiesinevitable

Reservoirs are operated to transfer water of Kharif to Rabi season and storage is notavailable to transfer water of wet years to dry years

Storage dams are not filled fully during dry years

Pumpage is already from marginal-brackish zone

Agriculture sector would face further shortages in water availability due to increase infuture water demand in other sectors.

The agro-ecological zones developed by PARC do not incorporate the crop suitabilitycriteria (e.g. humidity, temperature, GDD, etc)

The IBMR agro-climatic zones are too general and too wide as such there is very highencroachment of other crops

Abiana rates are based on area rather than crop water use

Water productivity of most crops in Pakistan is very low

Existing area under five major crops (Wheat, Rice, Cotton, Sugarcane and Fodders)requires 82% of total water needed for consumptive water requirement in irrigated areas.Only 18% of total water is needed for other crops

Water saving achieved in Kharif season will require storage facilities

For achieving self-reliance in major food items and for enhanced export earnings strategyis needed for these five major crops


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6. RECOMMENDATIONS

Cropping Pattern

Gradual replacement of sugarcane with sugarbeet crop

Promotion of aerobic rice and coarse grain cropsIncreasing area under oilseeds and pulses

Increasing area under export quality fruits and vegetables

Ban on rice and sugarcane cultivation in Kachhi, Rainee and Thal canal command areas - adirective for WAPDA and PIDAs

The new canals under development or proposed for future must specify the cropping

pattern based on agro-ecology and countrys requirement.

Change in eating habit - shift from rice dominant food system to wheat and coarse grain(Sorghum, Maize, Millet) dominant food system and promotion of coarse grain crops

Research

Development of new agro-climatic zones covering the criteria of crop suitability

Optimizing irrigation schedules for different crops under varying water supply and water

quality conditions

Increasing crop water productivity

Research on promoting aerobic rice and conserving the aroma of Basmati rice

Breeding of water efficient, drought resistant and heat tolerant crop cultivars

Study for rationalizing abiana rates for different crops

Industries

Sugar Mills located in the non-suitable ecologies must be closed and scraped

Up gradation of sugar mills located in sugarbeet suitable ecologies to process both

sugarcane and sugarbeet

Upgradation and modification of sugar mills to produce low cost energy from mollassis,baggas and other by products

Similar action needed for the Rice Mills located in the non-suitable ecologies

Policies

Incentives for sugarbeet and aerobic rice cultivation to ensure maximum net return to the

farmersMarketing facilities for the bye products of sugarbeet (molasses and pulp) in the suitableecologies.

Ban on rice and sugarcane cultivation in non-suitable ecologies Southern NWFP,Southern Punjab, Northern and Central Sindh especially on left bank of river Indus, andBalochistan

Provision of energy initially at the subsidized rates to Sugarbeet industries and thereafter

ensure production of energy from sugarbeet molasses to make them self sufficient and alsofor selling out to government.

Rationalizing Abiana rates based on water use by various crops in canal commands and

increasing rates for rice and sugarcane crops


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7. REFERENCES

Planning Commission 2008, Draft report of the Sub-committee on Water and Climate Change ofthe Task Force on Food Security

SMEEDA, Strube-Dieckmann and SES 2007, Sugar Beet a Supplement to Sugarcane for sugarproduction in Pakistan, Report on the Fact Finding Mission from 16th April to 10thMay2007

Ahmad, S. 2003a, Adjusting cropping pattern to available water. Farming Outlook. 3(1):18-21.

Ahmad, S. 2003b, Strategy for adjusting cropping pattern and crop water requirement with

availability in the Indus basin. Proceedings of the PARC and JICA Workshop onAppropriate Surface Irrigation 15th October, Holiday Inn, Islamabad, p. 25-35.

adjusting crops & croping patern

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