ISLAMABAD
\nThe Asian Development Bank (ADB) Monday approved a $200 million loan for the development of an irrigation system in Punjab to help increase agricultural productivity and enhance food security.
\nAccording to a statement issued by ADB, the project loan, which is denominated in Japanese yen, will finance the construction of the second branch or Choubara system of the Greater Thal Canal irrigation scheme. The scheme will provide reliable irrigation water supply to 704,000 hectares of land in Bhakkar, Jhang, Khushab, Layyah, and Muzaffargarh districts, making them more agriculturally productive. The government of Pakistan has earlier constructed the main canal and the first branch or Mankera system.
\nADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov said that given Pakistan\u2019s vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, it is essential to build irrigation infrastructure for climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture. He added the ADB\u2019s support will help boost the supply of local produce and promote food security, while increasing economic growth.
\nPunjab is the main source of food production for the country\u2019s growing population, producing a significant portion of the country\u2019s wheat, rice, sugarcane, and maize. Because of Pakistan\u2019s semi-arid climate, agricultural production is highly dependent on irrigation. Yet, irrigation efficiency remains low due to water shortages, land degradation, and mismanagement of water resources.
\nThe Choubara branch system ADB will help construct a 72-kilometer branch canal, 11 secondary canals totaling 251 kilometers, and 11 tertiary canals totaling 127 kilometres. ADB said it will also help develop on-farm agricultural command areas, pilot water conservation technologies such as land levelling and high efficiency irrigation systems and help to train farmers in water management and climate-resilient agricultural practices.
\nThe main canal and Mankera branch areas have around 49,000 farmer households and about 38,000 in the Choubara branch areas. Most of these households own less than five hectares of land.
\n\u201cBy integrating infrastructure and agricultural interventions, this project directly supports smallholder farmers to manage their limited resources more efficiently and maximize the benefits from irrigated agriculture,\u201d said ADB Principal Portfolio Management Specialist Natsuko Totsuka. \u201cThe project will strengthen the capacity of local authorities to maintain these irrigation systems, boost rural economic growth and help to reduce poverty in the province.\u201d
\nPakistan is a founding member of ADB. Since 1966, ADB has committed more than $36.31 billion to promote inclusive economic growth and improve the country\u2019s infrastructure, energy and food security, transport networks, and urban and social services.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Monday approved a $200 million loan for the development of an irrigation system in Punjab to help increase agricultural productivity and enhance food security. According to a statement issued by ADB, the project loan, which is denominated in Japanese yen, will finance the construction of the second branch or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-232757","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-business"},"yoast_head":"\n