Naveed Ahmed

The National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) has set up three solar-powered drip irrigation systems in the rain-fed areas of Rawalpindi on experimental basis to encourage the use of this technology by the farmers, reports WealthPK.

Dr. Bashir Ahmed, Director of Climate Energy and Water Research Institute (CEWRI), told WealthPK that these setups were a part of Hi-AWARE (Himalayan Adaptation, Water and Resilience) Project.

He said agriculture relies heavily on rainwater in the country’s rain-fed regions. Since rainfall is becoming unpredictable due to climate change and subsurface aquifers are depleting, this programme encourages farmers in the rain-fed regions to use water and energy-efficient technologies, he added.

Dr Bashir explained that the three experimental plots were equipped with the latest agricultural technologies.

The animal-driven Persian wheel has been replaced with modest stationary solar pumping systems, solar heating systems, tunnels, and drip irrigation systems, among other technological interventions, he said.

He said that adoption of drip irrigation and other agricultural technologies had been significantly influenced by age, visits to NARC experimental plots, land fragmentation, depth of underground water table, dependence on agriculture as the primary source of livelihood, and knowledge about the use of agricultural technologies.

Dr Bashir said that the farmers might now be interested in reverse electricity meter business that would enable them to sell extra energy produced by the solar panels to WAPDA.

Additionally, he said, the farmers asked for financial aid to pay for the pipes that will use pumps to move water from the streams to the scattered agricultural areas.

‘’The farmers want additional training by the NARC in the use of solar pumps and other irrigation methods. Extension services that provide farmers with technical assistance for using technologies can also encourage effective use and boost adaptation,’’ Dr Bashir added.

He said based on the findings and feedback from the field, it was recommended that the NARC took more steps to educate the public about the water conservation techniques for farms by providing more training and creating more test sites.

To support drip irrigation and other agricultural advancements, the government may offer subsidies, he added.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk