HYDERABAD: Experts, researches and academia carrying expertise on spate irrigation system from the four provinces of Pakistan and a specialist from Netherland spoke on the need to invest in the irrigation system to cope with the challenges of food security. They were speaking at the 'National Conference on Spate Irrigation: Potential and Challenges' jointly organised by the Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tandojam and Research and Development Foundation (RDF) on Monday. SAU VC Dr Mujeebuddin Memon Sehrai, appreciated the efforts by the Sindh government for the rehabilitation of Sukkur Barrage, which is the main source of irrigation in the province. He said, "Still we cannot understand the flood and droughts. When we see flood water, we misunderstand it and believe it is a disaster. But actually it is the river’s natural flow." He said proper construction of spate system should be introduced, which could be the only way out of the development. Allah Bakhsh Khan of Spate Foundation of Pakistan, Islamabad, proposed to have a national level network of farmers, experts, and researchers representing all the provinces to work together. In his understanding, he said since spate was a neglected sector, there was need to document the problems and then work on solutions. "If there is some missing crop in any area, we should introduce it for the people’s benefit. Similarly, knowledge sharing between all provinces on the subject should be promoted," he said. He claims to have visited all the spate irrigation areas in Pakistan and collected information about the situation. Karim Nawaz, hailing from Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab, who conducted the research in Sindh said the importance of spate could be realised in the fact that the majority of the population in Karachi receives water through rain-water ways, like the Hub River. The spate system needs to be developed for irrigation, drinking water, livestock, and recharging underground water systems. He said Pakistan was not out of water, but we need management to provide the water to the communities in need. Executive Director RDF Masood Mahesar sharing objectives of the conference said they have studied spate irrigation, covering all the areas, including Jamshoro, Dadu, Thatta, Khairpur, Kambar Shahdadkot and Malir Karachi, which shows that it could be effective for promoting an alternate irrigation system. He said Punjab and KP provincial governments have developed infrastructure about spate, but in Sindh there were only communities working on self help basis. Barani Abadgar Association General Secretary Raza Muhammad shared the community perspective about managing rain water for a longer period, as they depend on spate irrigation system. He belongs to Manjhand, Jamshoro district where he works on mobilising the community to raise its voice for ensuring investment on developing this neglected system. Aneela Memon, a PhD from Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET), talking about the role of women in spate areas in agriculture and livestock rearing, said women have a key role in cropping and livestock rearing. “It is common that women usually spend eight hours for agriculture, three hours on livestock management, only one hour for child care, and the lowest time for their rest," she said. The conference issued Tandojam declaration at the end, following recommendations about the huge potential of spate flows, which were being wasted and as a result causing scouring, erosion and damage to costly infrastructures, settlements, lands, and other properties. Spate management would improve as sometime natural streams turn disastrous for communities. The development of alternate water resources was key to self-sufficiency in the country, to meet the growing needs of food security, etc. Spate areas in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh were mostly least developed. The unique nature of the flash floods produced by hill torrents and development of its potential depends upon many factors, including hydrology, catchment area characteristics, terrain and land potential, recharging aquifer prospects, water rights and uses, development potential and indigenous practices.
