Fateh M. Mari Department of Agricultural Economics

1. Status of Spate Irrigated Agricultural Systems Pakistan Fateh M. Mari Department of Agricultural Economics Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan fatehpk@yahoo.com

2. Outline • Background • Evolution of irrigation since 1960 • Perceived complexity of irrigation • The global picture • Flood (spate) irrigation • World Spate Picture • Flood (spate) irrigation: Unquestionably different from conventional irrigation? • Climate Change Relationship • Field Observations • Questions/points for discussion

3. Evolution of irrigation since 1960

4. Perceived complexity of irrigation 1960’s 2010’s Source: Walter Huppertin ROLE OF WATER MANAGEMENT FOR GLOBAL FOOD PRODUCTION AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION; BART SCHULTZ, HENRI TARDIEU AND ALAIN VIDAL –

5. The global picture • Demography: Growth rate  More food • Economic development  More diverse food • Urbanization  Convenient food, supermarkets • Globalisation  New market rules • Prices of agricultural commodities  volatility, uncertainty • Falling share of agriculture in GDP  Other opportunities for farmers • Increasing water scarcity, uncertainty (CC)

6. Flood (spate) irrigation - definition Flood (Spate) irrigation makes use of occasional, unpredictable and often destructive floods in spate rivers to irrigate farm land, rangeland and forestry, recharge groundwater, fill drinking water reservoirs and mitigate climate change and variability

7. Spate Irrigation as % of total area in world

8. Flood (spate) irrigation: Unquestionably different from conventional irrigation?

9. Uncertainty in water supply and failure in crop production is a given • Floods are often destructive • There is no well planned scheduling – you have to plan to share what is not yet there? • “Timely” maintenance is a more urgent and imperative task?

10. Spate irrigation is as much about sediment management as it is about water management? • The classical approach to water management through storage of river water in reservoirs is not practical • In supplementary spate, temporary reservoir can be used in an effective manner

11. What should be done differently for proper design and management of flood (spate) irrigation systems?

12. Ingenious diversion systems: built to mitigate flood damage and effectively capture short duration large volume floods There is a need for a shift in approach: • From water diversion to water productivity • From more emphasis on protecting an investment into supplying more floodwater

13. Ingenious field water management: capable of distributing large volumes of water at a relatively higher efficiency and lower damage to fields and field structures

14. Ingenious sediment control and managementthat harvests almost all fine sediment and gets rid of almost all coarse sand. Double gravel trap or irregularly shaped canals that maintain constant velocity? Large canal supply based- field to field water distribution or controlled individual field water distribution?

15. A “unique” soil moisture management systems -that is effective and practical in the very arid, dry nature of spate irrigated areas Traditional soil mulching Improved soil mulching

16. A coherent and strongly bonded local organization to ensure timely maintenance and oversee fair water distribution of floodwater that comes in unknown quantities and at unpredictable times Farmers strongly bonded enough to deliberately get rid of problematic structure Well organized farmers to timely maintain huge structures

17. It is the typical adaptation to climate variability • Diversifying household economy – livestock is integral component of crop production, as is agro-forestry • Households having different plots of land with high and low probabilities of spate irrigation • Using local varieties, adjusted to the peculiar local conditions of spate systems • Crop choice in accordance with the timing of first irrigation • Keeping the command area relatively compact

18. If well designed and managed, spate systems can fulfil several important functions in basin management • Preserving biodiversity • Mitigating flood peaks • Recharging groundwater • Stabilizing river systems

19. Descriptive Statistics of Respondents Characteristics and Land Holding in MahalKohistan Area of Sindh • Source: Field data, Sample Size is 189 farmers

20. Tenure Wise Distribution of Respondents

21. Distribution of Farms in the study Area • Source: Field data

22. Crop Sharing Systems

23. Livestock Sharing Systems

24. Economics of Spate Recharged Ground Water Irrigated Crops

25. Economics of Moisture Based Crops

26. Questions for discussion • How to promote socially-conscious engineering ? • How to promote ‘design for management’? • How to modernize the spate farming? • How water rights be defined and command areas be developed? • How better integrate O&M in engineering’s curricula ? • Who should we influence and how (boundary partners) ? • What kind of education material is needed ? • What kind of partnership is needed to ensure impact ?

27. Thank you for your kind attention