A  ten days training workshop on Farm Water Management , Conservation, Water Harvesting and Efficient use for Agriculture” commenced at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) on May 27, 2014, with an aim to help convert barren lands in Baluchistan into productive units through interventions involving new techniques of irrigation.

While delivering lectures, speakers highlighted the importance of water i.e. on farm water management, conservation and water harvesting techniques. They stressed to adopt modern techniques for irrigation purposes and dissemination of new knowledge & technologies to farmers to increase agriculture production.

On the occasion, Australian Deputy High Commissioner Paul Molloy Oam  was the chief guest while PMAS-AAUR, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad, and  David W. Doolan, International Project Manager, Food and Agriculture Organization  (FAO) of the United Nations were guest of Honor. 

Ten-day training course regarding on-farm water management is a third of
its kind in the PMAS-AAUR and being organized in collaboration with FAO and Australian Assistance to Agriculture in Balochistan Border Areas (AusAABBA). The training included lectures, practical sessions and field exposure visits conducted by agriculture experts from PMAS-AAUR and FAO. This training would also help to improve the livelihood and income generation capacity of small growers of the province.

While addressing, Australian Deputy High Commissioner Paul Molloy Oam said that Australia is committed to uplift the agricultural sector, particularly on farm water management, water harvesting, its efficient use and will support  the Pakistan in this regards. He also mentioned that Australia has great experiences on arid agriculture with water harvesting and moisture conservation. He appreciated the efforts of PMAS-AAUR and urged the scientists of varsity to work hard to fight with the challenges of water availability and food security. He highlighted the importance of water for food security and said that water is one of valuable resources in agricultural production. It is our duty to understand and adopt latest technologies to manage this increasingly limited resource, he added.

Mr. David W. Doolan, in his address said that half of the Balochistan Province land is barren, it is our duty to come up with doable action plans to make the market led agriculture production with focus on local and other country markets. He stressed the need to adopt modern techniques for irrigation purposes with concept of more crop per drop and preserve water so as to get maximum benefits from the available water resources.

PMAS-AAUR, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad said that it is time to create awareness among the people and farmers about the water scarcity and need oriented utility of water resources. He suggested that we should collectively work to overcome the water issue. He stressed the need for enhancing spending on agriculture and food research and dissemination of new knowledge and technologies to farmers to help boost agriculture produce. While taking about the training course he said that it will help to strengthen the Baluchistan’s farmer’s technical capacity in on-farm water management and enhance sustainable agriculture productivity. He also stressed to promote water management system and urged the participants to overcome the sacristy of water.

 Earlier, team leader and National Expert Water Resource Management, FAO   Malik Aijaz Hussain Awan gave a brief introduction about the FAO & Australian Aid Agriculture Project and hoped that this training will be helpful for the participants. He thanked the Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad for arranging this workshop.

At the end Australian Deputy High Commissioner Paul Molloy Oam  and  David W. Doolan, International Project Manager, Food and Agriculture Organization  (FAO) of the United Nations planted a plant in University premises.