JICA expresses satisfaction on reforms in irrigation sector

Lahore: The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is fully satisfied with the pace of progress on Irrigation Sector Reforms Program in Punjab and its cooperation to enhance farmers’ participation in irrigation management will continue in the future, as well.

It was stated by the Chief Advisor JICA Noryo Kiyono during an introductory meeting with General Manager (TM) Punjab Irrigation & Drainage Authority (PIDA), Mian Maqbool Ahmad at his office on Friday. The JICA representatives including Mr. Dysoke Kawata, Mr. Takashi Fujisaki and Muhammad Aslam Qureshi besides Deputy General Manager (TM) PIDA Muhammad Afzal Anjum Toor and Deputy General Manager (SM) Syed Shaiq Hussain Abidi were also present on the occasion.

The Chief Advisor JICA told that Japanese water experts were already providing on-job technical training to the PIDA officers and farmers by demonstrating latest water saving technologies to enhance agro-production with less water consumptions. He dwelled upon the on-going “Strengthening Irrigated Agriculture through Participatory Irrigation Management Project” (SIAP) and “Punjab Irrigation System Improvement Project” (PISIP) which are being implemented in the districts of Chiniot, Bahawalnagar and Dera Ghazi Khan with the financial and technical assistance of JICA. He further told that the officers of PIDA and Irrigation Department were being provided training opportunities about latest water saving technologies and participatory irrigation management so that the canal water could be utilized by farmers in Punjab efficiently.

The General Manager PIDA appreciated the services of JICA in improving irrigation sector in Punjab and told that performance and service-delivery mechanism in irrigation sector has much improved.