Title : Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) – An option for sustainable irrigated agriculture in Punjab, Pakistan
Abstract:
Population of Pakistan is increasing tremendously putting more and more stress on water resources due to increasing demands of food and fiber. Pakistan is the 8th largest food producing country where irrigated agriculture contributes more than 90% of Pakistan’s food production. Agriculture is the largest single sector which contributes 22% of GDP, employs about 45% of the overall labor force and generates over 60% of foreign exchange. Water has played a vital role in irrigated agriculture in the country. Under the global climatic changes water resources in the country are under severe threats both in quantitative and qualitative contexts. Groundwater globally is used 60% for agriculture, 20% for domestic and 20% for industry. Pakistan is 4th largest user of groundwater after India, USA and China. In Punjab province groundwater is meeting more than 90% drinking water demands, more than 80% industrial water requirements and 40 % irrigation water requirements. About 1.4 million tubewells in Punjab are extracting about 50-60 MAF annually due which groundwater budget is negative. Groundwater provides an opportunity for sustainable irrigated agriculture in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Groundwater resources are being utilized on unsustainable basis. Low water use efficiency, lack of capacity and awareness, unplanned extraction, complex nature, multiple users are major challenges for groundwater management and global climatic changes are major concerns for groundwater in the province. These challenges are further aggravated with climatic changes. Punjab government has implemented a managed aquifer recharge by diverting flood through 144 recharge well in the bed of an old abandoned canal. During flood season of 2025, about 12000 acre-feet of surplus flood water have been recharged. This project has improved the water availability for sustainable irrigated agriculture in the area
Keywords: Irrigated Agriculture, Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), Groundwater, Punjab, Pakistan
