ISLAMABAD, Nov 13: The Sindh government has decided to launch a six-year project with World Bank assistance to improve irrigation efficiency, leading to improved agricultural productivity in the province.

According to official sources, the project would cost $237 million, for which the provincial government is seeking a loan of $174m from the World Bank’s soft window, the International Development Association (IDA).

The provincial government hopes the World Bank board to approve the project financing in August next year, sources said.

The first phase of ‘Sindh Irrigated Agriculture Productivity’ project will help improve command area water delivery mechanism, improved field irrigation and agronomic practices, and increase in crop diversification.

As part of community water infrastructure improvement, improvement of water courses will be carried out which constitutes the tertiary level water distribution system where water losses are highest.

According to Sindh government estimates, there are 46,699 water courses out of which 28,856 have been improved. Of the remaining 17,843, about 6,000 will be improved through the provision of lining to decrease conveyance losses and prevent seepage to groundwater aquifers and help deliver water faster to farmers’ fields.

According to sources, the project will support construction of high efficiency irrigation systems such as drip, bubbler, and sprinklers for horticulture, vegetables, floriculture and other high value and row crops.

Under the project, drip irrigation is expected to become the dominant irrigation technology to be promoted on 5 acres to 25 acres plots. Smaller units will be encouraged where possible for wider area coverage of the technology and facilitate access of small farmers. Main beneficiaries will be growers of vegetable/cash crops, newly established orchards and other high value and row crops such as cotton, and areas that are not served by the existing irrigation network.

During the two successive 2010 and 2011 floods, farmers in many areas of Sindh experienced flooding followed by long periods during which standing, stagnating water destroyed crops, irrigation systems, food and seed stock, livestock, and homesteads. The direct and indirect losses to the agriculture sector was estimated to be over $300m in 2011, and over $400m in 2010 with reconstruction costs of much higher magnitude. .