Water Availability and Productivity in the Command Area of Improved /Unimproved Watercourses of Civil Canals in District Peshawar

Abstract

A substantial part of the valuable water is wasted in form of conveyance losses in earthen watercourses. To assess the effect of watercourses improvement on water availability and productivity, ten watercourses were selected randomly. Out of which, five improved and other five were found unimproved. Water losses in both watercourses were measured to find water saving from improved watercourses. Conveyance losses were measured in improved and unimproved watercourses by current meter and cutthroat flume, respectively. Farmers were interviewed to find out the effect of watercourse improvement on crop productivity and water management practices using questionnaire proforma. The losses in five improved watercourses (lined sections) were 9, 28, 5, 11 and 20% per 1000 meter, respectively while that of unlined sections of the same watercourses were 23, 30, 50 and 21 % per 1000 m, respectively. Losses in unimproved watercourses were 27, 62, 55, 55 and 40 % per 1000 m, respectively. The conveyance efficiencies of five improved watercourses (lined sections) were 91, 72, 95, 89 and 80 % per 1000 m, respectively while that of unlined sections were 77, 70, 50 and 79 % 1000 m, respectively. The conveyance efficiencies of unimproved watercourses were 73, 37, 45, 45 and 60 % 1000 m, respectively. Based on the results, it can be concluded that watercourse improvement caused significant effect on irrigation water and it is therefore justified from economic perspectives.