Pakistan Tests Satellite Irrigation System on 13 Million Kanal Farm Land

At a workshop held at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), experts discussed how satellite data and mathematical optimization could improve the fairness and efficiency of irrigation water distribution in Pakistan. The initial test pilot focused on a group of canals in the Balloki–Okara division before expanding to cover all 675,000 hectares (13.3 million kanals) of farmland in Punjab, which is served by the Lower Bari Doab Canal (LBDC) system.

This development is part of a three-year project supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), aiming to modernize irrigation rules by integrating satellite-based Relative Water Deficit (RWD) estimations with mathematical optimization algorithms. These algorithms recommend water allocations based on crop needs while considering existing rotation priorities and operational constraints.

Dr. S. A. Prathapar, a water management consultant to the ADB, emphasized that modernizing irrigation involves updating the software governing water allocation. Conventional delivery indicators can verify water supply but do not necessarily indicate if crops received sufficient water. Satellite-based water deficit estimates can address this issue by providing allocation recommendations for upcoming irrigation rotations.

Dr. Abubakr Muhammad of LUMS highlighted the critical role of Pakistan's irrigation network in food security and livelihoods, noting challenges from climate change, water availability uncertainty, and rising production costs, particularly energy. He stressed that technological solutions must also consider social factors, water governance, and fairness in distribution.

The ADB's principal water resource specialist, Ryutaro Takaku-Bessho, outlined the bank's commitment to Pakistan's agriculture and water sectors, particularly in addressing climate vulnerability, enhancing food security, and improving rural resilience. Technical sessions at the workshop covered estimating crop water requirements via satellite remote sensing, developing a near-real-time Rotation Advisory Module, and integrating this module with the Punjab Irrigation Department's Irrigation Decision Support System (IDSS).

The event gathered senior officials from various government departments and institutions to discuss strategies for wider adoption, including institutional arrangements, further validation, farmer engagement, and utilizing rainfall forecasts to make recommendations more adaptable to changing field conditions.