Visit of Managing Director PIDA in Japan

On the invitation of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Mr. Irfan Elahi Managing Director PIDA visited Japan in 2^nd week of November 2011. The purpose of the visit was to introduce him water management system of Japan under the concept of public private partnership based on the participatory Irrigation Management.

MD PIDA observing the farmers's managed canals control system

The representatives of Japan Water Agency and Land Improvement Districts (Farmers Organizations in Japan) welcomed and introduced to him the rubber gate in Kikugawa city on the river to manage and operate the water supply to farm and city areas which was operated by varying air pressure. The MD observed that the banks of the river were protected by concrete.  The staff explained him the functions of Banba Reservoir which collects the surplus water and release to the canal when the water demand is increased. He was also explained the control of the canal system of Banba Reservoir through a central control system which receives the demand of water form LIDs and releases the water to farmers accordingly by operating the gates electronically.

The Managing Director also visited the green house owned by farming community involved in water management where a Japanese farmer while briefing told that water fee was not an issue for him but the diesel price was very serious for farm management. Later, the farmers’ managed tomato and rice processing units were also visited where the products of member farmers were processed on subsidized rates. He appreciated the well organized mechanism of irrigated agriculture in Japan and declared it a role model for Pakistan’s water and agriculture sector.