Developing approaches to enhance farmer water management skills in Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh in Pakistan

In order to support Pakistan's continued economic growth, food security and poverty reduction, the development of skills and capacity among women and men farmers to manage and maintain irrigation is essential. This project aimed to develop and scale out tools and approaches for increasing farmers’ irrigation management skills (and subsequently, their livelihoods) on small and middle-sized irrigated farms. The research used a respectful approach, centred on co-design, with both women and men farmers engaged as equal co-research and co-learning partners.  This approach involved a recognition and valuing of the local farmers and their deep knowledge of farming life; the project team built from this knowledge in an approach which resulted in all parties learning together.

Through the implementation of three different adult learning models, the project saw farmers, both men and women, trained in the use of tools and technologies to trial on their own farms in order to more effectively manage soil moisture levels and improve their water conservation practices. A total of 1136 farmers were involved (518 women and 618 men) in 48 villages.

In equipping local farmers with the techniques and tools to better manage water conservation and usage on their farms, the project team trialled three adult learning models in the three provinces of Pakistan:

• Value Management (VM)
• Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) and;
• Discovery Learning (DL)

Farmers were introduced to a variety of tools and technologies developed by the CSIRO and PCRWR which would enhance irrigation and water management practices, and they were offered the choice of which tools or technologies they wished to trial on their farms.

These tools included:

• soil moisture sensors
• sets of Fullstop sensors
• Chameleon EC meters
• Nitrogen testing strips

Outcome of water management trials

The use of tools and water conservation practices saved 20-30% irrigation time, frequency or both.

Similarly, proper use of FullStop^TM supported the saving of one bag per acre (i.e. up to 50%) of nitrogenous fertilizer (urea). And saving in crop inputs has increased net profit.

Overall, farmers are continuing to learn to irrigate only when necessary.

Outcome of adult learning models and project training

Feedback from women and men farmers and from facilitators revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the adult learning models. In light of this, a new Farmer Integrated Learning Model (FILM) was co-developed by the team and the farmers. FILM was subsequently used at all sites.

This new approach to farmer engagement and learning which was developed during this project is contributing directly to the project Adapting to salinity in the southern Indus Basin which began in March 2021.

From the trial sites, 89 men and 64 women farmers were identified to act as farmer facilitators, trained in the FILM technique, who subsequently enrolled 437 men and 307 women as trainees.

The high level of engagement of women (46% in the project overall) bears witness to the success of the FILM process to actively engage women. Women also reported being more involved in farm and household decision-making thanks to feeling empowered and more valued by their menfolk.

Use of FILM and stakeholder forums have enabled women and men farmers to engage with district-level canal operators, extension officers, agricultural officers, local NGOs, and research communities in their vicinity. As a result of these forums, men and women farmers can interact with these important professionals more readily than ever.

• Hasan, F.U., Fatima, B., and Mustafa, S.H. (2021). A critique of successful elements of existing on-farm irrigation water management initiatives in Pakistan. Agriculture Water Management. 244, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106598
• Heaney-Mustafa, S., F. Sofo, M. Afzal, Z. Anwar, B. Fatima and F.ul Hasan. (2018)“Bridging Farmer and Researcher: Extension through the Eyes of Agents in Rural Pakistan”, Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education. Volume 25, Issue 3, pp:111-124. doi: 10.5191/jiaee.2018.25308
• Mustafa, S. H. and I. Hussain. 2019. Development of Farmer Integrated Learning Model (FILM). Presented in Asia-Pacific Extension Network (APEN) Conference on 12-13 Sept. 2019 at Darwin, Australia. Abstracts (International Extension), pp. 14-15.
• Hussain, I. and S. H. Mustafa. 2019. Performance of two adult learning models in enhancing farmer water management skills in Pakistan. Presented in Asia-Pacific Extension Network (APEN) Conference on 12-13 Sept. 2019 at Darwin, Australia. Abstracts (Sustainable Agriculture, a), pp. 21-22.
• Mustafa, S. H., 2019. Engaging farmers and Rural poor in Modelling: farmer Integrated Learning Model. Extended abstract Conference Proceedings MODSIM 01-06 December, 2019 at Canberra. https://mssanz.org.au/modsim2019/documents/MODSIM2019_Book_of_Abstracts.pdf
• Hussain, I., Mukhtar, S. N., & Heaney-Mustafa, S. (2019). Farmer Integrated Learning Model (FILM): Guidelines for SOFT Facilitators. Islamabad: SOFT. Available at https://www.canberra.edu.au/research/faculty-research-centres/csc/archive/enhancing-farmer-water-management-in-pakistan/FILM-English-Final-A5.pdf