Switching from consumerism to prosumerism

Lack of political will, coupled with manipulation, red-tapism and need for legislation have added to the woes of farmers. The uneven and irrational water allowances for different canal zones have also intensified the problem

Pakistan is facing a severe energy shortfall and water crisis, and resultantly frequent power outages have added to economic woes of the businesses and created food insecurity.

During recent annual closure of canals in Punjab, as the winter was dry, the farmers across the province have to rely on diesel-run pumps to irrigate the crops. It not only multiplied the cost of irrigating crops to billions of rupees but also added to dollar-strapped and trade-deficit economy.

There is no solution to the issue, as the farming community faces it. Lack of political will, coupled with manipulation, red-tapism and need for legislation have added to the woes of farmers. The uneven and irrational water allowances for different canal zones have also intensified the problem. Areas on tail of the distributaries like Toba Tek Singh having brackish underground water surprisingly have poor water allowance. The need is to look into the severity of the issue on hardship basis and review it… earlier the better.

When this newspaper contacted the relevant departments’ officers, irrigation and agriculture, both have opinions that are poles apart. The water management, an important wing of the agriculture department, opposed the idea of installation of solar powered pumps to irrigate the water thirsty farm lands, on the pretext that underground water table was falling. However, irrigation department has plans to introduce solar pumps.

The lack of water is due to no reservoirs on rivers and the construction of dams on Pakistani rivers in India, which has restricted the flow of water into Pakistan. There is also a lack of proper irrigation system in Pakistan. As irrigation department hard plans a result, other than barren lands, 50% of agricultural land is facing a water shortage.

The food crisis is due to inadequate storage and transport facilities, as well as a lack of agricultural research and development. Seventy-five percent of the population relies on subsistence farming, which makes them vulnerable to price fluctuations and shocks in the food market.

The irrigation department lacks a balanced water distribution system, the water that is available is not being used evenly and efficiently.

A solar tube well policy, pumps installed along canals only, if adopted may help to resolve this crisis by providing a more efficient way to use the available water. This would reduce the need for supplemental irrigation, which is currently necessary because of the uneven distribution of water.

Solar energy is an important part of the global economy and its growth. Solar energy can provide power to businesses and homes, and it can also be used to create products that are exported all over the world. According to MacKenzie, 2236 GW renewable energy was expected by 2030 globally. India and China to have a lion’s share as former to generate 130 GW by 2030. Pakistan lagged behind on the front.

A report says Pakistan loses $759 million per year to global tax abuse and $735 million to tax evasion by multinational companies.

Reuters reported that 32 trillion dollars had been parked in offshore havens with many Pakistani bigwigs. Pakistan also faces ever increasing circular debt issue amounting to over Rs4 trillion, IPPs’ dilemma and economy crawling with IMF crutches.

Under the given circumstances the only solution is renewable energy.

One of the most important benefits of solar energy is that it is a renewable resource. This means that it can be used over and over again, and it will never run out. Solar energy is also a clean source of energy, which means that it does not produce any harmful emissions. This makes it a great choice for businesses and homes that are looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact.

Solar energy is also a cost-effective source of energy. It can help businesses save money on their energy bills, and it can also help them reduce their carbon footprint. In addition, solar energy systems often pay for themselves in a short period of time, which makes them a wise investment for businesses of all sizes.

In many agricultural regions all over the world, solar tube wells are becoming an increasingly popular choice for irrigation. Alone in Haryana India, there is target of 50000 solar tube wells by 2023.

The water management may initiate the installation of solar tube wells in salinity hit brackish areas as a pilot project with 50:50 government community funding. If succeeded the same may be extended to the entire province.

The solar tube wells are environmentally friendly. They do not produce any emissions, and they do not use any fossil fuels. They will surely reduce load on national grid and through net-metering may add energy to grid. The Punjab government if adopts the new irrigation and drainage law it would be a step towards review of the illegal sanctioned water allowances, rational distribution of water resources and installation of solar pumps. If done, it would be a step towards agriculture, energy and food revolution.