Research Article

Impacts of Palai Dam on Land use and Cropping Pattern of Mouza Qilla, District Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Muhammad Jamal Nasir*, Anwar Saeed Khan, Said Alam and Saeed Akhtar

Department of Geography, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Received | July 20, 2016; Accepted | January 15, 2017; Published | March 06, 2017

Correspondence | Muhammad Jamal Nasir, Department of Geography, University of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; Email: drjamal_n@yahoo.com

Citation | Muhammad, J.N., A.S. Khan., S. Alam and S. Akhtar. 2017. Impacts of Palai dam on land use and cropping pattern of Mouza Qilla, district Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture. 33(1): 80-89.

DOI | http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.sja/2017.33.1.80.89

Keywords | Land use, Cropping Pattern, Yield, Revenue Record, Palai Dam, Geographic information system

Introduction

The principal and known inputs for agriculture are land and water. Water and energy can boost the yield of any crop (Khan et al., 2007). Water is conceived as the major determining factor for the improvement of agriculture (Troeh et al., 1999). In developing countries agricultural water use accounts for 90% of global water consumption. Water management is a key requirement of sustainable agricultural practices (Tess et al., 2014). The management and development of water resources is considered important for the growth of agriculture sector in arid and semi-arid areas (Ashraf et al., 1999). According to land utilization statistics of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) 2013-2014, out of the total area of the province 18.4 million acre, only 28.86 percent is cultivated and rest 71.14 percent is uncultivated land. The total irrigated area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province is 2.02 million acre, out of which 71 percent area is classified as arid which have no assured irrigation water for agriculture. Here the rainfall is sporadic which threatens the agriculture sector and hence causes wide spread food insecurity. In arid and semi-arid areas agricultural production can be increased by either bringing more area under plough or increasing the yield per hectare. In both cases the water seem to be the most important limiting factor (Ashraf et al., 1999).

The per capita water availability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is 513.44 cubic meter, which is far less compared to national and international standard i.e. 1000 and 1200 cubic meter, respectively (Govt. KP, 2010). Thus the province is facing a high water stress situation.

The impact analysis of thirteen small irrigation schemes in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral area suggests that as a whole 35 percent additional area was brought under plough as a result of these irrigation schemes. The study further reveals that the crop intensity was also increased (AKRSP, 2000). Similar study of the impact of Idgaon and Bakkhali dams in Bangladesh determined the increase yield and found the ameliorated socio economic indicators (Saleh and Mondal, 2001). Another study carried out by Pender and Berhanu (2002), on the impact of irrigation scheme in Northern Ethiopia suggests substantial improvement in agriculture due to considerable increase in the use of water and inputs. The crop production was 18 percent higher than in the rain fed irrigated land of Northern Ethiopia.

The impact study of irrigation schemes/dams suggests that beside irrigation they have a number of economic benefits including additional agricultural outputs, fishing, hydropower, navigation, increase of water table, recreation, flood control and prevention of drought etc. (Mugabe et al., 2003; Tortajada et al., 2012). The evaluation and monitoring of irrigation schemes play an important role the sustainable water management in water scarce areas (Thawale, 2012). Today in many developing countries irrigation is the largest public investment to combat the domestic demand of food crops (Ashraf et al., 2004; Hillel, 2005). Construction of dams for hydro power and irrigation is an urging requirement to deal with rising need for food and energy in Pakistan (Ashraf at al., 2007; Rahim et al., 2007).

Qilla is a small Mouza of tehsil Tangi, district Charsadda which came under the command of Palai dam irrigation canal. (Mouza is locally used term for the smallest unit in the hierarchy of settlements in Pakistan, for which a separate revenue record is maintained). It is situated at a distance of six km from Shakor bazzar, at 34° 15’ 30” N to 34° 16’ 25” N latitude and 71° 39’ 05” to 71° 39’ 45” E longitude at an altitude of 465 meters above sea level (Figure 1). Mouza Qilla is an agricultural village where almost every household possess a piece of land. Palai dam is a small dam which is located on the north border of district Charsadda, adjacent to the historic area of Mohmand agency. The construction of dam was started in 2009 by Niamatulla Construction Company (pvt.), but the 2010 Flood drastically damaged the project. For construction a sum of Rs. 998 million, was provided by Federal Government. The dam was completed in 2011. Government of KP claims that it will irrigate about 5000 acers of land in four Mouzas. Keeping in view the importance of irrigation in the development of agriculture, the present study was designed with the objective to determine the impact of Palai dam on the land use and cropping pattern of mouza Qilla.

Cadastral map locally known as SHAJRA or LATTHA is a large scale map on which Patwaries (The official of revenue department responsible to keep the revenue record) show the boundaries of the property (Parcels) along with the ownership. Khasra number is the primary field and all other records i.e. Land use, Cropping Pattern, Irrigation type etc. are linked with it. The Cadastral map was scanned and import to GIS environment where it was georeferenced with the help of ground control point. Than every parcel was digitized and all the other information related to that parcel were entered in the attribute table linked to that parcel. Figure 2, explains the methodology followed to achieve the objectives of the study in GIS environment.

Table 1: Mouza Qilla, change in area under different landuse categories acreage before and after the construction of Pallai dam

Table 2: Mouza Qilla, change in crop acreage before and after the Pallai dam.

which is not cropped during the census year to retain its fertility or because of lack of inputs) records a decrease from 30.16 acre in 2008-09 to 24.55 acre in 2013-14, after the construction of dam. As for as uncultivated land is concerned there is no significant changes take place in any categories of uncultivated land. Table 1, shows the area under different land use categories before and after the construction of Palai dam.

Impact on cropping pattern

The cropping pattern of an area is influenced by both natural and cultural factors. The main factors are climatic, soil conditions, water availability and prevailing land tenure system etc. In those villages which are located very close to urban areas or on major high ways, market may be another factor for crops selection. The study area features two cropping season known as the Rabi or winter cropping and Kharif or summer cropping. Being a small agriculture village, the Mouza Qilla has a very simple cropping pattern dominated by wheat and onion in Rabi while tomato and sugarcane in Kharif. Table 2 is showing the change in crop acreage before and after the Palai dam.

Rabi cropping pattern

Rabi crops are sown in October/November and harvested in April and May. The most important Rabi crop of the Mouza in 2008-09 was wheat followed by onions. Wheat records an increase from 58.45 acre in 2008-09 to 64.80 acres in 2013-14. This increase in area under wheat is the result of canal construction. The area under onion decrease from 4.92 acre to 4.19 acre. Table 3 and Figure 3 are showing the impact of Palai dam on Rabi crops.

Table 3: Mouza Qilla, impact of Palai dam on rabbi cropping pattern

Kharif crops are sown in May/June and harvested in September. Some of the important Kharif crops of the mouza are tomato, sugar cane and vegetables. Sugarcane is being introduced in 2013, after the construction of Palai dam. The analysis reveals that in 2008 the area under tomato was 43.6 acre which increased to 72.75acre in 2013. Tomato and sugar cane are emerged as most important cash crops of the area after the construction of dam. Vegetable in 2008 were cultivated on 1.40 acre of the total cultivated land which increased to 4.04 acre in 2013. Table 4 and Figure 4 are showing the impact of Palai dam on Kharif crops. After the construction of Palai dam Kharif vegetables were cultivated on 4.31 percent of the total cropped area. Tomato, which were grown on 46.64% of the net sown area, increased to 77.77% of the total net sown area after the dam. Sugarcane was absent before dam is gaining importance and now is grown on 6.3% of the area. The yield of various crops also recorded a gradual increase.

Impact on cropping intensity

Cropping intensity is the ratio between cropped area and area net sown. It is therefore, refers to producing a number of crops from the same field during the same agricultural year. The cropping intensity of the mouza was calculated by the following formula (after the Bureau of Statistics, Government Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 2014; Sakila Haque, 2015). The most obvious and immediate impact of the Palai dam and canal would be

Table 4: Mouza Qilla, impact of Palai dam on kharif cropping pattern

Table 5: Mouza Qilla, impact of Palai dam on cropping intensity and revenue

increased in cropping intensity. The cropping intensity of the Mouza in 2008-09 was 170.80%, which increase to 261.28% after the construction of Palai dam in 2013-14. Table 5 is showing the impact of Palai Dam on the cropping intensity and revenue.

(Cropped area include the area which is fit for cultivation and include both the area net sown and current fallow. Net sown area is the area actually cropped during the census year)

Provision of irrigation water after the construction of dam not only increase the cropping intensity, but the level of crop failure also decrease and that’s the real difference-making factor. Before dam construction the probability of the crops reaching full maturity was low as tube-well irrigation and rainfall are insufficient. This problem was mostly overcome with canal irrigation. Higher cropping intensity implies that a larger part of the area net sown is cultivated more than once during a revenue year. Which also mean higher production during one revenue year.

Impact on crop revenues

The statistical analysis of the revenue generated before and after the dam of individual respondents was carried out. The price of 2014 were used to avoid inflation. The total revenue generated before the construction of dam was Pakistani Rupees 9.29 million which increased to Pakistani Rupees 23.53 million after the dam. The net increase is Pakistani Rupees 1.42 million. The average household revenue before construction of dam was 81492.00 PKR, which increased to 2,064,10.00 (According to 1998 census the total households in Mouza Qilla are 114).

It was concluded that a significant increase in the revenue from increase crop production and shifting from wheat to sugarcane as a result of dam construction.

Impact on irrigation system

Mouza Qilla is located in a semi-arid area, therefore both Kharif and Rabi crops are dependent on irrigation. Mouza Qilla though located on the left bank of Jindi River, never being irrigated by river. Before the construction of Palai dam and canal in 2008-09 the major source of irrigation was tube wells, which accounts for 81.67 acre. A total of 158 parcels were irrigated by tube wells. Rain fed irrigation was the second largest source of irrigation. A total of 25 parcels were dependent on rainfall which accounts 11.88 acre of cultivated land. There was no canal irrigated land in the Mouza before the construction of dam and canal. the completion of Palai dam and irrigation canal in 2011 brought far-reaching change in the irrigation system of the Mouza. In 2013-14 the tube well irrigated land decrease from 81.67 acre in 2008-09 to 37.46 acre. The number of parcels irrigated by tube well decreased from 158 to 75 in 2013-14. Today canal irrigation is the largest source of irrigation in the Mouza, which accounts for 56.09 acre. Table 6 is showing the source of irrigation before and after the construction of dam, while Table 7 and Figure 5

is showing the impact of Palai dam on source of irrigation.

Table 6: Mouza Qilla, source of irrigation 2009-14

Table 7: Mouza Qilla, impact of Palai Dam on source of irrigation 2009-14

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