Reducing Poverty Through Irrigation Investment: A study of Palai Dam Irrigation Canal, District Charsadda
Reducing Poverty Through Irrigation Investment: A study of Palai Dam Irrigation Canal, District Charsadda
Muhammad Jamal Nasir*, Anwar Saeed Khan, Atiq Ur Rahman, Waqar Akhtar and Hafizullah Khan
ABSTRACT
Construction of the dam brings far-reaching changes in the economy and lifestyle of the dam command area. Palai dam is constructed some 16 km from Tangi town and 40 km north of Charsadda city on river Jindai in 2011. The main purpose of the dam is to irrigate 4600 acres of agricultural land in four villages of district Charsadda. This paper is aimed to study the socio-economic impact of Palai Dam on village Qilla and Palai Nasratzai located in tehsil Tangi, district Charsadda, falling in the command area of the dam. The study is based on both primary and secondary data. The primary data regarding household characteristics and socio-economic conditions was collected through a structured and pre-tested questionnaire and focus group discussions. Whereas the secondary data was acquired from the revenue office Tehsil Tangi. According to field survey and analysis of primary data, in Palai Nasrat Zai, the total revenue generated per household from both Kharif and Rabbi crops was PRs. 488511.68 in 2008-09 which increased to Rs.1089252.42 after the dam construction in 2016-17. In Village Qilla the net per household revenue from both Rabi and Kharif crops in 2008-09 was PRs. 33796.05 which increased to PRs. 66541.74 in 2016-17 after the dam construction. The net income is almost doubled after the dam construction. Thus, this increase in net income is reflected in the socio-economic condition of both villages. Moreover, the area showed the growth of private schools. Also, people are availing the private medical facilities. Furthermore, the proportion of Pacca houses also increased after the dam construction.
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