Improving groundwater management to enhance agriculture and farming livelihoods: Literature review

This literature review provides a foundation for the research developed as part of the ACIAR-funded, CSU-led project “Improving groundwater management to enhance agriculture and farming livelihoods in Pakistan” (LWR-2015-036). In particular, the authors have reviewed literature related to aspects of groundwater management in the case study areas selected for the project; the Pishin Lora Basin in Balochistan; the Lower Bari Doab Canal command area in Punjab; and selected districts covering areas of the Left Bank Command of Sukkur Barrage –initially covering three districts Shaheed Benazirabad (formerly Nawabshah), Naushahro Feroze and Khairpur.

At project inception, the primary purpose behind preparing the literature review was for the project team to use:
1. As the basis for each team member’s own literature reviews when preparing publications.
2. To collect and curate available information in all subject areas of the project
3. To collect case study specific information.
4. To identify and validate emerging research gaps and questions.
The systematic framework used for the review evolved from an initial structure developed during the project’s inception workshop in September 2016, and later revised at an authors’ workshop in February 2017. The eventual structure is divided according to case study areas, and subdivided into the following themes:
1. Irrigation management
2. Sociopolitical context
3. Gender and youth
4. Role of NGOs
5. Economic context
6. Energy issues
7. Groundwater and hydrology issues

We were not able to include sections of publishable quality on all themes for all case study areas, and literature reviews on some themes were published separately in other project reports. A review covering environmental impacts has been covered in a separate publication (Mitchell etal., in press).

In most cases, authors contributing to the same theme negotiated a structure with similar subthemes. Having a common structure proved useful for the two provincial irrigation department staff who wrote the sections on irrigation management for Balochistan and Sindh, and they expressed appreciation for the opportunity of contributing to an academic literature review report.

Mitchell, M., Allan, C., Punthakey, J. F., Finlayson, C. M., & Khan, M. R. (in press). Improving water management in Pakistan using social-ecological systems research. In M. A. Watto, M. Mitchell, & S. Bashir (Eds.), Water resources of Pakistan: issues and impacts: Springer.