Socio-economic assessment of skimming wells in the selected commands of the Lower Indus Basin

In this project, the areas where skimming well technology can successfully be applied in the Lower Indus Basin were delineated. A comprehensive evaluation of the existing shallow tubewells practices was also conducted. Two field demonstration sites were established where skimming wells were installed for supplying groundwater to the drip irrigation system for bair orchards. Farmers were then introduced to these systems through farmers' days and field workshops. The project-end workshop featured not only the farmers but also the provincial policymakers and research community. The primary beneficiaries of this project are the farmers depending currently on unsustainable water use patterns. The adoption of such systems will not only solve environmental constraints, but also provide on demand availability of good quality irrigation water. If government encourages the adoption of skimming well source pressurized irrigation systems, then it would help in increasing crop productivity and improving farmers' livelihood resulting from sustainable conjunctive water use of canal and skimmed groundwater resources.