Use of Underground Water & Its Impact on Agriculture of Sindh

Abstract

Pakistan is classified as one of the most water-stressed countries in the world because depletion and degradation of underground water in this country is very high. This study was aimed to explore the impact of tube well irrigation on underground water, soil quality and crop yields. A total number of 60 farmer respondents were randomly selected from 4 districts of Sindh. All respondents were male respondents. Data were collected from the respondents by a well-structured and pre tested questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed to obtain information on socioeconomic status of respondents, cost of installation of tube wells, depth of tube wells and farmers perceptions regarding the effect of tube well irrigation on soils quality and crop yields. The data indicates that due to shortage of canal water more than 23 percent farmers were fully dependent on underground water while majority of farmers (77 percent) of study area were using both canal water and tube well water for irrigation. Due high use of tube well water for irrigation farmers are facing issues of high cost of production, loss of soil and water quality and loss of yields.