Pakistan is mainly an agrarian country, originally in southern Asia a semi-arid region. However, due to policy management, governance and climate change, the water availability profile has changed over two decades. The current situation in the region calls for strategic water conservation modelling, high-end scientific research on the conservation of water and real pragmatic synergies between government and local population. A large part of the population belongs to farming and substantially contributes to the economy. New water conversation technology such as 'drip irrigation' and intelligent agriculture must be introduced. It would help climate-resilient agriculture and ensure water shortages in the country. Smart agriculture is still in its infancy and provides a new horizon for changes in conventional farming in Pakistan via off-farm technology.
Since the food Chain is closely associated with it, water scarcity has emerged as the biggest obstacle to development in the agricultural sector. In rural areas but especially cities, and ranked third among the countries faced by serious watershed [1], Pakistan is facing the worsening water shortage in history.
The country will be in absolute water shortages by 2025 if it gets out of hand [2]. This is a disastrous situation in the country. The poor and rural population loses access to food, energy and water. Agricultural communities are the worst hit because of the region's water depletion. International organisation focused massively on the introduction of water conversation technologies in areas of water stress. Many multilateral and bilateral funds for new watershed technologies are likewise being routed [3]. Water shortages pose the greatest challenge in history ever in order to make the situation worse.
In contrast, the Pakistan economy, with more than 19.3 percent of GDP being generated from the sector, is predominantly influenced by agriculture [4]. Consequently, the water crisis will affect existing agriculture practises significantly. A considerable proportion of the farmers rely on conventional farming, with limited alternative income options offered by the local government. Agriculture accounts for more than 95% of the available water [5]. However, for domestic and industrial purposes, the remainder are used. The challenge is therefore at the level of the farm. Water is needed for conservation, though evaporation, leakages, draining and theft mafia in Pakistan are estimated to lose around 40%. In order to facilitate the situation, HEIS technology will tackle the vulnerability to the water crisis in agriculture. The integration of conventional agricultural practises with the High Efficiency Irrigation System (HEIS) to increase farmers' adaptive capacity is also a solution to the problem. The technology off-farm controls and monitors water distribution via a DI system.
HEIS is a way of guiding actions aimed at sustainable solutions in the agricultural sector. The concept enhances crop production capacity, resilience and national food safety. Agrarian society has faced growing issues with the increase in the frequency of natural disasters, rising temperatures and erratic precipitation.
HEIS requires a holistic improvement of different practices to achieve incremental benefits by preserving our descendants' water resources. The HEIS system is managed exclusively by state-of-the-art techniques that ensure plant/crop growth and reduce water loss with maximum operational parameters. The drip system consists of four main components [5,6].
I) Water carrier
II) Water distribution system
III) Fittings and accessories
IV) Water carrier system
HEIS should strategically focus on water-scarce areas in a newer market such as Pakistan. In areas where high-value crops planted, HEI promoted strategically. It also encourages cash crops such as tobacco, vegetables and potato chips like cotton or even rice, big crops in the field.
Figure 1: Layout of High-Efficiency Irrigation System [7]
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