Multan, (TW News) — The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture Multan (MNSUAM) have signed a Letter of Agreement (LOA) to implement a WaPOR-based study on Water Budgeting and Agricultural Water Productivity Assessment in the Indus Basin Irrigation System, with a focus on Bahawalpur and Bahawalnagar districts of Southern Punjab.

The study aims to address pressing regional challenges, including declining groundwater levels, inefficient irrigation practices, increasing pressure on canal water supplies, and gaps in water allocation and planning. By generating high-quality evidence at the distributary level within selected command areas, the initiative seeks to strengthen data-driven water resources management and improve irrigation water use efficiency.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, James Robert Okoth, Officer in charge, FAO Pakistan, underscored the urgent need for closer collaboration among development partners, government institutions, and academia to respond to Pakistan’s growing water scarcity. He emphasized that the integration of geospatial analytics, remote sensing data, and institutional capacity development is critical for informed irrigation planning and climate-resilient agriculture.

Vice Chancellor Asif Ali reaffirmed MNSUAM’s strong commitment to the partnership, highlighting the university’s role in providing technical expertise in remote sensing, spatial analysis, and field validation. He noted that the collaboration will contribute scientifically robust evidence to support sustainable water management and informed policymaking.

The initiative brings together key institutional partners, including the Punjab Irrigation Department, the Punjab Agriculture Department, and IHE Delft, ensuring strong technical coordination, access to official datasets, and effective stakeholder engagement.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), including Amina Bajwa, Head of Programme; Dr. Syeda Maria Zaidi, WaPOR National Coordinator; Emmah Kamau, Head of Operations; and Nazish Naqvi, Operations Associate. Dr. Saifullah, Assistant Professor, represented Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture Multan (MNSUAM).

Under the agreement, partners will jointly undertake high-resolution crop mapping, estimation of crop-specific irrigation water requirements, assessment of crop water productivity, and analysis of groundwater abstraction, including contributions from solar-powered tubewells, using FAO’s WaPOR database. The study will produce spatial datasets, analytical workflows, and evidence-based recommendations to support irrigation authorities and policymakers in strengthening water governance and advancing climate-resilient agriculture.