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PAKISTAN WHEAT: IRRIGATION and CATCHMENT AREA
Irrigation Reservoirs:
The most serious production factor facing Pakistan this
season is the dwindling supply of irrigation water. As the
planting window closes, approximately 70 percent of the crop has
been planted. Major irrigation reservoirs are currently at very
low levels; compounding the problem is the outflow for planting
during the rabi season, which is greater than intake. Low levels
of irrigation availability has typically resulted in government
enforced allocations for major canals. These irrigation canal
allocation limits often are unable to supply all of the crop's
moisture requirements, and therefore become a yield-limiting
factor. Unless recharged, December 2000 low reservoir levels will
limit canal irrigation water availability. The low levels in the
main reservoirs of Mangla and Tarbela are the result of less
snowfall and rainfall accumulations over the past few months.
Thus far in 2000, accumulation during the snowfall months is
lower this year. Rainfall is also estimated to be less this
season. With the 2000 season snow and rain accumulation period
largely over, Pakistan will need to implement judicious canal
water allocation plans given the low reservoir levels.
| Tarbela Reservoir Location Map | Indus River System Map | Indus River Catchment Area Map | Snow graphs | Precipitation Graphs | |
| Pakistan Tarbela Dam and Reservoir Location: border of Punjab and NWFP | |
| Tarbela Reservoir is located on the shared border of Punjab and NWFP. The Tarbela reservoir provides canal irrigation water for 50 percent of Pakistan's agricultural land. The reservoir has a unique catchment source. The major source of Tarbela is the Tibetan plateau and the Indus river basin. |  |
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| Tarbela Reservoir Location Map | Indus River System Map | Indus River Catchment Area Map | Snow graphs | Precipitation Graphs | |
| Indus River and Tributary Drainage System | |
| The upper reaches and tributaries of the Indus have their headwaters in the Pakistani, Chinese, and Indian Himalayas. The Indus River system provides the majority of inflow for this agriculturally important reservoir. The reservoir has a unique catchment source. The major source of Tarbela is the Tibetan plateau and the Indus river basin. The catchment area is 170,000 square km. Snowmelt from seven glaciers feed the Indus providing 90 percent of its capacity. |  |
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| Tarbela Reservoir Location Map | Indus River System Map | Indus River Catchment Area Map | Snow graphs | Precipitation Graphs | |
| Indus River and Tributary Catchment Area | |
| The catchment
area is 170,000 square km. Snowmelt from
seven glaciers feed the Indus providing 80 to 90 percent
of its capacity. High resolution (25 nautical mile)
estimated rainfall and snow cover data were used to
monitor the Indus River catchment
area. Results: Snow and rain accumulation in catchment area for 2000 season was below 1999 values. |
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For more information, contact Jim Crutchfield with the Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division on (202) 690-0135 or by e-mail at crutchfieldj@fas.usda.gov.
