A high percentage of the Pakistan’s population live close to lakes, valleys, rivers and mostly along the

irrigation system. In many cases the very lives of these people depend on flood defense systems
because they stay with their personal property and belongings, int the worst cases i.e., floods.

Now the flood and rain fall water is delivered from the catchment areas to the river and lakes and from
theses sources the is distributed through the irrigation system to the entire irrigated land.

canals have played an important role in connecting cultures and facilitating commerce. Canals are also
used to transport water for irrigation and other human uses. While the advent of more efficient forms of
transportation has reduced the need for canals, they still play a vital role as conduits for transportation
and fostering global commerce.

Irrigation from Indus waters has provided the basis for successful agriculture
since time immemorial. Modern irrigation engineering work commenced
about 1850, and, during the period of British administration, large canal
systems were constructed. In many cases, old canals and inundation channels
in the Sindh and Punjab regions were revived and modernized. Thus, the
greatest system of canal irrigation in the world was created.
The dry spell, lasting 900 years, slowly destroyed its irrigation systems, devastated
agriculture and eventually forced Indus people at places such as Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro to
abandon the thriving urban culture. However, a 900-year-long drought has the potential
to dramatically affect human populations, Petrie added. “Indus people lived in many
different environmental zones and it is unlikely that the weakened monsoon affected
all of these regions in the same way.” Such a long drought, he believed, didn’t wipe
them out. Instead, they devised ways to cope with a reduction in the rainfall in the
region. They built structures for water storage, said Gupta Wherever they couldn’t
cope, they migrated out of the cities. “Gradually, the Indus cities appear to have
declined,” said Petrie. “Indus rural populations emerged and continued possibly for
200 years, suggesting that they were resilient to changes in climate.”
https://www.nature.com/articles/nindia.2018.61#:~:text=The%20dry
%20spell%2C%20lasting%20900,abandon%20the%20thriving%20urban
%20culture.
Medieval India- Canal construction by Firoz shah tughlaq and Shahajahn
Firoz shah Tughlaq:
 To support the newly founded city of Hissar-i-Firoza, in 1355 he constructed a Double
System of Canals from Yamuna to Sutlej. They are referred to asrajwahas in the Indo-
Persian historical texts.
 He renovated Prithviraj Chauhan era’s Western Yamuna Canal, for irrigation bringing
more land under cultivation for growing grain and fruit.
Advantages
 1. Lake and Wetland Conservation
2. Water Resource Management and Policy.
3. Unconventional Wastewater Treatment
4. Promoting Urban Biodiversity.
5. Conserving Regional Landscapes.
6. Documentation of Sacred Groves & Trees.
7. Wildlife Conservation.
8. Biodiversity parks.

After crossing into the Kashmir region, it continues northwestward through

Meanwhile, the decades-long project to line the formerly dirt-embanked canals with concrete – a
modernization that prevented water loss – ended the reign of the majestic, enormous cottonwoods that
in the early 20th century made the Valley’s canal banks a cool, comfortable place for residents to escape
the heat. Now, Valley communities literally were turning their backs to the canals.

“Every day, thousands and thousands of people would drive over the canals and
not have a clue about what they
There are two types of canals: waterways and aqueducts. Waterways are the navigable parts of a body
of water, and can be located within a bay or open sea, can connect two or more waterbodies, or may
even form networks within a city. Aqueducts are used exclusively to transport water for drinking,
agriculture, and hydroelectric power.

There are two aspects to flood risk: the probability of occurrence, and the total damage. Damage is the
sum of the number of deaths and injured, the number of houses destroyed, and extent of devastation to
infrastructure, the costs of repairing the flood defense systems, and the loss of production in the
flooded area

Helping Communities Find a Balance: Canal Project is Promoting Economic Growth and Sustainable
Agricultural Development
A canal is a human-made waterway that allows boats and ships to pass from one
body of water to another.

In the context of the climate emergency, the widespread existing infrastructure of the canal
network may well contribute still further to the attainment of ‘net zero’ by the year 2050.[
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816120-3.00006-3 ]

Communities in Kampong Thom province are on the frontlines in the battle against the climate crisis.
Despite social and economic growth in this region of Cambodia, erratic drought and flooding have
devastated agricultural communities for the better part of a decade, stunting sustainable development.
In response to growing concerns regarding climate change and agricultural development, a government-
backed initiative has worked with local communities in this region to rehabilitate irrigation systems. The
project, Strengthening Resilient Livelihoods (SRL), aims to reduce reliance on seasonal weather patterns
by ensuring sustainable and reliable access to water for agricultural households.

In a conversation with Commune Chief, Thuo Seng from the Baray district, he described how the
rehabilitated system of canals supports approximately 500 hectares of farmland. Since the project’s
completion, farming land in his commune has proven more productive, more economically viable, and
less labour intensive.

Traditionally, households in the Baray commune cultivated swaths of cash crops—such as rice—while
also maintaining family-based gardens to grow vegetables and fruit. Although crop diversification
promotes a more nutrient-rich diet for rural families, the constant rotation does have detrimental
impacts on soil quality.

Crop specialisation typically provides the highest economic return; however, expanding crop rotation
mitigates risk for vulnerable families living in sustenance-level poverty. Meaning, families sitting near the
poverty line are often risk-adverse when it comes to specialising in cash crops because the outcome
could be disastrous. A compromised rice field during the growing season could directly impact food
security for rural families, should alternative crops not be available. The newly rehabilitated canals
project by SRL will aid in reducing the risk associated with specialising in cash crops, helping to improve
the quality and quantity of high-value crops, as well as growing household incomes and stimulating the
local economy.

Improved agricultural output is not an anomaly in this region, suggested Commune Chief Heng Chea
from the Santouk district. In the past, most crop yield went to domestic consumption. Whereas today,
Chief Chea said the majority (around 70 percent) of agricultural yield is now sold in local and national
markets. Farmers in this region have experienced a bump in profits from simply being able to sell more
product in competitive markets.

“Now they can cultivate at least two times a year, so [the project] is definitely helping,” explained Chea.

Although there are some visible benefits from the project, it is important to remember that several
factors contribute to the economic development of communities. Most of the farmers I spoke to in this
region cited improved crop yield, but also reiterated the large amounts of debt incurred to support their
livelihoods. It’s true that some of the debt incurred was funnelled into resources needed for agricultural
expansion—i.e. better-quality soil and equipment. However, without a comprehensive picture of
interest rates and household spending, it is difficult to say for certain how or if there is a relationship
between increased debt and increased productivity.

Adding colour to this extremely abstract picture, female farmer, Ly Vang from Laak village in the Santouk
district, said she is hopeful that the rehabilitated canals will improve her economic situation, allowing
her to cultivate and sell enough rice and vegetables to help pay down her debts. The canal project
recently wrapped up in her area, so thorough quantitative benefits are hard to cite, but she did mention
a noticeable cut in labour costs because of improved water accessibility and increased crop yield.

Some of the primary issues facing communities in this region of Cambodia centre around sustainable
agricultural practices and their relationship to climate change, as well as improving productivity and
expanding into competitive markets. In light of tackling this complex, and at often times contradictory
problem, the SRL project focuses their efforts on creating and implementing comprehensive and well-
rounded solutions. For example, a primary component of the project includes climate change education
alongside the development of agricultural practices that will yield higher profits and quality products.
Sustainable and profitable agriculture development is possible, but adept financial literacy, management
training, and increased access to manageable credit are required.

Keo Naro from Thnol Jeat village in the Baray District is a member of the local “Water User Group.”
Managed by a team of leaders (including a deputy leader and cashier) the primary mandate of the group
is to provide water division assistance and skill development programmes to the community. The Water
User Group also facilitates community conflict resolution, manages infrastructural maintenance, and
provides education on water management protocol. There are 30 members in the Water User Group in
Naro’s village, most of whom are women.

“Before there was no canal system built in this area to irrigate water properly, but now we can provide
regulated irrigation block by block to the lower farmland areas,” explained Naro.

In her community, Ly Vang was elected to be the cashier of the Water User Group. Vang does not have a
background in finances, but through financial literacy workshops, she developed the skills required to
manage the water collection fees in her community. She is currently working with other group members
to determine the annual fee for the irrigation system, and to strategize a penalty system for community
members who do not adhere to canal rules and regulations. Funding garnered from user fees and
penalties will finance the maintenance of the canal and other related operational costs.

In both communities, inclusive growth is promoting development. However, the threat of climate
change in this region, and Cambodia more broadly, is unavoidable. Moving forward, Commune Chief
Heng Chea, said he’s eager to work with NGOs and the government to find solutions to challenges
induced by the changing climate.

“I want to promote the development of sustainable agricultural practices because this is how we will
encourage socio-economic stimulation and improve livelihoods,” added Chea.

Commune Chief Thuo Seng expressed similar sentiments for his community in the Baray district. The SRL
project has assisted the community in establishing a strong foundation for continued growth, but
further educational and infrastructural developments are needed. Specifically, Seng is pushing for an
expanded irrigation system, as well as the construction of a community pond. According to Chief Seng,
the government is currently working with the Baray commune to explore solutions to these challenges.

To date, a total of 389 provincial, district, and commune councillors have been actively involved in the
process of integrating climate change adaption priorities into local planning strategies. One-hundred-
one farmer groups have been formed, representing 2,246 households engaging in water utilisation, and
livelihood improvement initiatives. The next phase of the project includes continued agricultural
training, specifically regarding resilient agricultural techniques and practices, such as chicken raising and
sustainable home gardens.

The majority of Pakistan's population concentrates in and around the country's water and food sources,
including its lakes, valleys, rivers, and irrigation system. As in the event of a disaster, such as a flood,
these individuals tend to shelter in place with their property, their very survival may depend on flood
protection measures. Currently all of the irrigated land receives water from the river and lakes, which
received it from the catchment regions and is distributed through the irrigation system to the irrigated
lands. The Indus River, which flows across South Asia, is approximately 3,200 kilometres long, making it
one of the longest rivers on the planet. It has an annual average flow rate that is twice as high as the
Nile River.