Water is Pakistan’s most valuable resource, yet more than 60% of irrigation water is lost before reaching crops. In a country where over 93% of available water is used in agriculture, this isn’t just inefficiency—it’s a crisis.

For decades, Pakistan’s government and international partners, including the World Bank, have sought solutions to improve water management. Investments have been made in infrastructure — canals, pipelines, reservoirs — but a critical question remains unanswered: how much water does a crop actually need?

Right now, there is no real-time, field-level data to measure water use and losses. Farmers rely on estimates, but without accurate tracking, it's impossible to optimize irrigation, reduce waste, and improve crop yields.

Khyber Pakhtunwha’s On-Farm Water Management Department is piloting a low-cost, IoT-based water monitoring system to fill this gap. Developed in collaboration with final-year university students through Code for Pakistan's Civic Innovator Program (CIP), this system is designed to study water consumption at the farm level — helping policymakers and farmers understand how much water is actually required.

A New Approach: Measuring Water Use in Real-Time

Pakistan has long recognized the need for better water conservation. Organizations like the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) have conducted groundwater investigations, hydrology modelling, and irrigation advisory services, providing weekly SMS recommendations to 20,000 farmers in 41 districts based on NASA satellite data and weather forecasts.

But while macro-level data exists, on-the-ground measurement is missing.

To bridge this gap, the On-Farm Water Management Department, under the World Bank-funded KPIAP project, is studying how IoT-powered sensors can provide real-time, field-level insights into water usage and losses.

The prototype system:

• Deploys smart sensors under, on, and above the soil to measure soil moisture, water levels, and flow rates.
• Tracks water loss by detecting variations in inlet and outlet flows—helping farmers and policymakers identify inefficiencies.
• Uses machine learning to analyze patterns and suggest optimal irrigation schedules.
• Provides real-time monitoring through a web-based dashboard, offering data at a glance.
• Sends mobile alerts to notify farmers when their fields need water—or when excessive water is being lost.

The goal is not just conservation—it’s precision. By understanding exactly how much water crops need, the government can develop data-driven policies, help farmers improve yields, and reduce unnecessary water consumption.

From Study to Scalable Solutions

While still in the pilot phase, this low-cost, homegrown innovation has the potential to reshape Pakistan’s irrigation strategy. If scaled, it could help:

• Reduce water waste by accurately tracking losses.
• Improve irrigation efficiency with actionable insights.
• Support food security by ensuring crops receive the right amount of water.
• Provide policymakers with real-time data to inform national water management strategies.

For the first time, Pakistan could have precise, real-time water tracking at the farm level, rather than relying on outdated estimates.

What Comes Next? 

Turning Data into Policy.

The technology exists. The prototype is built. The need is clear. Now, the focus is on scaling.

For this effort to succeed, collaboration is key:

• Government agencies must integrate real-time water tracking into national irrigation policies.
• The World Bank and other partners can help fund the expansion of this research.
• Agri-tech companies & investors can scale the hardware and analytics for broader adoption.
• Farmer associations can participate in training programs and pilot projects.

Pakistan doesn’t need more reports on water shortages — it needs action. This government-backed IoT monitoring system is a practical, scalable solution that could help conserve millions of litres of water, improve agricultural productivity, and safeguard Pakistan’s future against climate change-driven water stress.

The On-Farm Water Management Department is taking the lead. The data is ready to flow. Now, it’s time to turn innovation into impact — before the water runs dry.

Code for Pakistan collaborates with government departments to meaningfully address digitization challenges to improve government service delivery at low costs. To submit a problem statement, write to us at innovator@codeforpakistan.org