Pro-poor intervention strategies in irrigated agriculture: a case study on NRSP

Declining growth rates, fiscal imbalances and weak social security nets have led to the worsening of the poverty situation in Pakistan, with more people experiencing both absolute and relative poverty. The National Rural Support Program (NRSP) forms a bridge between the rural poor, the majority of whom depend entirely on agriculture for subsistence and income, and the Government agencies and departments responsible for water-delivery infrastructure and management. This paper gives a list of NRSP\u2019s interventions in the water sector, all of which are focused on minimizing water losses and improving agricultural productivity for the rural poor. The paper presents the case for \u2018social mobilisation\u2019 as a critically important tool in the establishment of efficient and sustainable responses to water problems. Case studies provide examples of the effectiveness of these interventions.