The Third Party Involvement in Resolving River Water Disputes between Pakistan and India

Water and related issues are gaining importance in the present world politics. It is believed that water would be the source of some major future conflicts in many regions including South Asia. Water distribution between Pakistan and India has become a serious political issue since independence. The problem has its roots in the partition of the Indian Subcontinent in 1947. Although the issue was resolved amicably by the two states in 1960 and a treaty was signed, even then number of other issues developed after the treaty. One of the important aspects of the settlement route was the Indian refusal and Pakistan’s insistence on the presence and participation of any third neutral party. Despite the Indian policy of bilateralism on many regional issues, water disputes and resolution remained a classical example of multilateralism, where at least on four major occasions the settlements were reached with the involvement of a third neutral party.

Studies on Intercropping of Sugarbeet Beta Vulgaris L. With Sugarcane Saccharum Officinarun L. by Different Management Practices

Keeping in view the low fertilizer, less organic matter in soil and small holdings for sugarcane-sugar beet in Pakistan, the present research work was started at the Agricultural Research Institute, Dera Ismail Khan during 2009-10 and 2010-11 to make available a possible pack up of reserve management technology to sugarcane and sugar beet farmers under dry region. Three experiments were laid out in a randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement and four replications. The treatment size was 4.5 m x 5 m (22.5 m2). Approved sugarcane varity “HSF-240” and sugar beet varity “Antak” was used in all experiments.In first experiment, six NPK doses F0 (0-0-0), F1 (100-100-100), F2 (150-150- 150), F3 (200-200-200), F4 (250-250-250), and F5 (300-300-300) NPK kg ha-1 and sugar beet was intercropped in sugarcane with 90 cm spaced row. In second experiment, manures @ 10 t ha-1(farm yard manure, press mud, compost) in combination with NPK 100-100-100 and 250-250-250 NPK kg ha-1. Sugar beet was intercropped in sugarcane with 90 cm spaced row. In third experiment, three planting geometries 75 cm spaced single row strips, 30/90 cm row strips, 30/120 cm row strips and sugar beet intercrop in sugarcane were practiced. Data were recorded on various growth and yield parameters like germination (%), millable cane (m-2), individual cane weight (kg), sugar recovery (%), stirpcane yield, and sugar yield of sugarcane, whereas, beet germination (%), number of beets (m-2), individual beet weight (kg), beet sugar recovery (%), and beet sugar yield (t ha-1) were recorded in sugar beet, benefit cost ratio (BCR), in all experiments. In first trial the highest benefit cost ratio (BCR) and land equivalent ratio were obtained from the combination of NPK application @ 250: 250:250 NPK kg ha-1, when sugar beet was intercropped in sugarcane. In second trial, maximum economic benefit was obtained with FYM + 250:250:250 NPK kg ha-1, in sugarcane intercropped with sugarbeet. In the third trial maximum economic benefit was obtained fromplanting geometry of 30/90 cm row strips when sugar beet was intercropped in sugarcane. It is concluded that sugarcane growers of arid areas can get maximum return when sugarcane is planted in 30/90 cm spaced paired row strips with FYM 10 tons ha-1 and 250:250:250 NPK kg ha-1 in sugarcane intercropped with sugarbeet. Better water and fertilizer use efficiency of autumn sugarcane on above mentioned soils was noted due to enhanced light interception. Cultural operations in standing crop like irrigation, fertilization, weeding, hoeing, earthing up and foliar spray of pesticides are easily carried out as ample interstrip space was available. Minimum lodging was observed due to availability of adequate space among the paired row strips.