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<p>Cryosphere-fed irrigation systems are a significant source of water supplies for sustaining mountain agriculture and consequently the livelihoods of numerous communities residing in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB). The existing biophysical, environmental, and application data related to the overall irrigation system have not been inventoried for this region due to technical and geographical constraints. The current study focuses on evaluating the existing status of the kuhl irrigation system using geospatial techniques coupled with ground information for sustainable agricultural water management in the Hunza Basin, Pakistan. According to the study findings, about 23.1% of the kuhls were categorized as small (length &lt; 1&#xa0;km), 70.7% medium (length 1–5&#xa0;km) and 6.2% large (length &gt; 5&#xa0;km). The meltwater streams and glaciers form the major water intake sources of over 92.4% and 5.4% of the kuhls, respectively. The major application fields of the kuhl system identified include agriculture, orchards, domestic, and power generation. The accuracy of the kuhl inventory based on remote sensing can be further improved by carrying out thorough socioeconomic and ground-based investigations. The study findings would strengthen the knowledge base for sustainable agricultural water management and to ensure food and water security in this remote mountainous region. Agriculture and socioeconomic sustainability can be achieved through integrated water resource management and participation of all stakeholders in the decision-making process. In-depth research on hydro-glacial dynamics would be beneficial for future water resource management under changing climate and land use in this region in the future.</p>

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Geospatial Investigation of Cryosphere-Fed Irrigation System in High-Altitude Hunza Basin, Pakistan

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月18日

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  • Arshad Ashraf,
  • Imran Ahmad

摘要

Cryosphere-fed irrigation systems are a significant source of water supplies for sustaining mountain agriculture and consequently the livelihoods of numerous communities residing in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB). The existing biophysical, environmental, and application data related to the overall irrigation system have not been inventoried for this region due to technical and geographical constraints. The current study focuses on evaluating the existing status of the kuhl irrigation system using geospatial techniques coupled with ground information for sustainable agricultural water management in the Hunza Basin, Pakistan. According to the study findings, about 23.1% of the kuhls were categorized as small (length < 1 km), 70.7% medium (length 1–5 km) and 6.2% large (length > 5 km). The meltwater streams and glaciers form the major water intake sources of over 92.4% and 5.4% of the kuhls, respectively. The major application fields of the kuhl system identified include agriculture, orchards, domestic, and power generation. The accuracy of the kuhl inventory based on remote sensing can be further improved by carrying out thorough socioeconomic and ground-based investigations. The study findings would strengthen the knowledge base for sustainable agricultural water management and to ensure food and water security in this remote mountainous region. Agriculture and socioeconomic sustainability can be achieved through integrated water resource management and participation of all stakeholders in the decision-making process. In-depth research on hydro-glacial dynamics would be beneficial for future water resource management under changing climate and land use in this region in the future.