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WEEKLY
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| 50pc cotton, paddy crops may be lost due to water shortage |
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Friday, June 26, 2009
By Shahid Shah
KARACHI: Damage to more than 50 per cent production of cotton and paddy is likely this year in Sindh amid 40 per cent water shortage in the current Kharif season.
This year, Sindh has a production target of 3.25 million bales of cotton over an area of 0.5 million hectares and 2.03 million tonnes of paddy over 0.642 million hectares.
However, the water shortage has badly affected the sowing of both the crops across the province and growers have protested.
President Asif Ali Zardari was also informed about the water shortage during his recent visit to Karachi. According to reports, he ordered that the water scarcity issue should immediately be resolved and more water should be made available to the province.
The Sindh government has taken serious notice of sowing paddy in cotton exclusive districts and has stopped the practice this year. Paddy consumes more water and nothing would be left for cotton.
Nevertheless the growers in tail-end areas of Indus are worried that the target of both major crops - cotton and paddy - may not be achieved due to water shortage.
Reports said that Sindh would be given around 32,000 cusecs extra water daily but it has not satisfied the growers. Reports said that President Zardari has ordered to take other efficient way of water distribution but the growers have demanded water according to water accord of 91.
Syed Qamar u Zaman Shah, Chairman Sindh Chamber of Agriculture told The News that there was no other way to compensate Sindh than to give its water share according to the 91 water accord.
“Guddu barrage is our cash counter, we should be given our due share at that barrage,” he said. When there is no proper share given at Guddu, how it would reach to other two barrages, he asked.
Shah said that they were given water somewhere in Punjab, which could be diverted through other canals or would be pumped out. Measurement of Sindh’s share should be at Guddu barrage only, he stressed.
He said paddy needs regular supply of water besides cotton.
New variety of BT cotton requires almost double water than previous varieties. BT cotton has been sown by majority of growers, which requires at least 6 waters compared to 2 to 3 waters provided to other local varieties of cotton.
Not only these two crops would suffer from water shortage but sugarcane is also in the fields, it would also be affected along with minor crops, Shah said.
“We are lower riparian and the upper riparian are taking water as it was their kingdom,” he said.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
