Farmers in Landikotal seek enhanced govt support

LANDIKOTAL: The elders here on Thursday urged the government to extend immediate support to local farmers by providing modern agricultural equipment, machinery and inputs to boost crop production and strengthen the region’s economy.

Acting chairman of tehsil council Wali Muhammad Shinwari, tehsil Council member Haji Sher Afridi, councillor and president of Tanzim Nojawanan-e-Qabail Saeed Shinwari, Farmers’ union chairman Raj Wali Shinwari, farmer Sharif Shalmani, agriculture officer Haji Raza Afridi, and others told reporters that climate in Landikotal was ideal for a wide variety of crops and fruits, but farmers lack sufficient government assistance.

They said the current facilities provided by the government were too meagre and must be expanded to boost agricultural production.They stressed the need for solarisation of tubewells, provision of the best quality of fertilizers, tractors, quality seeds, pesticides and other essential agricultural equipment.

They said that Landikotal has about 350 registered farmers, with numbers steadily growing as more people return to agriculture. Olive cultivation was rapidly expanding in Shalman, they said, adding an olive oil extraction machine has been installed in Bara. With proper yields, they added, a single olive plant can earn a farmer up to Rs 20,000 per production. However, they regretted that government support remained inadequate, leaving many discouraged despite their willingness to farm.

The speakers stressed that water and land were the first requirements for farming, yet locals face acute drinking water shortages. Recent rains and floods have also caused serious damage to crops and orchards.