Summer crops at risk in Sindh on water shortages

HYDERABAD: Sindh growers are advised to delay the sowing of cotton and chili crops, as an acute water shortage is likely to cause colossal losses to them this season, an expert said on Saturday.

“We have warned the farmers against cultivating these crops according to the scheduled as they may not be able to find enough water for them. Owing to the same reason the cotton sowing area in Sindh is likely to remain undercultivated this year,” Nawab Zubair Talpur, of Sindh Growers Alliance told The News. 

"We are unsure about the supply of water this year. This dearth will obviously damage the major crops and may continue to hurt the agriculture economy of the province." 

Talpur feared that many growers, who have already cultivated sugarcane, banana, and cotton in scattered areas, are very much likely to take a hit due to the scarcity of water. 

“Similarly, those farmers, who have sown wheat later, will also suffer, as they will be unable to water the crop at the time of ripening,” said he adding, Sindh is facing the worst water shortage since 2005. 

He informed that growers are raising hue and cry against this emergent problem in many areas, accusing provincial government of failing in negotiating with Punjab government and other water authorities to resolve the issue. 

"We have observed that in case of shortage of water the government fails to manage traditional distribution system at watercourses and tributaries. It gives rise to uncertainty among growers and other water users," he warned. 

Taplur said that the minister of irrigation, in a recent meeting held in Hyderabad, had assured the growers of 5000 cusecs in Rohri canal, 3500 cusecs in Nara canal, and 3000 cusecs extra water in other canals for this season to meet the crisis, but it’s far from enough to save the crops.  

"This small quantity of water could only meet the drinking demands and will be of no benefit to growers, at all," the growers’ body leader said. 

He added the situation can be gauged from the fact that Rohri and Nara canals usually receive 14000--15000 cusecs in this season to meet the demand of growers, livestock and drinking purposes. “This huge gap will create uncertainty and may cause the users to clash over their share of water,” he warned and added the authorities will have to ensure fair distribution at watercourses or brace for violent clashes. 

Speaking about the new cotton season, he said presently growers are ready to sow seeds as per tradition because the season has started, but due to the uncertainty regarding the supply of water far less area will come under cultivation this year. 

“This will impact the overall cotton production of Pakistan, because Sindh province has always been the major contributor in this regard,” Taplpur emphasised. 

Sindh Abadgar Board, another leading growers association, has already warned the province will have acute shortage of water in April, spreading uncertainty among communities relying on water for drinking and irrigation purposes. 

On the other hand, growers from Thatta and Sujawal districts are considered lucky to lead the cultivation of cotton and variety of vegetables, melon family fruits and others, starting in mid February and March.

While in other areas similar crops like cotton are cultivated later in March and April. A few farmers have already sown cotton on their family lands and are now waiting to save them. 

Reports, gathered from growers of both aforementioned districts, reveal that they are not receiving canal water to save cotton crop sown earlier. Canals and watercourses look dried, sending depressing message to the farmers, the reports added. 

Gulab Shah, a local activist, who holds 200 acres of family land, said he had sown cotton on a chunk of land with other growers in the area, but the water in the canal flowing into their area stopped suddenly. “Since then, we are waiting for the water to save our crops and cover the remaining areas with seasonal crops,” Shah said. 

He added that in this area, farmers produce a variety of vegetables and melon family fruits and mostly supply these products during the fasting month of Ramzan, but this year they may not be able to do it.  

Leading growers’ organizations, believe that Sindh government authorities have not played their due role to resolve the water issue with Punjab. 

Exchange of allegations between the provincial governments of Punjab and Sindh is not the solution to the problem facing the national agriculture economy.

Presently Sindh is being deprived of its share of water and growers are facing an uncertain situation to save cotton and chili crops for their sustainability.