Stakeholders discuss priority areas in agri, livestock

HYDERABAD: Agricultural sector stakeholders, including livestock departments, farmers, traders and scientists, gave suggestions to extend the World Bank -funded Sindh Agriculture Growth Project (SAGP) to small growers and livestock holders in rural areas.
They were discussing at a consultative workshop on Wednesday, organised jointly by Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tandojam and Sindh Agriculture Department. The event attracted World Bank adviser, officials of Sindh Board of Investment and other departments, producers of chillies, dates, onions, rice, bananas, mangos and other crops, as well as academia. The purpose was to promote agriculture crops, which are already attracting world markets.
SAGP Project Director Irshad Ahmed Ansari giving an overview of the project, invited researchers to send proposals on initially identified four crops, including dates, onions, chillies and rice. The growers of these crops are facing various problems in the fields and markets, including crop loss due to viral attacks and disasters. He also asked growers to point out any other crop, which may be incorporated in the research to promote it. The main objective, he said is to benefit small and medium growers of the province.
For competitive research, the fund is Rs30 million and each project cost is Rs5 million, which may be completed in three years. Then the project will be implemented in the light of findings and recommendations. The project may be expanded if there is need of further research in the light of recommendations, he said, adding that researchers may receive grants for the purpose.
"We are receiving complaints regarding the crops process, from sowing to harvest and this interaction between all stakeholders may help resolve these problems," he said.
Dr Atta Hussain Soomro, Director General Agriculture Research said Sindh produces 80 percent of the dates produced in Pakistan, which is exported to India only. "We have more potential to exploit through research. For instance, there are some varieties of date, which may be introduced to benefit the farmers."
He said some varieties are harvested before rain, which may be saved from damage, usually affecting farmers. Similarly, he said Sindh produces 90 percent chillies, which are experiencing virus attacks at the moment. This proposed research component may identify causes of virus and suggest solutions.
He said Sindh contributes 60 percent in the total product of onion in Pakistan. But this crop is ignored despite the fact that it attracts the world market. “There are varieties of onion, which should be introduced here and promoted through strengthening coordination within government, producers and researchers,” he said, adding there are certain reasons why onion yield has declined.
He said hybrid rice seeds are being used in Sindh. That is why we are unable to produce export quality. Apart from this, growers are facing viral diseases in rice crops. Moisture is affecting the rice crop, and farmers do not understand the solution. He pointed out that some viral-infected rice affect human life.
SAGP Livestock Component Project Director Nazeer Kalhoro said they have already formed 153 milk producers groups in nine districts of Sindh, providing them with chillers and market access.
He said they have components to provide trainings to 3,075 livestock farmers, and studies may help identify the problems and solutions for better milk production as well as animal care techniques.
Kalhoro said dairy farming, specially increasing milk production at local level has been ignored in the past and now it is being covered through this initiative. He said focus should be given to identify animal diseases and effects on milk production. Apart from this, he said breed improvement also needs proposals. He said they are planning to train farmers in fodder preservation and nutrient improvement too. SAU VC DR Mujeeb Memon Sehrai in his concluding remarks during the first session said their focus is on research and encouraging graduates to not only use classes and laboratory but also engage in research.
The VC discussed the university’s contributions in research, and said in the past they sent graduates abroad for higher education, but many of them never returned home to benefit the university. This brought a bad name to SAU, which is why not it saves money and sends graduates after consultation with departments.
The VC appreciated Prof Ismail Kumbhar who made it possible to implement the project with stakeholders. Kumbhar facilitated the workshop with stakeholders.
Mian Saleem, President Sindh Chilli Growers Association, hailing from the biggest Kunri Chilli market, Umerkot said chilli is the main crop in Kunri because of the pleasant weather.
He said 10 years ago there were no reports of crop disease in chilli, but now there are some problems.
Giving an example, he said this was discovered when an export consignment came back from the European Union because of a viral infection in the product. It was eye opener for the government, producers and exporters, who then conducted experiments to avoid the diseases.
He said now only Australia imported chilli worth Rs500 million.
World Bank Adviser Nazar Mahar, Sindh Chief Economist Fatah Mari, Dr Hidayatullah Chajro and others spoke on the occasion. At the end, the growers and other stakeholders pointed out problems for research.