Farmers concerned over irrigation water crisis

MARDAN: Dozens of farmers held an emergency meeting in Katlang tehsil of rural Mardan and expressed their concern over the ongoing crisis of irrigation water in the area in the peak season due the low water availability in the Baizai irrigation scheme.

The water problem is serious particularly in the tail of the canal in BD 3 section and stoppage of irrigation water in the Machai Branch of Swat canal due to breach near Kharki village.

The farmers demanded Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and chief engineer to take note of the issue.

Imtiaz Ali, a progressive farmer, chaired the meeting wherein most of the farmers spoke about the serious water crisis in the area, complaining that their crops had started drying due to the lack of irrigation water.

A detailed discussion was held regarding illegal stealing of irrigation water, especially in the BD3 Baizai irrigation canal due to involvement of local irrigation staff who, the farmers alleged, are being bribed by certain people and involved in stealing of irrigation water.

The participant said the issue was brought into the notice of irrigation authorities time and again but to no avail.

The same issue was also brought into the notice of local MPA Malik Shaukat Khan who is also chairman of standing committee on irrigation, the farmers said in a statement.

The farmers said that they would not grow maize crop due lack of irrigation water

They also expressed concern over the unavailability of irrigation water in Machi branch canal as heavy loss is expected to the standing crops of the sugarcane, orchards, maize, vegetables and others.

The participants also discussed and agreed on the formation of farmers’ association to take up the farming community issues with government departments concerned and other relevant stakeholders. In near future, a meeting would be held to mobilise the farmers into an association for the solution of their issues.

It was decided in a meeting to quickly coordinate with the local irrigation department, local administration, and assistant commissioner Katlang to immediately resolve the issues, otherwise the farmers will have no option but to come onto roads to resolve their issues. Some participants also suggested closely coordinating with print and electronic media to highlight the farming community’s problems as media can play a vital role in solving the farmer’s problems.

At the end of the meeting, the participants demanded the chief minister KP, who also has the portfolio of irrigation, to take necessary and timely action to solve the farmers’ issues, especially those related to provision of irrigation water in Machi branch, and to stop the theft of irrigation water in Baizai irrigation canal.