Khyber Pakhtunkhwa growers for revival of agriculture sector in flood-hit areas

The flood-affected growers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have called for evolving a comprehensive plan and strategy for the revival of agriculture sector in the province.
"There is a need to focus on integrated approach for uplift of agricultural sector as 70 percent of the population relying on it," stated growers while speaking in a consultative seminar on "Post Flood Agriculture, Livestock, Food Security and Way Forward" here at Peshawar Press Club (PPC) on Tuesday. The seminar was organised by Sungi Foundation in collaboration with Action Aid and SAAG.
The floods affected farmers from Nowshera, Charssada, Mardan, Swat and remote areas participated in the consultative meeting. During discussion, a grower Salahuddin from district Swat emphasised to focus on survived lands and irrigation system to safe sowing lands and orchards in turbulent valley, where irrigation system had completely destroyed.
He stressed need for construction of breaches on banks Swat River as precautionary measures against floods in future. He demanded of the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for following the footsteps of Punjab to adopt crops insurance system in the province. He said the crops in Swat are in desperate need of irrigation water.
Another grower, Saleem Khan expressed his ordeals saying that the lack of planning at government and development organisations resulting in creation of hardships for the farmers. The recent floods, he said, had swept away 40 percent of the irrigation system in district Swat. He called for initiating of comprehensive plan for the rehabilitation of damaged water courses and channels to make re-cultivatable the affected agricultural farms in the province.
Gran Badshah, a farmer from Charssada alleged huge discrimination in distribution of seed and fertilisers to small growers in Dowaba and Shabqabar, areas in district Charssada. Around 14,000 acre feet lands had washed away in fertile areas of district Charssada, he added, and said that despite large scale agricultural losses, no assessment has been made so far.
He expressed fear that different viruses and diseases had been attacked different crops and orchards due to negligence of the department concerned. He said bridges and irrigation system had washed away and farms had inundated in majority areas of the districts.
Mohammadzai from Peshawar district, said that no assistance whether technical or financial has been provided to small farmers in the area. He said that the flood water had submerged the standing crops and remained stagnated for one month, but no immediate measures were taken by the relevant department. "There was lack of co-ordination between growers, and concerned departments pushing the farmers towards enormous difficulties and problem," he claimed.
He said the government should discourage hoarding of seeds and fertilisers and give it on needs and assessment basis. No practice work carried out and needs to change the existing policy regarding Agriculture and Livestock sectors in the province, he suggested.
A grower from Nowshera, said that the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkwa had not been given any benefit or incentive to flood affected growers as compared to Punjab government. He expressed concern over unavailability of agricultural inputs like seeds and fertilisers for flood affected growers and required medicines in veterinary hospitals. He demanded of the government to register all affected farmers of the province.
Making bulk of suggestions and recommendations for revival of neglected agricultural sector, Shakeel Waheedullah said the country was not needed guns, aircraft and other weapons, but requires boosting agricultural sector in the country.
Idress Kamal, social activist stressed need for comprehensive and integrated policy for rebuilding of irrigation system, water courses, agriculture and livestock development. Zar Ali Yousafzai, another social activist said the Federally Administered Tribal Areas had also been adversely affected by the floods in the province. He further said the livestock is main sources of income in tribal areas. However, no floods related survey conducted in Fata yet. The participants called upon the government to adopt comprehensive and long term policy to energise the declining Agricultural sector in the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkwa.