Growers seek reforms in Sindh irrigation department

The growers have demanded reformation in Sindh Irrigation Department assigning duties of the agriculture engineers to assess requirements of timely release of water for Kharif and Rabi crops so that the maximum yield per acre could be achieved along with recovery of spending on crop cultivation. Due to non awareness of requirements, the engineers of the irrigation department have failed to timely release water for crop cultivation which is causing losses for recovery of inputs the growers said and added that the agriculture engineers could take right decisions in this direction.
Nadeem Ahmed, a grower of Tando Muhammad Khan informed that he had received water supplies late for sowing paddy crop. The irrigation water was supposed to receive in the field in the month of May and June but the engineers of Phuleli Canal Division released water in the month of August which made delay in sowing the paddy crop, he added.
He said irony of the fact was that water supply had been closed in the month of October when the paddy crop is on maturity and needed sufficient quantity of water. The closure of water at this time would cause fifty percent crop losses despite the fact that water from sim nullah was also utilized for the purpose, he said and added that similarly he would fail to get proper rate of his paddy crop. This year, the growers of Tando Muhammad Khan would suffer fifty percent losses of their crop due to non availability of water, he added.
He said that though the growers would get paddy price of Rs 1100/- per 40 kg due to increase in dollar rate but it would also not help them to recover their losses of spending on inputs. The growers could also face financial losses after sowing wheat crop late. The delay in sowing paddy crop would also make delay in sowing wheat crop of season therefore they could not get such quantum of their crops which they could earn in timely sowing, he added. He also underlined the need of setting of maximum procurement centers from Trade Corporation of Pakistan so that the growers could face minimum losses.