CHITRAL: Vehicular traffic between Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan was restored on Sunday after the clearance of debris from the Shandur road.

An official of the Upper Chitral district administration told Dawn that a large number of passengers going to GB had been stranded after debris from a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood had blocked a one-kilometre stretch of the road three days ago.

The official said daily bus service of Northern Areas Transport Corporation between Mastuj town and Gilgit city would resume on Monday (today).

Separately, the extension wing of the agriculture department arranged a ‘Kisan field day’ in Kalash valley of Bumburate, giving the local farmers basic information and know-how about crop management in the single-crop zone.

Extension wing’s deputy director Rafiq Ahmed and agriculture officer Shahzad Ayub discussed with them on how to increase per kanal yield in the valley, where land for agriculture is very limited.

They said that red bean produced in the valley was highly valued for its unique taste and flavor, but its yield was too low to be sufficiently available in the local market despite high demand. They said the crop’s cultivation on scientific lines could lead to bumper crop.

The agriculture experts also told the farmers about the new types of vegetables, including broccoli, to be cultivated on commercial scale as the climate and soil of the valley was ideal for it, and had potential to enhance financial position of growers.

They asked the farmers to use the platform of model farm services centre for getting information and other inputs. They said farmers were represented at these centres by their elected representatives at union council, tehsil and district levels.

The farm officers assured the farmers of every help to enhance their crop yield.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2021