AS the rain and subsequent floods have wreaked havoc across the country, people in the interior of Sindh are worried about their homes and their major source of income; the agricultural fields.

The first spell of rain destroyed the date farms in Sukkur and Khairpur that produce 90pc of dates in Sindh. The second spell completely destroyed the paddy crop in major areas, such as Larkana, Shikarpur, Qambar-Shahdadkot and Jacobabad.

Besides, both the spells led to flash floods in almost all districts and badly affected the cotton crop. And, with water still standing in the fields, the growers are worried about the future of the wheat crop in the coming months. Lack of access to the relevant authorities is adding to the misery of worried growers.

If the right actions are not taken today, the fields will not be able to absorb this much water in the coming winter months, rendering them useless throughout the winter season.

The provincial government must look after the farmers and take steps to protect their agricultural land. The areas that need the immediate attention of the decision-makers include Dhandhi and Sangrar union councils (UCs) in Sukkur district where floodwater is not the lone problem. Due to the breach in Karo-Naro, which is nothing but a ‘river’ of chemical waste and liquid poison flowing downstream from Punjab, the farm fields will be good for nothing if the standing water and sludge are not drained out urgently.

This ‘river’ has already consumed thousands of acres in the two UCs and the threat is far from over even without the current inundation. The relevant authorities should take action and prepare a plan to pump out water from these areas as soon as possible so that the farmers may grow the wheat crop in about a month’s time.

A. Qayoom Mangrio
Sukkur

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2022