MIRPURKHAS: Gro-wers have demanded the government ensure removal of encroachments from the banks of natural waterways without delay to allow floodwaters to flow down to the sea.

Office-bearers of the Tail-end Growers Association — Muhammad Ismail, Imamdin Maher, Muhammad Moosa Maher, Khalid Arain and others — said while talking to journalists at the local press club here on Friday that the stagnating floodwater was causing huge losses to farmers by affecting agriculture land efficiency, increasing waterlogging and salinity in Mirpurkhas division, which had in turn reduced production of crops.

They called for drastic measures to face the climate change effects and protect the agriculture production.

They deplored that the Sindh government did not take serious interest farmers’ issues and agriculture as it had failed to remove the illegal encroachments from the natural waterways, including Dhoro Puran, despite repeated demands by people.

As a result, a huge amount of rainwater accumulated each year in the rural and urban areas of Mirpurkhas as well as other districts, devastating agriculture during the past decade.

Floodwater there remained stagnant for some months, causing increase in waterlogging and salinity which damaged roots of the crops (plants), reducing the produce by 70 per cent and causing huge losses to farmers, they said.

They regretted that owing to inefficiency of the Sindh government, waterlogging and salinity had again increased and caused big losses to growers.

They asked the government and other institutions to ensure first of all removal of encroachments from natural waterways without any delay to help floodwater reach its destination from the district.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2023