SWABI: Farmers here have said that due to prolonged dry spell, the yield of watermelon during current year was not as per their expectations due to which they faced financial problems and a discouraging environment.

Growers told this scribe that the cost of cultivating watermelon increased manifold as it always needed more water and persistence care as compared to other crops. They said that they had to remain watchful for the entire night to keep it secure from thieves.

Ayaz Khan, a farmer in Shahmansoor village who grew watermelon on 30 kanals said, that with the rainfall, its plant became strong and healthy besides its yield and taste enhanced manifold which helped them to achieve a bumper crop and sell it at a reasonable price.

Growers said that ploughing, weeding, purchasing hybrid seed, irrigating, fertilising labouring and using pesticides were not an easy task like the past and any delay in anti-insects’ spray could inflict huge financial loss on them.

Say yield not according to their expectations due to prolonged dry spell

Khalid Khan, district president of Kisan Board, said that he saluted to those farmers, who switched over from tobacco to cultivating watermelon, because they were no longer at the mercy of Pakistan Tobacco Board, multinational and national companies and adopted an independent approach to earn their livelihood with dignity and honour.

KILLED: A university student drowned in the Indus River here the other day.

The student identified as Faraz Khan was hailing from Mohallah Miangan in Chota Lahor and had gone to the river along with his friends to beat the heat. Rescue operation and search for the drowned youth was under way.

Meanwhile, a 55-year-old truck driver Musharraf Khan, who belonged to Peshawar, was killed in a road traffic accident.

The accident occurred near Dubian Interchange on Swat Expressway. The driver was injured and taken to Mardan Medical Complex where doctors pronounced him dead.

MINISTER: Provincial Minister for Irrigation Aqibullah Khan reviewed here the other day restoration of drainage system and flood protection embankments in various areas that were badly affected by floods last year.

He visited Khalabat, Murghaz, Bamkhel, Thandkoi, Shagai Khwar, Dobian, Badrinullah Bridge in Swabi Khas and inspected work on Swabi bypass road. He directed officials concerned to complete the remaining work as soon as possible to protect people and their property from floods.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2024