HYDERABAD: A Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) meeting has questioned the lack of maintenance and transparency in development work on barrages. It appreciated that Sukkur Barrage was made operational within nine days after the June 20 damage to its gates, but observed that it didn’t happen without losses to the farm sector.

Chaired by SAB president Mahmood Nawaz Shah, the meeting was attended by growers from Qambar-Shahdadkot, Shikarpur, Badin, Tando Mohammad Khan, Sanghar and Tando Allahyar.

Growers were deeply concerned about the damage to a number of gates of Sukkur Barrage.

According to SAB, pivotal role of a barrage in Pakistan’s economy should not be ignored at any time. Sukkur Barrage in this context is the most important and one of the largest barrages in the world. Damage to its gates can not only impact eight million acres of direct command area of the barrage, but can have an effect on downstream Kotri Barrage and 80 per cent of agriculture in Sindh as well. Such a situation would have a negative impact on industry and exports, which included the largest manufacturing sector of Pakistan that was related to cotton and rice export and sugar production etc.

The SAB meeting said that early rehabilitation of the barrage was commendable but more important question was to understand lack of maintenance as well as transparency in development work on the barrages, it added.

In addition to it, technology should be utilised in the operation of the barrages. For example, sensors and telemetry could be used for effective monitoring, and operation of the barrages with the artificial intelligence to link weather data with water arrivals could also be useful, it observed.

According to the SAB, the June 20 incident should be taken as an eye opener for the concerned department. Assets of Sindh deserved attention worthy of its importance in Pakistan’s economy and not just agriculture. Therefore, SAB demands due caution, care and transparent development work on that aging barrage.

Export of immature mangoes

SAB said mango growers resented exports of immature mangoes from Pakistan on May 20 which resulted in market crash and losses to growers. It noted that it was a given fact that Sindhri, being one of the largest exporting mango, did not mature before June’s first week.

This year mangoes were harvested on May 15 to be shipped on May 20. If mango remains immature, the fruit does not develop proper sweetness, colour or natural flavour. It said the step kept customers unsatisfied and its demand reduced. Subsequently, the price of export quality mango in Sindh dropped from Rs6,500 to Rs3,500 per 40kg in June.

The meeting observed that the issue could not be resolved administratively and stakeholders, including growers, contractors, government and exporters, needed to sit together to find a solution.

The meeting said if best practices were not developed and adopted, and mangoes and other agricultural products of good quality were not ensured, Pakistan would not be able to export fruits or vegetables to the markets where there was premium.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2024