SUKKUR, Aug 3: Water shortage has caused large-scale damage to paddy crop in upper Sindh, particularly in Shikarpur, Jacobabad and Larkana districts.

Confirming this, a report, prepared by Director-General of agriculture department Akram Malik and submitted to the Sindh government, has suggested provision of relief to affected farmers.

According to the report, most affected area is Larkana district where paddy has been sown over 60 per cent land as compared to last year's cultivation. Usually the crop is sown over 169,604 hectors in the district but this year it has been sown over 101,762 hectors, showing a decrease of 40 per cent.

Similarly paddy is usually sown over 89,559 hectors in Shikarpur whereas this year the area has been confined to 64,480 hectors, recording a decrease of 28 per cent. In Jacobabad, paddy is normally sown over 112,630 hectors but this year it has been cultivated over 76,588 hectors, showing a decrease of 32 per cent.

The Irri variety of rice could not be sown this year in the districts as the farmers have switched over to Basmati which has less yield per acre but higher price.

According to the agriculture department sources, this year cotton crop has remained very good in Sindh and it is for the first time that the crop has not been attacked by pest. The sources hoped that the target of cotton crop would be achieved all over Sindh excepting Jacobabad and Nawabshah.