UMERKOT, March 3 Wheat harvest has started in the district but this year the grain's production will be well below the target mainly because of unrelenting water shortage, prolonged rotation schedule and a lack of awareness about balanced application of water and fertiliser.

Wheat is sown earlier in Lower Sindh than in other parts of the province hence earlier harvest.

According to agriculture department, wheat has been sown on only 800,000 acres in the district as against the government's target of wheat cultivation on 100,000 acres.

Ayaz Kachhelo, an officer in the agriculture department, said that unrelenting water shortage and prolonged rotation schedule had seriously affected three critical growth stages of wheat.

The grain's growth stage changed on each 21st day and the crop required water but in Umerkot the growers were receiving water after intervals of more than 45 days. As a result, he said, at the milky stage of grain formation it got sucked and it would therefore lead to a drop in yield.

He said that soil also lacked organic matter and this time instead of two to five per cent only 0.5 per cent organic matter was found in the soil, which had seriously damaged its water-holding capacity.

He said that soil needed 200 maunds farmyard manure including residues of plants and animals. Weedicide spray (extermination of weeds) could also raise yield up to five maund per acre, he said.

He said that the growers had not only abandoned use of organic fertiliser but also given up a balanced application of water or fertilizer, which had harmed the soil.

Mr Shahzad, food inspector and in-charge of local wheat procurement centre, said that some time ago, the federal government had announced establishment of procurement centres after March 15 but they had not so far received instructions.

Mohammad Bux Kumbhar, general secretary of Sindh Agriculture Development Association, said that agriculture department had set a target of 100,000 hectares last year and retained the same this year. There was no demand-based strategy, which caused shortage of wheat and rise in flour prices, he said.

Dr Noor Ali Shah, a grower, said that wheat crop required watering five times in order to achieve good yield but in Umerkot the growers were able to water their land only three times.

Against a demand for 1,100 cusec only 500 cusec water was available at Farash regulator because water was not stored in Chotiari reservoir this year, he said.

He said that it was scientifically proved that time of planting was important to gain a rich wheat yield. “It significantly affects germination, number of tillers, number of grains per spike and eventually grain yield.”