RICE constitutes about 10 per cent of the total cropped area, with an acreage of about 2.5 million acres and production estimates at 5 million tons per annum, which accounts for 17 per cent of the total production of the foodgrain.

The share of rice in the value-added major crops stands at 15 per cent. In Sindh rice is cultivated on 1.7 million acres, of which over 1.2 million acres are on the right bank command area of Sukkur and Guddu Barrage in districts Larkana, Shikarpur and Jacobabad.

Rice is also cultivated illegally on the left bank of Sukkur and Guddu Barrages on vast acreage every year depending upon monsoon rains and the availability of water in irrigation canals. This area is basically cotton growing area. Cultivation of paddy in cotton belt is banned under the Rice Ordinance of 1959. As per conservative estimate based on field survey, undertaken by this scribe, during Kharif 2003 season, the acreage under illegal cultivation of paddy crop in the cotton growing districts of Ghotki, Sukkur, Khairpur, Naushero Feroze, and Nawab Shah was about 200,000 acres.

According to press reports, President Sindh Balochistan Rice Millers and Traders Association (SBRMTA) has expressed apprehension that this year the government would not be able to export Irri-6 variety of rice more than half of the last year because of drastic reduction in the acreage under Irri-6 paddy in the upper Sindh region.

The Sindh government regularly exports 0.8 to 1.2 million tons of Irri-6 rice. The situation looks depressed if viewed in the context of the European Union (EU) resolution that the Pakistani Super Basmati would not be eligible for concession w.e.f. January 2004, and also a regulation proposed by the Grain and Feed Trade Association (Gafta), seeking export of non-existent line of rice (Basmati 370). This would eliminate Pakistan from the European market, and warrants governments’ attention, both at the provincial and the federal levels. Since Irri-6 is the only rice variety exported from Sindh, its depleting acreage will be a topic of further discussions here. Prior to the shortage of irrigation water in Sindh, Irri-6 was the main rice variety covering about 80 per cent acreage in upper Sindh, having a recommended period of transplanting from June 20 to July 15. Just 3 to 4 years back when there was no shortage of water many farmers used to transplant paddy from the middle of April with the help of rice seedling raised with the tubewell water. To discourage early sowing, the raising of paddy nursery is not allowed before May 10 in Sindh, and May 20 in Punjab. The logic is not to allow the continuation of lifecycle of yellow stem-borer (S. incertulas), providing host plants in the form of rice seedlings. Growing any fine variety like sugdasi, colonel basmati etc., during this period of water abundance is risky. Despite two applications of granular pesticides, the growers of Sindh were not able to control the stem-borers menace. However, following acute shortage and late supply of water in the irrigation canals, particularly in the upper Sindh, paddy nursery seedling could not be raised in the month of May but after June 20 and even in July at the tail-end of rice growing area of Larkana, Shikarpur and Jacobabad districts.

Under this scenario transplantation of paddy becomes late. Irri paddy transplanted late after July 15 or in August, accordingly encountered severe pest attack, particularly white backed plant hopper (WBPH). On the contrary, Rusi basmati (Basmati 198), transplanted till the end of August or the first week of September was harvested without any significant pest damage. Moreover, it also fetched more than double returns, because of higher price. This changed scenario tempted the growers so much that during Kharif-2003 massive switch-over from Irri-6 to Rusi basmati and other fine varieties took place. Reportedly, area under Irri-6 paddy during Kharif-2003 came down to almost 40 per cent, which may be regarded as a serious threat to this long established rice variety.

Suggestions: Since Russi basmati, as locally called, is a mixture of some fine varieties having no sustainable future even in the local market, therefore, its cultivation should be discouraged. However, the best way to discourage the cultivation of this variety is the timely availability of water in the irrigation canals of Sindh. This will allow sufficient time for nursery raising and paddy transplanting for Irri -6. Since basmati rice, irrespective of varieties, is highly susceptible to pests, particularly, leaf-folder and stem-borer, growers in general will come back to the pavilion in good time provided there exist no shortage and timely supply of water in the irrigation canals. Besides, Irri-6 variety, being over 40 years of age, is loosing its high yielding and stem-borer’s resistance characters because of seed impurities. It is imperative that a matching replacement of this variety is arranged.

Besides, the twin menace of water-logging and salinity in low lying areas on left bank of Sukkur and Guddu Barrage have made it almost unfit for growing cotton. This situation is being exploited by corrupt revenue officials for their own gain.

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