On the one hand, irrigation water shortage triggered widespread cold-injury damage to banana, young mango plantations, and those of cucumber, chilli, potato, tomato and other vegetable crops. On the other hand, water shortage which was up to 40 per cent during Rabi season decreased the wheat-sowing target of the province by 29 per cent. In regard to cold-injury damage it would be proper to mention that flooding of soil during frosty night, which could not be done due to acute shortage of water in the irrigation canals, failed to prevent cold injury damage to plants.
From the beginning of Kharif 2001, due to water shortfall at Tarbela water level, the Indus River started receding fast. Accordingly, water discharge into the Sukkur Barrage came down to 16400 cusecs from 18600 cusecs. The reduction in water supply was estimated to about 65 per cent affecting 1.8 million acres of Guddu and 3.2 million acres of the Sukkur Barrage in the same season.
In the backdrop of this scenario, the agriculture department chalked out a contingency plan for the Kharif. Among other things, the plan envisaged delay in cotton-sowing, advising farmers about irrigation water at critical stages, irrigation through tube-well installation, land levelling, ridge sowing etc. It was also envisaged that experts of the Sindh Agriculture University and the Nuclear Institute of Agriculture, Tandojam would provide technological package about less water application and growing of alternate deltaless crops. The plan had divided the province into four zones along with crops recommended for each zone.
On the right bank of Indus (Zone-A) in the upper Sindh, which is basically a rice-growing belt comprising districts Shikarpur, Larkana and Jacobabad, cultivation of cotton on commercial scale was planed besides sesame, moong, mash, jowar and vegetables. To implement the ban on rice cultivation in the specified areas it was assured that Rice Ordinance would strictly be enforced by the district administration and the Irrigation Department. Reportedly, cotton crop in the rice-growing belt was grown over an area of about 11000 acres. As per agriculture department source, about 3000 acres of cotton crop was sown in district Larkana alone. Since cotton crop is very sensitive to factors like climate, soil, type of variety, irrigation, etc. and growers who resort to this risky venture are almost ignorant of pest management this writer undertook a survey of the standing cotton crop during the first week of October.
The survey of the cotton crop over an area of about 25 acres at Deh-Chawni on Shikarpur Rustum Road indicated that the crop had virtually failed causing great loss to the grower. Crop was under excessive seepage water caused due to cultivation of paddy crop in the adjoining field. The crop was in its maturing stage but almost without any cotton bolls. As apprised, the very cotton crop had been given 5 sprays on the advice of officials and representatives of pesticide companies. Besides, the crop had also been given 5 to 6 irrigations, 2 bags of SSP and one bag of urea fertilizer. I was also informed that a grower at Rahimabad in district Shikarpur had to replace his standing cotton crop on about 50 acres with an early-maturing rice variety. The reason being the excessive seepage following large-scale cultivation of rice crop in the vicinity of cotton fields.
At an another cotton field of about 8 acres at Deh-Mirzapur in Taluka Garhiyasin district Shikarpur, a variety of cotton sown was Niab-78 and HB-137. Although the grower had applied 5 sprays, inspection indicated 40 per cent infestation on bolls and 35 per cent on squares. Because of seepage it was difficult to move in side the crop. Since cultivation of cotton crop had been undertaken early using tubewell water crop was harbouring mature bolls but not adequate in number. Expected yield was not more than 5 to 6 mounds.
A cotton field on an area of about 10 acres at deh Lodhra in Taluka Shikarpur was not found under seepage but was devoid of mature bolls. Though crop was not sown very late, but was sown through broadcasting method. As a result, no tillage had taken place. The crop canopy did not allow more than one inter-culturing and despite 4 sprays, the crop was not holding adequate bolls. The crop was, in fact, a victim of bad management.
At Rice Research Institute Dokri, a cotton variety CRIS-134 on a plot of less than one acre, the crop was sown as late as on 15th July. Its inspection in the first week of October indicated a very poor boll formation and all immature. The farmer had applied three sprays and the field was under high seepage due to cultivation of paddy in the adjoining fields.
In the district Larkana, a 4-acre cotton crop at Deh-Chooherpur near Quaid-e-Awam Research Institute was found badly damaged by seepage and bad management. However another cotton field at Deh-Mashouri Shah in Taluka-Dokri belonging another farmer was found comparatively in better condition and devoid of any seepage. But inadequate plant protection measures had inflicted damage to the crop.
Suggestions: (1) Since the district administration and the Irrigation Department have failed to enforce the Rice Ordinance, it is suggested that to in order to avoid further damage to the cotton crop, a separate zone in each of the rice-growing districts be carved out exclusively for cotton and sesame crops cultivation.
(2). In order to train rice growers, a programme prior to kharif season be launched in the rice zone.
(3) Growers in rice-growing districts may be persuaded to adopt the method adopted by a progressive farmer in the area for cotton-growing under seepage water condition.
(4) CIM-109 variety of cotton has been found giving good yield despite seepage condition for longer period in the cotton field. In view of this fact, it is suggested that during Kharif 2002, growers may be recommended for cultivation of this variety in the rice zone of upper Sindh.