Growers in Sindh have urged the provincial government to fulfill its pledge to provide subsidised inputs for sunflower sowing in areas of upper Sindh on the right bank of the Indus River where flood water is receding.

They say that they are looking forward to get free sunflower seed, fertiliser and farm extension services to start cultivation of the crop.

Government officials say 18 per cent of the province had come under water during the recent floods and 10 per cent of this area is likely to remain submerged until March.

There may be no Rabi crop this year in around 50 per cent areas of the right bank of Indus.

Rabi sowing in the province begins from October and lasts till late January. Sunflower is usually sown in lower Sindh districts, which include Tharparkar, Umerkot, Badin, Thatta, Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas and scattered areas of the left bank in upper Sindh. On the other side, the crop has never been cultivated on the right bank districts of upper Sindh, which are traditionally rice and wheat growing areas.

According to lower Sindh growers, no sunflower sowing activity has started in their areas as yet because of late paddy harvest. “Paddy sowing was late by two months due to water shortages and late arrival of irrigation water in these areas. While paddy harvest is still continuing in most of the areas, sunflower sowing has been delayed,” pointed out Amin Memon, president Lower Sindh Growers Association.

But the growers are poised to go for sunflower, as it is cultivated on residual moisture in the paddy-growing areas of lower Sindh districts from October to February. However, they fear fall in per acre yield as sowing has already been delayed by two months.

The Pakistan Oilseed Development Board, in its meeting held on November 8 in Lahore, set 6,25,000 acres target for sowing sunflower for 2010-11 for Sindh.

An official of the provincial agriculture department said Rs2000 per maund support price had been fixed for sunflower and arrangements had been made for free distribution of its seed amongst the flood-hit farmers for 80,000 acres in upper Sindh's right bank areas.

“No farmer has received any government support so far for sowing sunflower,” pointed out Nabi Khan Brohi, a paddy and wheat grower in Shikarpur district.

Agriculture experts say while sunflower can be sown on residual moister in paddy growing areas also on the right bank of Indus in upper Sindh by March 2011, the government must ensure that sunflower sowing begins at the earliest. Otherwise, late provision of basic inputs for the sowing of the crop in the said areas would reduce per acre yield, they cautioned.

In October this year, the Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) had proposed to the provincial government to launch a sunflower support package for affected farmers of upper Sindh, whose lands remained safe and from where the floodwater had receded.

“We had also suggested that even if irrigation water would not be available to farmers for Rabi sowing as most of the irrigation network is damaged, sunflower can be sown on lands having residual moisture in the paddy-growing areas,” he said.

A provincial agriculture department official said that lack of funds was the main reason behind non-supply of subsidised farm inputs. “The provincial government is looking for a funding organisation, which can provide financial support for sunflower sowing,” the official said.

Meanwhile, the United States Agency for Aid has inked a $15 million sunflower cultivation package with Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB), Rural Support Pakistan Network (RSPN) and Sindh Rural Support Organisation (SRSO).

The package, it was stated, would cover seven districts Jacobabad, Shikarpur, Kashmore-Kandhkot, Dadu, Larkana, Qambar-Shahdadkot and Thatta.

According to details of the agreement document, “A target of 93,240 acres for sunflower cultivation has been set with 'one acre per family' vision.

The growers would be provided with free seed and other essential farm inputs, cash for land preparation, threshing facilities and basic agronomy extension services.

But agricultural analysts say success of sunflower cultivation would depend on timely provision of seed and other farm inputs.