SANGHAR, Feb 11: The Sanghar district is likely to have bumper rapeseed crop this season. The harvest of the crop will begin from mid February to the end of March 2003.

Farmers usually grow rapeseed when they are exhausted financially or they do not get fair prices for their major crop i.e. cotton, sugarcane, wheat. The other factor is that the crop is less water reliant as compared to other cash crops.

This season vast cultivable land left uncultivated and the farmers opted to grow minor crops like tomatoes, onions, green chillies, rapeseed, etc., resulting growth of these crops in abundance.

As rapeseed requires small investment, and there is no guidance from the government or the agricultural department about the demand and supply situation or the market position, the farmers resorted to cultivate the crop.

In year 1999-2000 it was cultivated on 10430 acres and during 2000-2001 about 22012 acres came under rapeseed crop and in the entire Sindh an area of 195000 acres was brought under cultivation during the same period.

For 2002-2003, the figures were not available with district agriculture department but the progressive farmers and their organizations said that this year the area is at least 30 per cent more than last year under this crop.

About one month ago it was being sold at a rate of about Rs700 per 40kg, while a week ago it was about Rs650 and on Monday the commission agents were purchasing it between Rs620 and Rs600 per 40kg. The farmers are anticipating that the rates will fall far below than this when full crop comes to market.

Due to fair weather it is hoped that this year there will be a bumper rapeseed crop. Shahpur Chakar area, famous for this crop, miles and miles of this crop can be witnessed.

This area is usually water starved even in those days when water supply position was good.