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Dry spell may result in 2m ton less wheat yield
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s agriculture sector can face from 1 to 2
million ton less wheat yield this year because of the
continuing dry spell and overall acute water crisis in the
country.
“There is no water available for irrigation purposes in the
country as reservoirs in Mangla and Tarbela dams have almost
reached to their dead level and if rains up to required level
did not pour in near future, Pakistan’s agri sector and
specially wheat yield would be affected in current year,” a
high level official close to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture
and Livestock told The Nation here on Sunday.
Rain-fed (barani) agricultural areas can face upto 25 per cent
loss in wheat yield this year because of the continuing dry
spell and overall water crisis in Pakistan, the official said.
He stated the agri sector growth was mainly dependent on four
major crops like wheat, rice, cotton and sugarcane.
The livestock shares stand at 36 per cent in total agri
growth.
“If we review the prevailing situation related to the four
major crops, it shows very bleak picture as far as agri growth
target of 2.6 per cent for current financial year is
concerned,” the official said. He argued that Pakistan could
face loss in wheat yield from 1 to 2 million tonne mainly due
to prevailing dry spell and acute water shortages in the
country.
“Our production in cotton stands at 10.4 million bales against
10.7 million bales of last year and rice production is also
estimated to remain lower this year,” he added. The area of
sugarcane sowing was increased by 2 per cent in this year, he
said and questioned as to how Pakistan could switch over from
negative 2.5 per cent agri growth of last year to positive 2.6
per cent in current fiscal keeping in view the prevailing
conditions. He said the government has convened a meeting on
February 21 to review cotton procurement process and remedial
measures would be recommended to speed up the procurement
mechanism.
An official in IRSA also admitted that the prevailing water
situation was quite critical and water shortages reached to
its peak.
“There will be no water for irrigation purposes after couple
of weeks which means that wheat grains will be weaker
resulting into lower production in current season,” he added.
However, if dry spell continues in near future, wheat produce
in barani areas could slide further, agri experts believed.
The continuing dry spell has almost dried up 1,278 wells, 111
turbines in Pothohar region built up by the farmers on 50 to
75 per cent subsidy by Abad, an agricultural wing of the
government of Punjab, say officials of the department.
Similarly, the water storage capacity of 470 mini dams and 940
ponds is highly alarming, they added. Irrigating water
capacity in 30 small dams built up by Small Dams Association,
another agricultural wing of Punjab government for Pothohar
region is exhausting. Of these 30, four small dams in
Rawalpindi’s vicinity (Lehtarar, Fateh Jang, Chakri road,
Sangjani,Tarnol) face acute shortage of irrigating water.
Officials in the Ministry of Food and Agriculture said
Pothohar region shares the highest percentage of yield in
total rain-fed production of this staple commodity.
Traditionally, Pakistan’s agricultural areas need an average
250 mm of rain fall as minimum requirement to meet official
target of 20 million metric ton wheat, say agriculture
experts.
In a situation when agricultural areas face more than 70 per
cent of water shortage, the factor of quantitative rainfall is
likely to play a major adverse role in meeting wheat targets.
Light rainfall in parts of the country helped the germination
process of the wheat crops in rain-fed areas. The quantitative
calculation of the figures of rainfall during last several
years by The Nation shows that wheat crop areas of Pakistan
need minimum 250 mm rain in coming weeks.
Lahore region needs minimum 23.0 mm rain, Rawalpindi region
that mainly comprises rain-fed areas an average requirement of
56.1 mm rain. Faisalabad, which is one of the major areas for
wheat crop requires an average rainfall of 11.5 mm and Multan
needs at least 7.2 mm normal rainfall.
The rainfall in current month does not fulfill requirements of
agri sector specially wheat crop and there is dire need of
consistent rains to achieve the desired wheat target, the
official concluded.
courstythenation14 February 2002
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Pakissan.com;
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