Constraints in vegetable production
By Khuda Baksh and Dr Bashir Ahmad
Majority of the population in Pakistan lives in rural areas
where poverty is deep and widespread. Moreover, land less
class and small farms are increasing with the passage of time.
These are becoming inefficient for growing wheat, cotton,
rice, sugar cane, etc, as these crops require lot of finances,
while small farmers are unable to meet such prerequisites.
One of the reasons of migration from rural to urban areas is
the lack of employment opportunities for small farmers, since
the opportunity to work on farms is diminishing due to
mechanization and technological development.
These rapid technological changes are affecting farm
practices. In such an era, the need to help landless or small
farmers is increasing. Information on the cropping system and
employment opportunities need to be generated for them.
A suitable option for them is growing vegetables as these are
short-duration crops fetching higher returns. Expanding their
cultivation can provide essential dietary nutrients at low
prices and reduce unemployment, which in turn would reduce
rural poverty.
Vegetable production is diversified in terms of species. More
than 36 species are grown and consumed in summer and winter.
Major species of vegetables are potatoes, onions, chili,
melon, tomato, and cucumber.
Main vegetable area is concentrated in specialized districts
in the peri-urban areas of Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar.
Production of potato is specialized in Okara, Sahiwal,
Sialkot, Kasur and around Lahore.
Despite high returns, non-availability of irrigation water is
hindering expansion. There are a large number of other
factors, such as the traditional farm management practices,
non-availability of infrastructure, lack of funds, absence of
marketing channels, high degree of pest and disease problems,
lack of accurate information on pesticides, high cost of
irrigation, shortage of labour, lack of access to
institutional credit and loan, and the non-availability of
inputs, which discourage production.
Lack of government support is also an important factor. The
above mentioned constraints vary from region to region and
province to province. There is a need to study these
constraints in a regional context.
A study conducted in Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur identifies
important production and marketing constraints in muskmelon
cultivation due to disease and insect attacks.
Around 90 per cent of the respondents reported disease and
insect attacks as the foremost factor for low yield. The
second is inadequate funds. Muskmelon growers have small
holdings with limited financial resources.
They could not purchase inputs on time. These farmers lack
financial resources, and the access to institutional credit
and loans is limited. Vegetable production requires cash for
inputs at various stages, while farmers depend on input
dealers.
Transportation is a major constraint. Muskmelon being highly
perishable commodity needs to be marketed in a short period.
If storage facility is not available then farmers are sure to
lose. Shortage of canal water is another limiting factor.
Farmers purchase tubewell water to irrigate their fields whose
cost is prohibitive. Shortage of canal water exaggeratates
financial restraints of small farmers who already face
liquidity crunch.
Low price of produce during peak harvesting period of
muskmelon seriously affects financial condition of these
farmers. These indicate inefficient marketing system. There
exist a large gap between the pre- and post-harvesting prices
of muskmelon. The late growers suffer due to fluctuations.
Another problem is the availability of quality seed. Certified
seed is rare while adulteration is in abundance, affecting
production. Mostly, seed is imported and significant
quantities are smuggled into the country. These seeds are
adulterated at local levels to earn more profit.
The muskmelon crop is susceptible to disease and insect
attacks. Diagnosis at the right time is most important in crop
management practices. Delay causes disaster thus hitting the
producer.
Consultation with the Extension staff helps in the selection
of spray. Use of resistant or tolerant varieties of muskmelon
and other vegetables can be viable alternative for farmers for
controlling insects or diseases.
Currently, the Extension Department is focusing on major crops
such as cotton, wheat, rice, etc. Other minor crops such
vegetables are being ignored. The department should provide
necessary information for vegetable production and controlling
disease and insect attacks. They should check adulterated
inputs in the markets.
As vegetable growers hold small chunks of lands, institutions
do not provide them loans. Therefore, farmers depend on
non-institutional credit and loans. These institutions and
individuals exploit them. There is a need to provide
institutional credit to resource-poor small farmers.
Courtesy: The DAWN
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