Water shortage brings agricultural damage to Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Increasing relentless water shortage nowadays in Pakistan is effecting major crops and the targets related to the agricultural land, menacing the source of revenue of farming communities and reflecting on problem of food security.

According to sources, the government has set a target for sugarcane at 68.157million tonnes, rice at 6.931million tonnes, maize at 5.3million tonnes, and cotton production at 14.37 million bales which is difficult to achieve as crops are threatened by the shortage of water.

Malik Sohail Hussain, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Islamabad former senior vice president said, “The target of mung, mash, chilies, and tomato is also difficult to achieve. He also added that due to negligence of several years has resulted in the shortage of water for all the sectors of the economy while agriculture is the worst-hit sector as it is facing shortages up to fifty per cent at some places.”

Malik Sohail said that climate change, less winter snow cover, low rainfall and wastage of water has added to the severity of the situation.

He observed that, the reduced cotton crop will not only hit textile exports but also waste foreign exchange as a result of cotton imports. Wheat production this year is expected to be 25 million tonnes which will add to the problems and expenses of the government due to leftover stocks.

Furthermore, he demanded, the Punjab Food Department is paying 6.6 per cent interest plus kibor on bank loans to buy wheat from farmers which should be probed as loans can be acquired on lower rates which will save a substantial amount.