Beet that: Radish farmers complain of lack of government support

Just one town of Malakand, Thana, boasts 500 orchards

SWAT: Radishes in Malakand Division are the welcome winter vegetable. Orchards of radishes dot Kanju in Swat, and Thana in Malakand.

There are about 500 orchards of radishes in Thana, where the vegetable is produced in large quantities because of suitable climate conditions.  However, a lack of incentives from the government has led to a decline in production in the region.

Haji Muhammad, resident of Kanju, told The Express Tribune the demand for radishes has increased over the years in the region, regardless of a lack of facilitation in production. “Proper marketing can help farmers expand their businesses and export radishes around the world,” he said.

Three kinds of radishes—Chinese, hybrid and local—are produced from December to February. The annual production of the root vegetable from just these areas stands at more than 0.1 million.

Nutritional value

Agriculture specialist Dr Raheem Gul told The Express Tribune radishes are high in vitamin C and their consumption might help ward off several diseases. “It helps in controlling hepatitis C,” he said. Another doctor said it helps with digestion.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th,  2016.