Negative impact: Rapid urbanisation poses threats to agricultural land
Land is also being occupied in Swat and Hazara, affecting natural scenery
Expressing his concern over the matter, Peshawar DC Riaz Mehsud said growing urbanisation was a serious threat to the future of agricultural land. PHOTO: INP
PESHAWAR:
Growing urbanisation and occupation of land by displaced families from all over Fata and some far-flung areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have caused a negative impact on agricultural land in the province.
Speaking to The Express Tribune on Monday, K-P agriculture department officials said around 77,000 acres of agricultural land have been occupied by new housing schemes over the last three decades. They added most of the land was situated in Peshawar, Mardan, DI Khan, Kohat and Bannu regions.
Besides, land is also being occupied in Swat and Hazara, thus affecting the natural scenery. K-P also contributes towards agricultural growth, but its inhabitants face a shortage of wheat, flour and other products due to low productivity. Therefore, it imports edible items like wheat, rice, maize, fruits and vegetables from other provinces such as Punjab and Sindh.
A major part of the agricultural land in the province is non-irrigated, whereas limited agricultural land is mostly in Peshawar. However, recent occurrences, particularly the ongoing military operation in Fata and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas, led to an alarming increase in urbanisation which has badly affected agricultural land.
Official statistics from the agriculture department revealed that around 2,866 acres of agricultural land was allocated for new houses or schemes, both in the public and private sectors.
Officials further pointed out the province lost 77,000 acres of such land over the last three decades. If this rate continued, K-P would lose a further 28,000 acres of land in the next decade and 57,000 acres in the next 20 years. They maintained there are 4,625,000 acres of agricultural land all over the province.
Expressing his concern over the matter, Peshawar DC Riaz Mehsud said growing urbanisation was a serious threat to the future of agricultural land. He added after the devolution of power according to the local government ordinance, town municipal administrations were responsible for land records and disposals instead of the district revenue office. He believed this damaged the system.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2016.
Growing urbanisation and occupation of land by displaced families from all over Fata and some far-flung areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have caused a negative impact on agricultural land in the province.
Speaking to The Express Tribune on Monday, K-P agriculture department officials said around 77,000 acres of agricultural land have been occupied by new housing schemes over the last three decades. They added most of the land was situated in Peshawar, Mardan, DI Khan, Kohat and Bannu regions.
Besides, land is also being occupied in Swat and Hazara, thus affecting the natural scenery. K-P also contributes towards agricultural growth, but its inhabitants face a shortage of wheat, flour and other products due to low productivity. Therefore, it imports edible items like wheat, rice, maize, fruits and vegetables from other provinces such as Punjab and Sindh.
A major part of the agricultural land in the province is non-irrigated, whereas limited agricultural land is mostly in Peshawar. However, recent occurrences, particularly the ongoing military operation in Fata and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas, led to an alarming increase in urbanisation which has badly affected agricultural land.
Official statistics from the agriculture department revealed that around 2,866 acres of agricultural land was allocated for new houses or schemes, both in the public and private sectors.
Officials further pointed out the province lost 77,000 acres of such land over the last three decades. If this rate continued, K-P would lose a further 28,000 acres of land in the next decade and 57,000 acres in the next 20 years. They maintained there are 4,625,000 acres of agricultural land all over the province.
Expressing his concern over the matter, Peshawar DC Riaz Mehsud said growing urbanisation was a serious threat to the future of agricultural land. He added after the devolution of power according to the local government ordinance, town municipal administrations were responsible for land records and disposals instead of the district revenue office. He believed this damaged the system.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2016.