After the storm comes a rainbow
Tourism, agricultural output in drought-hit Tharparkar likely to rise due to recent rainfall
Around three to four spells every 15 to 20 days are needed throughout August for agriculture in the district to thrive. PHOTO: FILE
HYDERABAD:
A green desert, small lakes and ponds dotting the landscape, pleasant weather, agriculture and tourism are small blessings have become infrequent for Tharparkar, whose people have been coping with drought like conditions for years. A day before Eid, the provincial government started distribution of free wheat to 287,000 families of Tharparkar as drought support.
But, as the heavens opened up this week as the monsoon came early, hope has returned to the desert. The geographically largest district of Sindh, stretching across around 22,000 square-kilometres, received varied amounts of rainfall, with a maximum of around 74 millimetres recorded on Saturday in Islamkot taluka.
A downpour of 70mm was recorded in Diplo taluka, while Mithi taluka, which is Tharparkar's administrative headquarters, received 20.4mm of rain in four days, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
For the locals, the precipitation has created a hope for growing crops and storing water. And people from outside Tharparkar can now come visit the green hills of Nangarparkar.
At least 8 killed as Karachi receives first monsoon spell
"Such rainfall during the end of June and early July [early monsoon] has happened after 10 to 12 years," Bharumal Ambrani, a Tharparkar-based environment and wildlife activist, recalled. In 2011, a torrential rain led to flooding in Sindh including in Tharparkar.
"We don't regard the 2011 rains as 'raasumi' [beneficial] because it destroyed agriculture and snatched livelihoods," Ambrani said. The years that followed brought low to high intensity droughts to the region.
A 'raasumi' cloudburst is one that is considered to be favourable for agriculture and water storage, unlike the 2011 deluge, which washed everything away.
The Thari people sow bajar (millet), moong [geen gram], guar [cluster beans] and other crops in this season. But just one round of showers is not enough to allow cultivation of these local crops.
Early monsoon plunges Karachi into darkness
"Ideally, we need three to four spells of rain after every 15 to 20 days lasting throughout August to be able to reap these crops," said Nazeer Junejo, a local farmer in Islamkot. Heavy rainfall or dry spells can both harm agricultural output, he added.
According Sajid Bajeer, a local journalist, the rain will allow plenty of pastures to grow in order to feed the livestock. "Water is our lifeline. Without it everything [in life, livelihood, economy or tourism] stagnates," he observed. "The people who migrated with their livestock to other cities of Sindh can be seen flocking back."
Tourism
As the desert turns green with the mercury dropping to around 33° Celsius in the summer, Tharparkar becomes a tourist attraction. The mountains in Nangarparkar taluka, desert wildlife, lakes and Gaddi Bhit, a hillside location which offers a panoramic view of Mithi taluka and the desert, become some of the sought after sights to visit.
Health dept issues contingency plan for monsoon season
"People from other areas have begun to arrive mostly in Nangarparkar since the first day of rain," Dilip Doshi, a local journalist, said. Nangarparkar, the farthest town in Southeast Sindh, is also home to various heritage sites of the Hindu and Jain religions and is famous for the Karoonjhar Mountains.
But a lack of accommodation facilities prevent a huge number of tourists from visiting the place. "Despite the huge potential, tourism hasn't been allowed to develop as an industry," said a manager of a private guest house, who requested not to be identified.
He pointed out that only a couple of private guest houses existed in Islamkot, which is the nearest taluka from Nangarparkar, and around 10 in Mithi, where the tourists mostly stay during their visits. A majority of the tourists are hosted by local people on personal references.
"There is a lack of government initiative to promote tourism in Tharparkar," he commented. The situation of wildlife tourism is no different, as private tourists are denied access to wildlife sanctuaries and the wildlife department also does not offer any trips to the sanctuary.
A green desert, small lakes and ponds dotting the landscape, pleasant weather, agriculture and tourism are small blessings have become infrequent for Tharparkar, whose people have been coping with drought like conditions for years. A day before Eid, the provincial government started distribution of free wheat to 287,000 families of Tharparkar as drought support.
But, as the heavens opened up this week as the monsoon came early, hope has returned to the desert. The geographically largest district of Sindh, stretching across around 22,000 square-kilometres, received varied amounts of rainfall, with a maximum of around 74 millimetres recorded on Saturday in Islamkot taluka.
A downpour of 70mm was recorded in Diplo taluka, while Mithi taluka, which is Tharparkar's administrative headquarters, received 20.4mm of rain in four days, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
For the locals, the precipitation has created a hope for growing crops and storing water. And people from outside Tharparkar can now come visit the green hills of Nangarparkar.
At least 8 killed as Karachi receives first monsoon spell
"Such rainfall during the end of June and early July [early monsoon] has happened after 10 to 12 years," Bharumal Ambrani, a Tharparkar-based environment and wildlife activist, recalled. In 2011, a torrential rain led to flooding in Sindh including in Tharparkar.
"We don't regard the 2011 rains as 'raasumi' [beneficial] because it destroyed agriculture and snatched livelihoods," Ambrani said. The years that followed brought low to high intensity droughts to the region.
A 'raasumi' cloudburst is one that is considered to be favourable for agriculture and water storage, unlike the 2011 deluge, which washed everything away.
The Thari people sow bajar (millet), moong [geen gram], guar [cluster beans] and other crops in this season. But just one round of showers is not enough to allow cultivation of these local crops.
Early monsoon plunges Karachi into darkness
"Ideally, we need three to four spells of rain after every 15 to 20 days lasting throughout August to be able to reap these crops," said Nazeer Junejo, a local farmer in Islamkot. Heavy rainfall or dry spells can both harm agricultural output, he added.
According Sajid Bajeer, a local journalist, the rain will allow plenty of pastures to grow in order to feed the livestock. "Water is our lifeline. Without it everything [in life, livelihood, economy or tourism] stagnates," he observed. "The people who migrated with their livestock to other cities of Sindh can be seen flocking back."
Tourism
As the desert turns green with the mercury dropping to around 33° Celsius in the summer, Tharparkar becomes a tourist attraction. The mountains in Nangarparkar taluka, desert wildlife, lakes and Gaddi Bhit, a hillside location which offers a panoramic view of Mithi taluka and the desert, become some of the sought after sights to visit.
Health dept issues contingency plan for monsoon season
"People from other areas have begun to arrive mostly in Nangarparkar since the first day of rain," Dilip Doshi, a local journalist, said. Nangarparkar, the farthest town in Southeast Sindh, is also home to various heritage sites of the Hindu and Jain religions and is famous for the Karoonjhar Mountains.
But a lack of accommodation facilities prevent a huge number of tourists from visiting the place. "Despite the huge potential, tourism hasn't been allowed to develop as an industry," said a manager of a private guest house, who requested not to be identified.
He pointed out that only a couple of private guest houses existed in Islamkot, which is the nearest taluka from Nangarparkar, and around 10 in Mithi, where the tourists mostly stay during their visits. A majority of the tourists are hosted by local people on personal references.
"There is a lack of government initiative to promote tourism in Tharparkar," he commented. The situation of wildlife tourism is no different, as private tourists are denied access to wildlife sanctuaries and the wildlife department also does not offer any trips to the sanctuary.