Organic agriculture most valuable after coal in Thar: VC Marri

HYDRABAD:

Organic agriculture is the most valuable thing in Thar after coal, said Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam Vice Chancellor Dr Fateh Marri..

Promotion of arid agriculture will lead the desert district to modern sustainable farming.

"The production of organic vegetables, fruits, medicinal plants, and cosmetics plants in Tharparkar has a large market in domestic and international cities," he said while speaking at the inauguration ceremony of 'High-Efficiency Irrigation System Demonstration Field' at the Umerkot sub-campus of Sindh Agriculture University on Friday.

Dr. Marri said that despite the passage of more than 10 years, the agriculture sector has not transformed. Deserts, mountains, and arid lands cover 50 percent of land in Sindh, so arid agriculture should be embraced and promoted in different areas, including Thar, Karoonjhar, Kachho, Kohistan, Achro Thar and Naro.

The youth of Thar are talented and arid agriculture can be promoted by providing them with higher education facilities in their nearest areas, he said, adding that cattle farming could be restored in different areas, including Naokot and Umerkot and opportunities could be created for silent capital investment of investors from Karachi. SAU Sub Campus Umerkot Pro Vice Chancellor Dr Jan Muhammad Marri said that the academic process would be started in the new sub-campus within two months with the launch of new degree programmes.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2022.