Mohmand’s agriculture flourishes

The otherwise arid district uses new techniques to win Gulf orders

MOHMAND:

Although Mohmand tribal district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) is largely made up of vast expanses of arid and parched land which is fast drying up and where water is hard to find even for drinking, agriculture has been flourishing in some isolated patches of the district.

Tehsil Ambar, Parang and Safi are the lush green valleys surrounded by desolate hinterlands and large swathes of rocky deserts.

Farmers not only produce vegetables to meet local demand but these are exported to the Gulf countries thanks to the construction of excellent roads in the past decade.

Talking to The Express Tribune Director Agriculture Mohmand Asif Iqbal said that in the past obsolete and traditional methods of cultivation were used that were not effective but now farmers had finally started using modern techniques.

“With the financial assistance of friendly country United Arab Emirate (UAE) a road was constructed from Ghalanai to Mamad Ghat including Nahaqi tunnel and this has enabled farmers to send their produce to Peshawar from where it is exported to Gulf countries where it is in great demand due to the unique mountainous environment of the area,” he said, adding that the UEA not only helped construct the road but it is also a market for Mohmand’s vegetables.

He observed that the agriculture department was trying its best to assist the farmers.

“Around 2,000 farmers are registered with the department who are being trained in the farming of vegetables and fruits and they are informed about the market value of different crops,” he added.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Mohmand, Mohsin Baig said that in the past four years agriculture had flourished in some parts of the district, providing jobs to hundreds of locals.

These farmers are able to cultivate off-season vegetables, enabling them to sell their produce on double the routine price due to huge demand, he noted.

“Water is available in abundance in these areas and these valleys are virtually free of pollution making them ideal for farming,” he shared.

He said that the agriculture department is playing its role by providing quality seeds and cultivating them on its own land to show farmers that these vegetables could easily be grown in the region.

“These vegetables are being exported to Dubai, Qatar and other countries. We are trying to connect the farmers with international markets and exporters,” he maintained.

“The provincial government is also trying its level best to help locals get rid of traditional farming methods. They are provided fertilizers and seeds on subsidized rates,” he added.

The deputy commissioner said that the government was planning to build two canals from Mohmand Dam which will make thousands of acres of land cultivable.

A local farmer Israel Yousaf Khel said that he previously resided in Charsadda district where he leased farms but in recent years he returned to his ancestral village in Teshil Pandyali and started farming his ancestral land.

“My farm is small so I leased from other neighbours and installed a solar tube well. Now I have a 50 acre farm. I use Indian seeds which are excellent in quality. Exporters visit my farm and buy my produce,” he added.

He said that he did it on self-help basis and the government should assist locals.

President of Mohmand Farmers Association, Gulab Sher said that they recently decided to establish an association and make collective efforts.

“People of the area are really hard working but they have no resources. Agriculture could be developed in the district on modern lines if we are assisted by the provincial government,” he said.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2022.