Date palm cultivation in Thar proves fruitful

Karachi youth plant 500 trees, use solar-powered tubewells for irrigation

KARACHI:

The efforts of a group of young people of Karachi to cultivate Ajwa, Mazfati and Aseel date palms in the sand swept Tharparkar district have proved fruitful.

As many as 200 out of 500 trees planted by Dua Foundation in various areas under the project, started in 2018, have started bearing fruit.

For the prosperity of the local farmers of Tharparkar, the youth from Karachi cultivated different types of date palms in desert, and used underground water for irrigation, said Dua Foundation Chairman Amir Khan.

The organisation used the barren land of farmers to plant the trees and also arranged irrigation in the arid and barren area.

He said the foundation provided free solar-powered tubewells to irrigate the lands of people who could not afford it.

The success of the experiment could lead to a revolution in agriculture in Thar desert where palm trees are not found, Khan said.

About six years ago, the experimental cultivation of dates was started by the social organisation of Karachi in Thar.

Palm trees brought from Punjab, Khairpur and Dera Ismail Khan were planted in different tehsils of Thar. The project also included consultation and guidance from the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council. Fruits on palm trees have proved to be a ray of hope for the malnourished people of Thar. These palm trees will not only be a source of employment for the poor people of Thar but will also help in improving the health of their families.

Under the project, these trees were planted free of charge on the barren lands of poor people of Thar. At the same time training was also provided to them. With the income from date palms planted in Diplo, Khloi and Dahli tehsils, the poor will not only be financially independent, but their standard of living will also be elevated.

More than 60 agro-farms have been established by the foundation in all Thar tehsils, out of which date palm trees were planted experimentally on many farms.

Under the auspices of Dua Foundation, a social organisation of Karachi, a ceremony was organised in this regard in Thar tehsil Kaloi, which was addressed by agricultural experts.

Speaking on the occasion they said that the experiment of palm cultivation was not successful in Tharparkar before but with continuous hard work and with the belssings of Allah, not only palm trees flourished but also they produced the sweet fruit.

Chairman of the Foundation, Amir Khan said that the land of Thar is very fertile.