Water shortage threatens wheat, cotton crops in Mianwali

District administration faces criticism for failing to respond to farmers' concerns.

MIANWALI:

The prolonged closure of Bukhara and Paikhel distributaries has sparked fears of significant crop losses, with wheat, cotton, and rice fields at risk of destruction due to the lack of irrigation water.

Farmers in the region, reliant on these canals for their livelihoods, are struggling to secure water for their fields.

These distributaries, which draw water from the Thal Canal at Pul Das Hazar, irrigate thousands of acres across Thatti, Pai Khel, Dawood Khel and Dher.

The Thal Canal itself is a lifeline for the arid Thal desert, serving districts like Bhakkar, Layyah and Muzaffargarh.

Historically, the Bukhara distributary irrigates areas including Kacha, Paki, and Mochh, while the Paikhel distributary supplies water to Dher, Omid Ali Shah and Swans.

Local landowner Najeeb Zubair Khan expressed grave concerns, noting that the consistent water flow from these distributaries once enabled the cultivation of thousands of tons of wheat annually.

"This time, the prolonged closure of the Bukhara and Paikhel distributary has left farmers in distress, with wheat crops on thousands of acres already suffering.

The situation is dire, and if water is not restored soon, the wheat crop cultivated on hundreds of kanals will be lost entirely," he said.

Farmers have also faced a double blow, with low wheat prices discouraging cultivation earlier in the season.

Now, the limited crops that were planted are on the brink of destruction due to insufficient water.

The affected farmers, hailing from areas such as Daud Khel, Thatti Sharif, Dhir Umid Ali Shah and Paikhel, have called on Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the minister for irrigation, and the Secretary of Irrigation to urgently release water into the canals. They warned that without immediate action, the Punjab government would struggle to meet its wheat production targets, further exacerbating the region's food security challenges.

"Timely water release is crucial.

If provided, wheat production will recover, and the region can avert a potential agricultural crisis," said Khan.

Farmers have also staged protests, emphasizing the urgency of their demands.

Local landlord Ziaullah Khan criticized the indifference of the canal department and district administration.

"Despite repeated appeals and notices to the Deputy Commissioner and other officials, no action has been taken. Their inaction is pushing the agricultural community toward ruin," he lamented.

Farmers argued that the continued neglect of these vital irrigation systems jeopardised not only their livelihoods but also the broader agricultural output of the region.