Plea for help: In a region that depends heavily on agriculture, land that can grow no crops

Farmers blame lack of assistance and policy regulations for their troubles.

SWAT:

Every four in five people in Swat are associated with agriculture, according to some estimates. But the industry is facing multiple issues due to the government’s neglect, according to local farmers.

“Right from the start, we are having problems after problems; a tractor owner charges Rs900 per hour for ploughing fields. This compounded with a water shortage and poor quality seeds are major issues for us,” said Abdul Ghafood, a farmer from Kabal.

Last year’s floods desecrated irrigable land in the valley, badly affecting the profession and those associated with it. Despite rebuilding activities, landowners and farmers believe that the government and NGOs have not done enough.

Rahim, a farmner and a landowner in Kabal, said, “My entire piece of land, producing up to 200 sacks of rice crop, was washed away. I was registered as a flood [victim], but I have not [received assistance from] either the government or NGOs.” Maize, the crop most suited for Swat’s climate, has been banned by security forces because militants and criminals can use the tall shoots to hide within, posing a security threat. “Due to the risk factor, security forces have forbidden to grow maize crop. Our land is perfect for the crop which [in better times], would earn us more money,” Riaz Khan, a local farmer, told The Express Tribune.

Regarding compensation and assistance of farmers, officials in the district’s agriculture department stated that farmers are being helped from a technical perspective. They added that the government will soon release compensation to landowners who have lost their land to the floods.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2011.