A Tharparkar relief package is being prepared for farmers in the district after drought destroyed nearly 90 per cent of cultivated crops. Thousands of growers face severe financial losses, and the package aims to help them resume cultivation.
Provincial Agriculture Minister Sardar Muhammad Bux Khan Mahar has directed the provincial agriculture secretary to prepare proposals for the package at once.
A detailed report by the Provincial Agriculture Department on the drought and crop losses across all seven talukas of Tharparkar has been submitted to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. On the basis of the report, Tharparkar has been declared a calamity-hit district.
Crops destroyed across all seven talukas
Around 85 to 90 per cent of cultivated crops across the district’s seven talukas have either been destroyed or rendered unproductive, according to the report. Only 10 to 15 per cent of the crops survived.
The minister blamed uneven and insufficient monsoon rainfall, above all a severe shortage of rain in September. Crops including guar, millet, sesame and sorghum suffered extensive damage, while natural grasses dried up before reaching maturity.
The losses have dealt a severe economic blow to farmers and to families dependent on livestock, he said.
Tharparkar was declared a drought-hit district earlier this month, when officials briefed the chief minister on drought-like conditions across all seven talukas and the government ordered emergency supplies of water and fodder.
What the Tharparkar relief package may include
The proposed relief package may include per-acre financial assistance, support through the Benazir Hari Card, special subsidies on fertilisers and certified seeds, and financial assistance for cultivation during the coming Rabi season.
The government will also consider facilitating the repayment of agricultural loans and outstanding dues, providing possible concessions in agricultural taxes and reducing other financial burdens on affected growers.
Fertiliser prices have risen this season, so a subsidy on fertiliser and seed would matter at once for farmers preparing their Rabi crop. Sindh has already moved to cut wheat prices through a release of stocks, which shows the province acting on food costs from more than one side.
The Benazir Hari Card, which supports small farmers, would give the package a ready channel to reach growers who need help most. Young farmers could also draw on the youth loan scheme, whose limit has been raised to Rs25 million for business and agriculture.
A district that depends on the rain
Tharparkar’s farming depends almost entirely on monsoon rain. When the rains fail, there is no canal network to fall back on, and crops wither in the field.
The September shortfall hit at the worst time, as crops stood in the fields and grasses had yet to mature. Livestock, which many families depend on for milk and income, lost its fodder as the grasses dried up.
The relief package is therefore not only about this season’s lost crop. It is about whether farmers can sow again for the Rabi season and keep their animals alive until the next rain.
What happens next
The agriculture secretary will now draw up the proposals for the package, including the size of per-acre assistance and the terms of the subsidies. The package will then go to the chief minister for approval.
No date has been given for the announcement. For farmers in Tharparkar, the wait matters. The Rabi season is approaching, and each week without support makes it harder to prepare the land and buy seed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Tharparkar relief package?
It is a special agricultural relief package the Sindh government is preparing for farmers in Tharparkar after drought destroyed up to 90 per cent of the district’s crops.
How much of the crop was lost?
Around 85 to 90 per cent of cultivated crops across Tharparkar’s seven talukas were destroyed or rendered unproductive. Only 10 to 15 per cent survived.
What caused the losses?
Uneven and insufficient monsoon rainfall, above all a severe shortage of rain in September, destroyed crops including guar, millet, sesame and sorghum.
What support may farmers receive?
The package may include per-acre financial assistance, support through the Benazir Hari Card, subsidies on fertilisers and certified seeds, and help with cultivation in the coming Rabi season.
Has Tharparkar been declared a calamity-hit district?
Yes. The district was declared calamity-hit on the basis of a report by the Provincial Agriculture Department submitted to Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.
