HYDERABAD: It’s true that money doesn’t grow on trees but papaya cultivation, which is now gaining tremendous popularity in date-producing Khairpur district, is proving this adage wrong as farmers are excited to cultivate this most profitable cash crop to change their days for the better.
The growers, in different villages located along Meer wah (canal), do foresee some challenges down the line, but since it is in its initial phase, they are optimistic and ready to take their chances.
In this most fertile area, they cultivate traditional crops including wheat, cotton, a variety of vegetables, and above all dates.
Papaya is a newly emerging crop in the area. In 1995 farmers introduced banana, which gives a per acre earning ranging from Rs200,000 to Rs300,000. Compared to banana, farmers believe papaya yields Rs400,000--500,000 per acre annually, depending on its care, water management, fertiliser usage, and moderate climate.
Qadir Bakhsh Jalalani, a small-scale banana farmer in union council Jalalani of Khairpur district, says papaya came to this area three years back and seems dominating other crops due to its better per acre earning.
"Though banana is a favourable crop for many farmers, they are looking excited to have a chance to grow papaya," he said.
Papaya has two seasons for cultivation. One starts from July-August, while the other from February-March. It is a fast growing plant that can bear fruit in 5-6 months.
Farmers call it quite sensitive and fragile as it cannot survive in biting cold and scorching heat.
This crop needs little water and moderate climate to grow and fruit. Heavy rains can also affect the plants and produce.
Farmers in Khairpur district have hybrid seed varieties of papaya, which are being introduced in the area. Some farmers have established nurseries on commercial basis, offering seedlings at the cost ranging from Rs10 to Rs100, depending on its size and health.
Anyone visiting the area may see newly planted seedlings covered under plastic sheets to protect them from winter cold. These plants are transplanted at prepared lands where they stand for two years and bear fruit throughout the year.
According to farmers, hybrid papaya gives at least three crops for two years. These plants begin to produce within six months after transplanting depending on the soil fertility, land, water management practices, and weather conditions.
Papaya is said to have been the highest producing crop in terms of fruit and net return next to banana. Sindh province has old variety of papaya, which is still grown in coastal area of Thatta district, but local farmers are facing problems due to uncertain conditions of water availability and sudden virus attacks, which kill the plants.
Coastal area farmers said papaya is an original crop from Keti Bunder area and farmers used to cultivate it largely long ago.
It gives product for three years. Farmers pick two-three ripe fruits from each tree daily for market. But after two years its productivity gradually starts declining.
Presently, coastal farmers are reluctant to grow this crop despite its original taste, aroma, and market value.
The reasons are uncertainty regarding the availability of water in canals and sudden viral attacks, which can lead to loss of entire plantations.
Anyway, it was observed that growers do not have enough information about maintaining sensitive plants, taking protective measures, improving overall production, and adopting practices to attract market after harvesting, grading, packing, transportation etc.
Khairpur district, located along the left side of the River Indus, has been blessed with widely fertile catchment of the river, desert, mountains and barrage area.
The district receives water via three main irrigation canals, Nara canal, Meer wah and Rohri canal for agriculture.
The district basically is known after date cultivation, which is popular in the sub-continent.
But since the last more than a couple of years date producers are having trouble finding potential market for their product.
Wali Muhammad Bozdar, who represents Seengar Goth Foundation (SGF) in the district, believes nobody from government's research institutes has ever come down to these farmers to suggest which variety of a specific crop is the most beneficial for them.
Talking about date product, Bozdar said the market of famous date has declined as traders are reluctant to come to field.
“There has been a practice that traders used to take date plantations on contract basis and hire workforce,” he said adding Lahore has been a major market for date products of Sindh for long.
Bozdar continued that but now traders are reluctant to come to Sindh to purchase date due to reasons better known to them only.
The SGF is a farmers’ network in the district working for the revival of old practices in agriculture in order to promote the use of indigenous seeds for growing safe and healthy food without using chemical inputs.
Bozdar said date producers are crying against disappointing approach of traders and marketers, who look hesitant to deal in this important food item.
“The provincial government has initiated a date processing unit in the district, which is yet to be functional. This processing unit may prove to be a ray of hope for date producers,” he added.
Date production employs hundreds of workforce, male and female at different kinds of responsibilities in the plantations.
Date leaves itself have a market value to engage a large number of artisan women for weaving a variety of products for market.
Bozdar said they saw banana cultivation in 1995 and are now witnessing papaya growing in our area. “It may bring prosperity to the people of the area," he said, adding that growers are happy to try newly emerging cash crops.
Papaya has both commercial and medicinal value and it attracts a market the whole year round.
It is eaten as fresh fruit, while it is also used to make drinks, jam, jelly and ice-cream.
Its seeds have medicinal value and people use it for improving their digestion. Nowadays, papaya leaves extract is said to be beneficial for mitigating the effects of dengue fever.
Bozdar said he hoped to see the possibility of introducing indigenous papaya varieties in this area as soil, water, and climate are favourable for its growth. Many farmers have adopted multiple cropping practices like growing banana with papaya, getting products of both valuable cash crops at the same time and from the same orchard.