Sindh growers demand solution to water distribution mismanagement

HYDERABAD: The Sindh Abadgar Ittehad (SAI) held its monthly meeting in Hyderabad on Wednesday under the chairmanship of President Nawab Zubair Ahmed Talpur, raising serious concerns over the ongoing artificial water shortage in the province.

During the meeting, participants alleged that despite water being available in the system, the incompetence and negligence of the irrigation department had created a persistent crisis. They claimed that water channels and distributaries were being sold illegally, exorbitant rates were being charged, and water was being sold by the hour.

The situation at the tail ends of all water branches in Sindh had reportedly worsened to the point where not even birds or animals had access to water. The growers warned that the government’s cotton cultivation target was unlikely to be met due to the severe shortage of water. Concerns were also raised about the widespread sale of fake seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides across Sindh.

The meeting demanded that the federal government publicly disclose the names of the companies banned for selling such products. Despite a government ban on rice cultivation in certain areas due to water constraints, participants noted that large-scale cultivation continues in violation of regulations.

Expressing disappointment over the performance of the agriculture department, the growers called for an impartial inquiry into corruption within the department and strict punishment for those found guilty. They urged both the federal and Sindh governments to provide special relief for farmers in the upcoming budget. Specific demands included the prioritisation of agricultural loans for Sindh, to be issued on merit, without interest, and repayable in easy installments.

The growers also called for the government to fix the cotton support price at Rs 12,000 per 40 kg, citing the high input costs involved in cultivation. The meeting highlighted that Punjab had already cultivated 3 million acres of its 3.5 million-acre cotton target, while Sindh had cultivated only 0.6 million acres of its 1.6 million-acre target.

Participants demanded the withdrawal of the proposed agricultural income tax, arguing that Sindh’s farmers were already severely affected by inflation. They also called for government-backed loans to help establish dairy farms, emphasising that farmers were vital stakeholders in the economy. Excluding them from budget consultations, they argued, was unjust and a critical mistake, especially given agriculture's major contribution to the national economy.

The meeting was attended by Abdul Haq Zaur, Muhammad Anwar Kamboh, Khan Muhammad Kamboh, Saifullah Gul, Haji Abdul Rahim Dars, Haji Sajjad Memon, Javed Riyario, Sharif Nizamani, Jahan Khan Laghari, Raja Haider, and others.