Water shortage cripples hybrid gourd farming in Sindh

HYDERABAD: Sindh farmers cannot fathom why the apple gourd (tinda) plants died after flowering, despite looking healthy during the germination stage.

Some farmers think it might be connected to water shortage, while others think it was due to extreme heat.

Ghulam Hussain Khaskheli, a small scale farmer near Kaloi-Naukot, Tharparkar district, sharing his observations said this vegetable (tinda) crop has declined alarmingly in many areas despite having high demand and popularity due to its nutritional value.

“Last year (2020), I experimentally cultivated apple gourd on two acres of land. Its germination was so inspiring for me to earn enough income. But all of a sudden, the plant vanished at the flowering stage leaving a sad message for us,” he shared.

After that incident, many of us are reluctant to sow this vegetable. He also explained the transition of the crop from being indigenous and organic to hybrid seed varieties. Within two years, the cultivation of hybrid apple gourd has declined drastically, he added.

The area Kaloi-Naukot is considered rich in producing a variety of vegetables. But now it seems extreme heat and water scarcity have had a negative impact on the food crops which require more water – twice or thrice a week.

This year hardly a few farmers in Kaloi area have cultivated apple gourd. Those who did are waiting to receive the produce, which will be ready after two weeks.

Some farmers plan to sow traditional seed varieties of apple gourd after monsoon rains, but a majority of farmers in canal areas seem reluctant because of the crops sensitivity. It cannot survive in extreme heat, water scarcity and viral attacks.

Information gathered from different areas shows that the earnings from this crop depended on the season. Sometimes farmers earn Rs600,000—Rs700,000 per acre, while at other times, the prices drop and they face huge losses, mainly because of increasing supply flow in the market.

The retail price of apple gourd ranges between Rs100 and Rs150 a kilo, depending on the area. But this price does not benefit producers, who said it did not even cover their cost of cultivation.

Apple gourd is a well-liked summer vegetable. It is considered a rich source of vitamins. Some people use it to cure dry cough, promote weight loss, detoxify kidneys, enhance the digestive system, and increase blood circulation. Its seeds can also be roasted and used as a snack.

Hajan Leghari, another farmer of Jhudo neighbourhood said he could not cultivate apple gourd this year because of water shortage. Only one or two farmers have spared small pieces of land for this crop, which would likely be harvested after two weeks, depending on the weather.

Jhudo area is also considered rich in producing a variety of vegetables.

Coastal farmers believe that they used to cultivate this vegetable crop widely until hardly three-four years back during monsoon season, July–August, because of its productivity. Later they observed frequent viral attacks on the crop, which resulted in destruction like fruit abortion, defoliation, and distortion.

Farmers faced huge losses because of that and stopped taking the risk of sowing apple gourd. Many linked these issues to the introduction of hybrid varieties.

Previously, most farmers used to grow vegetables for their own consumption as well as the market, using traditional seed varieties. They claimed that in the past, they faced fewer issues when using traditional seed varieties.

Now, only a few farmers take the risk of cultivating this vegetable by sparing some space on their family’s land.

Farmers said hybrid seeds can be grown the year-round. In some areas, apple gourd is being cultivated in January and February, while in other places it is grown in June and July.

For the farmers in Thar Desert, the best season to get more value out of the crop seems to be after monsoon rains ie mostly during July and August.

Muhammad Ramzan, a farmer in Kandiaro, Naushehro Feroz district was preparing to cultivate apple gourd. He fears his crop might get hit by a viral disease. “Tinda is fragile,” he said, adding that unlike other crops, it lacked resistance power.

In case a crop gets hit by a viral disease, farmers use chemicals to control the disease, which increases their cost of cultivation.

According to Ramzan, the best season to cultivate apple gourd in Sindh started in mid-July, but he agreed that it varied across the province, depending on the climate zone.

Elderly farmers said that the indigenous seeds did not require more water and chemical input. Thus, it could be harvested after 45-50 days of sowing, depending on the soil and weather.

Ramzan sharing his experience said farmers preferred to cultivate this vegetable, which is a short-period crop. It meant the crop would be ready for the market within three months.

Farmers in Matiari district cultivate apple, melon and watermelon with cotton crops in April and May, whereas Thar Desert farmers depend on rains.

In case they received early monsoon rains in June, they preferred cultivating apple gourd with watermelon, melon, and pearl millet. Since the sandy soil is suitable for the crops, the yield could be higher in the desert region.

Thar received showers on June 19, which has given hope to farmers as well as herders. Farmers now look forward to crop cultivation, while herders hope that the grazing fields would be replenished.

Thari farmers are hoping for two more rain showers, as it would increase their chances of higher yield from pearl millet, apple gourd, melon and watermelon.