“Food shortage in Thar can be tackled by mobilizing local resources and growing drought resistant, high value crops in the region”
This was said by Arid Zone Research Institute (AZRI) Director Dr Attaullah Khan during the inaugural of a date palm plantation campaign in a village called Sawai Kolhi near Chachro, Tharparkar.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Dr Attaullah Khan said that food insecurity in Thar was an alarming issue and it could be resolved by mobilising local resources including land and water. He said that drought resistant trees including date palm, moringa acacia Senegal and other species could be grown in the area since they are suited to Thar’s climate. “Date palm, for instance, is one of those trees which do not require a lot of water. If grown in Thar, it could be the perfect source of nutrition for people and livestock alike since dates can be directly consumed and date leaves can be used as fodder for animals,” explained Attaullah Khan. He said that in addition to providing nutrition, these trees would also increase the vegetation cover and help control desertification and land degradation in the region.
Scientist Waseem Kalroo informed the gathering that contrary to popular belief, Thar was not barren. He said that it was virgin land which could be utilised for growing high value crops and fruit trees. He highlighted that AZRI had been promoting tree plantation in Thar with close coordination of different stakeholders. He said that the institute had conducted different experiments and found that date palm trees could be grown in Thar desert with water salinity up to 2400 ppm.
Gotam Rathi, a social activist, said that Thar was hit by droughts very frequently. “According to data accumulated over the last 40 years, there is a drought in Thar after every two years. The data also indicates that the region experiences a famine at least once in a decade,” said Rathi. He added that climate change and other factors had led to a state of food insecurity in Thar. He urged the government to focus on local and long term solutions to the problem instead of providing short term relief to people.
According to Karim Bux Shaikh, date palm plantation in Thar was a new and highly promising initiative and a formal date tree plantation campaign had been undertaken for the first time in Thar.
On the occasion, writer and social activist Ali Akbar Rahimoo said that AWARE had recommended to promote date palm trees in villages where solar powered water supply systems had been installed. He said that a collaborative engagement among government departments, NGOs and communities was required to deal with the menace of climate change and malnutrition in the region.
Published in Daily Times, September 2nd 2018.
