Under the German funding, Research & Development Foundation distributed fodder among 250 livestock holders at Sujawal to feed their animals.
Hyderabad
The catastrophic floods 2022 have left enormous impacts on the lives of small farmers who are now struggling with food insecurity issues. Besides the death of animals in floods, shortage of fodder has been affecting livestock as the fodder resources were badly affected.
Research and Development Foundation -RDF together with Welthungerhilfe (WHH)-a German development organization, has been assisting small farmers of district Sujawal with the provision of fodder for animals, seed and fertilizer to grow wheat crops, livestock vaccination and training on livestock management in emergency situation. These efforts are part of the RDF and WHH’s life saving emergency response plan which they are implementing in Sindh to help flood survivors address food security and nutrition issues decently.
The agricultural input distribution has been continued for last three days in various villages of Taluka Shah Bunder district Sujawal. So far 250 small farmers have received wheat seed, two bags of fertilizer and one bag of DAP to grow wheat crop in current Rabbi Season. Some 250 livestock holders received a package of WANDA feed from RDF and WHH today at Sujawal to feed to their animals.
Ms. Leela of village Waru Khaskheli, sharing her miseries told that due to continuous two months heavy downpour, her fodder crop was damaged. In the market there is also shortage of green fodder and rates have increased, which we can’t afford. She sold out her one cow to feed to remaining two cows, she said.
Sarwan Baloch, provincial Program Manager WHH for Sindh said that small farmers lost their standing crops during the torrential rains and flood 2022. Most of the farmers could not cultivate their lands because of the unavailability of seeds and fertilizer. We have assisted small farmers of Sujawal district to grow food crops and give adequate fodder to their animals, as these two are the primary livelihood resources people have in rural areas of Sindh, he added.
Adam Sanghar of village Juman Sanghar, holding a land piece of three acres said that he lost his rice crop in floods and was unable to purchase wheat seed and fertilizer to grow the food crop in this Rabbi season. Informal credit providers were also reluctant to give us seed and fertilizer to grow crops as flood have lost our resources and they were afraid of losing their money, said Mr. Adam. Through this assistance, we’ll be able to grow wheat crop for our family.
Many farmers have even not grown crops where flood water has not receded yet. Flood have aggravated the poverty and food security situation in rural areas. Such initiatives would help survivors regain self-sufficiency. (PR)
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