Karachi, Sindh

Sindh government has planned to introduce crop insurance scheme with the aim of shielding farmers from financial losses during natural disasters.

In this regard, Chief Secretary Sindh Dr. Muhammad Suhail Rajput chaired a meeting at Sindh Secretariat on Wednesday, attended by the Secretary Agriculture Aijaz Ali Mahesar, Khalid Hameed CEO National Insurance Company limited (NICL), Muhammad Altaf General Manager (NICL) and others.

Speaking at the meeting, Chief Secretary Sohail Rajput said that the climate change is making farming ‘more challenging every passing day’. “The income and livelihoods of small farmers are increasingly affected by financial shocks due to natural forces beyond their control, such as crop damage during natural disasters such as floods and heavy rains.”

“Crop insurance in Sindh is crucial for supporting farmers, ensuring financial stability, promoting agricultural growth, and enhancing resilience in the face of climate-related uncertainties” he said.

During the meeting the CEO of National Insurance Company limited presented proposed crop insurance plan. Chief Secretary directed Secretary Agriculture to devise a comprehensive plan and presentation which will be put before the government (cabinet) for further deliberations and approval. (PR)

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Munawar Alee Kapri

In Pakistan, numerous significant issues remain unrecognized due to a lack of public discourse, and the never ending political turmoil in the country. These issues are often discussed only in hotel workshops or the occasional Twitter threads. Despite the efforts underway to address them, these issues receive less attention as they are legitimate problems that cannot be easily exploited for political gain. This behavior undermines the effectiveness of the efforts underway.

Malnutrition issue is more severe in Sindh than in other parts of Pakistan

Malnutrition is one such issue that afflicts the common Pakistani man. Even though it has been highlighted by the government and the media, there is very little public awareness on the matter. Very few people know that in 2016, the Sindh government developed a comprehensive multi-sector plan called the Accelerated Action Plan (AAP) to address malnutrition in the province, because this issue is more severe in Sindh than in other parts of Pakistan. Stunting affects 45% of children under the age of five, while 19% are wasted, and 9% are severely wasted, compared to national averages of 38%, 17%, and 7%, respectively. This has direct consequences for the future of the labor force of the province. One of the major stakeholders supporting the AAP is the EU-supported PINS nutrition-sensitive component, which has been implemented in ten districts of Sindh since 2018 with a focus on water, sanitation, hygiene, agriculture, livelihoods, and food security.

As a part of the PINS project for the last 5 years, I have gained detailed insight into the on the ground realities and issues faced by the people of Sindh. In this article I would like to present my reflections on the issues pertaining to agriculture and the small farmers that partake in agricultural activities and their role in the context of malnutrition. Given the critical importance of these farmers, I believe that it is important for the lessons learn within PINS 3 to be assimilated within wider stakeholders. The program has successfully collaborated with over 40,000 small farmers owning land from 1- 5 acres in ten districts of Sindh (Dadu, Jamshoro, Matiari, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Sujawal, Thatta, Larkana, Qambar Shahdadkot and Shikarpur).

Small farmers inherit land from their forefathers and they don’t know land transfer process

The biggest issue faced by these small farmers is that they lack documentation of land ownership, which is largely due to their poverty and illiteracy. They typically inherit the land from their forefathers but lack knowledge of the land transfer process, making them more vulnerable to exploitation. One recent example of this is that while the Sindh government offered a post-flood package of PKR 5000 per acre for the farmers, however the requirement for a certificate of land ownership (7th form) excludes most small farmers from benefitting from this scheme. Given that there is a gap within the legal system, it is essential to consider alternative models that can be used to reach these farmers. One such existing model is that of the community institutions established by different development Programs in these villages. These institutions empower villagers on various levels and allow external parties a cohesive space where they can easily reach out to these farmers and provide them with timely support. If these alternative models aren’t given the recognition and importance that they deserve, the small farmers will continue to be the most vulnerable and neglected segments of the rural communities.

Small farmers’ lack of knowledge about improved agricultural practices, leave them at the mercy of pesticide companies and fertilizer dealers

Another challenge faced by small farmers is their lack of knowledge around improved agricultural practices, leaving them at the mercy of pesticide companies and fertilizer dealers who exploit them. During a round of focus group discussions with farmers in Thatta, it was revealed that the only technical person who visits them is a representative of a pesticide company. This is due to the remoteness of these areas that often causes them to be sidelined by government bodies. Given the high incentives offered to sales representatives, it is no surprise that such companies are flourishing business everywhere in Sindh. These sales representatives offer solutions that are both ineffective and inauthentic but due to limited options, these farmers are left with no other choice.  One way to tackle the issues of remote areas getting little to no attention is to offer digital extension services, which have been tested on a small scale in PINS. These extension services aim to extending support to these communities by providing them support via GPS based data through their mobile devices. However, during the pilot of these services, we realized that there are many limitations, such as low literacy rates, lack of smart devices, and poor internet connection. Alternatively, in order to support these small farmers, the government should provide them with free soil testing services, so they can use fertilizers according to their soil requirements. This will help them not rely on different fertilizers as a standard package, and reduce their costs. Additionally, the government should act against companies/individuals who sell sub-standard or unauthentic pesticides in their districts through ACs and DCs.

A lack of awareness pertaining to disease and other factors affecting crops within the farmers is another issue. It is understandable that the government has limited human and capital resources. However, there are options like engaging with the district agriculture officers and asking them to report on crop diseases in their respective areas and provide solutions. These solutions can be aired seasonally through local media to increase farmers’ awareness. Nowadays, FM stations are common in each district, and programs can be aired to encourage improved practices (i.e. improved seed varieties as per season, type of land and required fertilizer, water frequency and storage methods) from the start to the end of the cropping process.

Soil infertility due to salinity is a significant problem in the lower Indus basin, and it disproportionately affects small farmers

Another major challenge in PINS districts witnessed is the issue of soil infertility, primarily caused by salinity. This is a significant problem in the lower Indus basin, and it disproportionately affects small farmers who due to this issue suffer from food insecurity and financial losses.  Bio saline agriculture practices offer a potential solution, and based on the experience gained from PINS, some areas in Thatta and Sujawal where traditional agriculture is not viable now due to high soil salinity, these areas can be suitable for implementing such practices.

The issues faced by small farmers are a mix of geographical and economic issues that need to be studied holistically

The issues faced by these small farmers are a mix of geographical and economic issues that need to be studied holistically. The PINS program has worked with these farmers for over five years and understands that their livelihoods are entirely dependent on agriculture. One major observation is that, given the problems mentioned above, a large chunk has been forced to migrate to densely-populated urban areas where they lack the necessary skills to earn a decent living. This is an alarming observation and the reason why it is important to understand and overcome the challenges faced by the small farmers (such as water scarcity, lack of land reforms, and limited access to technology) is because of the significance of their existence in terms of food security and economic well-being in the province of Sindh. Given the context of malnutrition given in the beginning of this article, the issue of food security is one that majorly threatens the development of this province.

It’s important to note that Sindh is the only province in Pakistan where the urban population now exceeds 50%, and their food requirements primarily come from rural areas. Large landowners tend to grow cash crops, unlike small farmers who have limited land and focus on crops that provide both food security and daily income, such as vegetables and fodder. Although small farmers have small landholdings, their numbers are significant and they have a considerable impact on rural areas. Given the key role they play in maintaining the food security of the province, it is important to extend the right kind of support to this segment of society so that they can play their role in addressing larger problems such as malnutrition.

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About the Author

Munawar Alee Kapri is the Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator for the EU-funded PINS program in Sindh, which addresses malnutrition by working with the local community, including small farmers. As a part of his work, he had the opportunity to interact with small farmers and record some valuable lessons based on their interactions.

The post Dilemma of Small Farmers in Sindh first appeared on Sindh Courier.

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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Tando Jam

Free wheat seeds will be distributed among the small farmers of 7 districts of Sindh, for which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Turkey and Sindh Agricultural University on Sunday.

The agricultural extension department of Sindh will also be a party to implement the project. According to the agreement, Turkey will provide wheat seeds for free distribution among 675 small farmers of seven districts of Sindh.

The MoU was signed between Dr. Fateh Marri, Vice Chancellor SAU and Mr. Halil Ibrahim Basaran, Program Coordinator of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) under the Turkish Ministry of Tourism and Culture, while Dr. Islamuddin Rajput of the Department of Agricultural Extension of the Sindh Government signed the MoU as a party at university senate hall.

Vice Chancellor Dr. Fateh Marri thanked the Turkish government, which has helped the flood-affected farmers of Sindh in difficult times and is providing free wheat seeds for two acres to those farmers of Sindh, who have up to ten acres of agricultural land, while Sindh Agriculture University and Agricultural Extension Sindh will also support famers through technical services.

Mr. Halil Ibrahim Basaran, Program Coordinator TIKA said that the wheat seed will be provided free of charge to farmers of Sindh and added that various welfare, educational and social programs are also in progress in Pakistan including Sindh. “We are also establishing a bakery for healthy food for the poor farmers of Sindh,” he said.

Dr. Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar, Director, University Advancement and Financial Assistance explained the details of the agreement and said that under this agreement, 75 farmers of each tehsil and total of 675 famers from taluka Kot Diji, Mehar, Sakrand, New Saeedabad, Shahdadpur, Tando  Bago and Pithoro, will be given wheat seed for two acres, which is being started from this week.

The distribution services will be carried out by the Sindh Agriculture University and Agricultural Extension Department through their team and university students, and the three institutions will monitor the wheat from sowing to harvesting and support the farmers.

On the occasion Dean Dr. Aijaz Ali Khooharo, Dean Dr. Inayatullah Rajpar, Dean Dr. Altaf Ali Siyal, Dean Dr. Syed Ghiyasuddin Shah Rashidi, Dean Dr. Manzoor Ali Abro, Dr. Zahoor Hussain Soomro, Dr. Mujahid Hussain Laghari, Dr. Shahnawaz Marri, Dr. Aijaz Soomro, Director Farms Jakhro Mumtaz Ahmed, TIKA’s Program Officer Miss Fatima and others were also present. (PR)

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Zaheer Udin Babar Junejo

While traveling via road from Mirpur Khas to Hyderabad for soothing breath and breathtaking sceneries, one always dreamed of having such fertile land for the whole Sindh. But interacting with small farm holders and understating their miseries proved that small farm holders have never been a priority for government, civil society, education and research institutions.

They were never taught about climate changes, harms of hybrid seeds and fertilizers. They never had the opportunity to learn from global experiences, accordingly, adopt new climate-smart and appropriate crops and agriculture methods.

Visiting over two dozen of villages in Hyderabad district, I found small growers in the surroundings of Hyderabad who prefer to plant bananas and mangoes instead of risking their investment for growing vegetables.

It’s very alarming that the most known vegetable growing areas with everyday intake are shifting to other crops not because of shortage of water but because of no system for pricing of the crops and inclusive financial and other services for this group of our society.

To understand the situation and find better and appropriate solutions, the government needs to play its part. Farmers were of the view that vegetable input cost is rapidly increasing as it takes too much amount to invest, and return is low due to fluctuating markets. They stated that growers and consumers take losses while the chain of middlemen benefits enormously.

During the field visits I asked why they are shifting to bananas and mangoes instead of growing vegetables, the majority responded that contractors are paying them a good amount for the mentioned crops. Secondly, vegetables are grown on a share basis while mangoes and bananas at farms are total income for landowners with no share to anyone else.

Another major setback discussed by the farmers was that before selling crops at good rates they are exposed to untrustworthy seeds and fertilizers. The rates of vegetables and fruits from farm to market are decided by the middlemen while wheat, cotton, and sugarcane rates are regulated by government authorities. Why the government and price control authorities are failed to administrate same for other crops too?

Small Farmers desperately need inclusive financial assistance, climate-smart agriculture, multi-cropping and innovative horticulture methodologies. The government needs to invest in Farmer Utility Stores (same as Utility Stores) where certified seed, trusted fertilizers and subsidized pesticides are provided to smallholders.

I had the opportunity to visit both vegetable markets of Karachi and Hyderabad. They, in advance, invest a lot into different crops, and crop failures take them to the bottom of the business pyramid. I realized if Individual Middlemen and their services are registered, they may also avail soft loans and assist farmers in growing and ensuring the quality of products they require.

Third and foremost aspect where attention is required is to introduce crop insurance. IT solutions may also be brought at the farmer level where farmers, middlemen, and the market may be connected regularly where farmers may share their plans, get the market update, and accordingly middlemen may ensure a balance between demand and supply.

All the actors involved and worried about food insecurity should realize that the next decade is not about a wealthier society but instead it’s about a healthier one, by promoting only cash crops. We may help people become wealthier but at the same time, we are witnessing vanishing horticulture. Unitedly all of us are contributing and ensuring global food security, poverty reduction, and environmental sustainability but it’s only possible if all of us realize that our agriculture sector requires a paradigm shift, and it’s only possible if growers, who feed all of us, can feed their families too.

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Zaheer Udin Babar Junejo is a Freelance Consultant based in Hyderabad.

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