Phenomenal losses caused by heavy rains in Sindh

Heavy rains, continuing for past six days in almost all parts of Sindh, have destroyed 100 percent seasonal vegetable crops, 70 percent cotton, 50 percent standing rice crops and 70 percent sugarcane crops, resulting in growers having to face about Rs 200 billion losses.
Sources in provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), and Agriculture and Revenue departments told Business Recorder on Saturday that continuing rains have not only caused loss of lives but also irreparable losses to the growers. They said that though any department of Sindh government has not made any report regarding the losses yet, but according to approximate estimates rains have destroyed 100 percent seasonal vegetable crops.
They said that onion, tomato, chillies and other vegetables have been destroyed in all parts of Sindh. This would result in increase in the prices of vegetable rates within the next few days. They said that thousands of growers cultivate various types of vegetables on about one million acres in almost all districts of the province. Rains have damaged 70 percent crops of cotton in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Badin, Thatta, Naushehro Feroze, Nawabshah, Khairpur, Shikarpur, Kashmore-Kandhkot, Larkana and Dadu.
Sources said that thousands of growers cultivate cotton crop on about 1.8 million acres in almost all districts of Sindh, excluding Tharparkar. They said that the rains had washed out about 50 percent standing rice crops in Sindh. Growers cultivate rice crops on about 2 million acres in various parts of the province including Larkana, Shikarpur, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Jacobabad, Kashmore-Kandhkot, Thatta and Dadu districts. These districts face heavy losses due to the rains.
Sources said that rains have damaged about 70 percent of sugarcane crops. Sugarcane crop has been cultivated on about 0.7 million acres, in Badin, Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Thatta, Khairpur, Naushehro Feroze, Nawabshah, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas and Hyderabad districts. They said that rains also damaged orchards of various fruits on about 0.25 million acres. Rhis would result in acute shortage of various types of fruits in next few weeks. About Rs 200 billion losses are estimated in this regard.
Talking to Business Recorder, Dr Nadeem Qamar, President of Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA) has demanded of the Sindh government that all districts of province should be announced calamity-hit. He termed these losses bigger in comparison to losses from last year's floods and said that Sindh government should plan long-term strategy to overcome the losses of agriculture sector.