Rain-hit farmers, growers seek agriculture relief

Small farmers and growers of rain affected of Tando Allahyar demanded from Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and other high ups to provide agriculture relief that can resume their livelihood in district.
Talking to journalists who visited rain affected areas arranged by Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI) and Peoples Accountability Commission on Floods on Wednesday, the rain affected growers of Taluka Chanbar told journalists that local administration only drain out rain water from the landlords' lands and administration had refused to pump out drain water from farmers' lands.
They complained that even after passage of seven months not pump out rain water, Uras Solnagi, Waryam Solnagi, Hafizabad, Ali Nawaz Gorchani, Badhi Machi, Dost Ali Khoso and majority are small farmers and growers. Media person witnessed that heavy rain water accumulated in their land and crops totally destroyed and they are living in temporary make shift villages and some are living under open sky and some families migrated in other cities.
Allah Jaryio small farmer told that he was owner of ten acre land and was living prosperous life but after devastated rains his land and crop and destroyed and rain water still accumulated in his land. He added that several time the small villagers visited concerned officials to drain out rain water but did not pay any heed. They said that land lords want we sell out our land. They said that they sold out all livestock for livelihood and shifted in safer areas.
They urged the Sindh government to announce especial relief package to small farmers so they can drain out rain water and cultivate Kharif crop. They added that due to negligence of local administration and landlords efforts they did not cultivate Rabi crop and they feared that if government could not take appropriate efforts they will not cultivate Kharif crop in their land.
Chanbar, Tando Allah Yar and Jandho Marri are worst affected talukas in district and 80 percent land of small growers and farmers affected in the district and still they are waiting for government relief so can resume their livelihood. The 70 percent of potable water is contaminated in rain affected taulkas. The communities have complained that if government and NGOs do not solve the water problem, the malaria and other water borne diseases will break out.-PR