Progressive farming in Sindh.

Byline: Khalil Ahmed

Syed Nadeem Shah, a modern farm owner, says mustard crop can help reduce country's import bill

Sees better prospects in organic vegetables

PAKISTAN and GULF ECONOMIST team visited a progressive farm owned by Syed Nadeem Shah in Matiari District near Hyderabad Sindh, Pakistan. Syed Nadeem Shah is Vice President of Sindh Abadgar Board. He is a farmer by profession. He did his BSC (Honours), MBA and DBS. He has been looking after his agricultural farms for last 45 years. He is also a member on several boards and committees of the government, President Cancer Patient Welfare Society, etc.

Syed Nadeem Shah inherited the farm from his father. His father initiated progressive farming and Syed Nadeem Shah extended it with modern and state-of-the-art methods. The farm covers one hundred acres. Mangoes are grown on 30 acres, bananas on 10 acres and rest of the land is used for other crops and vegetables such as sugarcane, cotton, wheat, onions etc.

Traders come to his farm and purchase his farm mangoes for export since he adopts global agricultural standards. Grading and sorting of the fruits is done at his farm. He has got trained workforce to meet global standards of quality. Wheat of his farm is purchased by the traders who subsequently export it to Russia at times.

Onions of his farm are also exported in the wake of marvelous quality of crop. He himself is not involved in export, however, his produce is exported by the traders. He agreed with the fact that outdated methods of agriculture are still in vogue in Pakistan, however, there are plenty of farmers who have adopted modern methods of agriculture. He himself has set up seed germination and seed processing plants. The government sometimes does help the farmers, however, it is the farmer who has to do all the things on his own without the help of the government.

Syed Nadeem Shahuses farm yard manure, which is organic and is very vital for the strength of the fertile land. The farm yard manure is easily available and is far less costly than the chemical fertilizer. Around 90% cost of fertilizer is saved by using farm yard manure.

Syed Nadeem Shah gave details about the banana crop. There are two different types of methods to produce banana based on the size. Once the banana crop is sowed, the first crop of banana gets ready in 18 months. Bananas of his farm are bought by the traders and sold in various cities of Pakistan and are exported to Afghanistan and Iran. Some of his...