Water shortage affecting crops in Tharparkar.

Byline: RT Correspondent

MITHI -- After successful experiments of growing regular crops by adopting Biosaline agriculture techniques, water-scarce region of Tharparkar has produced another hope, as Thar desert has yielded production of Apple Ber from the orchards developed under a pilot project of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) and Thar Foundation.

Fruits have started emerging within one year of cultivation after Thar Foundation planted Apple Ber over an area of 10 acres in Thar Coal Block II of Islamkot, Tharparkar. The experiment was part of Bio-Saline agriculture by utilizing underground water of 3rd aquifer pumped out from a depth of approx. 200 meters. These Ber trees were provided water of up to 3500 ppm TDS under technical support provided by Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) where 120 trees were planted per acre. 'Within one year, these plants have started yielding fruits and every tree has yielded average 5-7 kgs of Bers. Hence 120 trees on an acre can earn approx Rs. 35-40 thousand in the first harvest only, said Umair Aslam Butt, Incharge of the Thar Green Initiative and Manager Health, Safety and Environment at Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) in a press release issued here Friday.'The current market price of Apple Ber is approx. Rs. 2200 per maund that demonstrates the tremendous economic potential of Biosaline orchards in Tharparkar,' he said. In order...