THATTA, June 1: Stopping supply of irrigation water for over two months and non-payment of sugarcane dues to growers have seriously hampered paddy sowing and have adversely affected other standing crops in the district, which is at the tail-end of the irrigation system.

The president of the Thatta chapter of Sindh Chamber of Agriculture, Shahzad Shah Hussaini, said that the closure of water during the paddy sowing season in Thatta and Badin districts might cause a shortfall in sowing of rice over 90,000 hectares in lower Sindh.

He said that that back-breaking inflation, skyrocketing prices of fuel and fertilisers, with DAP jumping to Rs3,000 per bag and high labour charges had made the agriculture business a hard task.

He said that non-payment of outstanding dues by sugar mills had further weakened the growers’ financial condition. Pakistan was the only country which charged sales tax on fertilisers and pesticides, he said.

During the period between the announcement of support price and maturity of crops, the rates of pesticides and fertilisers had increased manifold, he said.

Despite getting bumper cane crop, the growers were driven to disappointment for not getting fair price for their produce and now delay in supply of irrigation water, which posed threat to paddy crop, might prove last straw on the camel’s back, he feared.

Stoppage of water had created drought-like-situation in the coastal areas of the district, which is forcing hundreds of villagers to migrate to other areas for sheer survival.

Not only families dependent on agriculture but also those who do other jobs for a living have been affected by scarcity of freshwater in Mirpur Sakro, Buhara, Gharo, Ghorabari, Jati, Shah Bundar, Keti Bundar, Kharochhan and their adjoining areas.

MILLS CLOSED: More than 100 rice-millers and chakki owners have closed their businesses in Sujawal town in protest against raids by food and revenue department officials.