Why Bano Mal and other farmers are suffering in Thar
The Thar desert experienced rainfall earlier during the monsoon this year, sparking hopes of prosperity and a wholesome harvest. At the time of the harvest, however, it became apparent that only 30% of the farmers received a good yield. The rest will have to rely on less than the anticipated amount of grain.
This is because not all of Thar received adequate amount of rain. Moreover, the rain arrived late this year. Social activist Ali Nawaz Chauhan told me that farmers normally sow the seeds in July or late August, but this year they had to cultivate the land in September due to the untimely rain, which affected the harvest and resulted in a lower than expected yield.
Bano Mal, a farmer from Chelahr, spent more than Rs50,000 on 20 acres of desert land after the rains. His family of seven worked hard during the sowing period but after six months, he has a yield worth Rs66,000 only.