THE shortage of irrigation water in Dadu Canal and Johi Branch is severally affecting the cultivation of wheat crop in the on-going Rabi Season 2005-06. Dadu Canal was constructed for dry crops like cotton, wheat and vegetables, after commissioning of the Sukkur Barrage in 1932.

The Canal originates from the Sukkur Barrage with a capacity of 4,200 cusecs of water. About 40 per cent or 1,680 cusecs is used by farmers on the northern side of the canal from Sukkur to Larkana, while the rest 60 per cent by the tail-enders of Dadu District. Owing to inefficiency the canal is receiving 1,790 cusecs of water from the head at the Sukkur Barrage.

The Johi Branch originates from the Dadu Canal near Sita Road town with a capacity of 860 cusecs for cultivation of hundreds acres of barren land in Taluka Johi. However, in the current season, Johi Branch is receiving 400 cusecs due to heavy silt at the head of the branch. This has resulted in water shortages in different parts of the district, severally affecting the dry crop along with the wheat crop.

Throughout the Sindh province, Abadgars of Taluka Johi cultivate wheat before the Rabi season starts. Abadgars of Taluka Johi provide wheat to the food department in tons but this the department will not achieve the wheat procurement target due to the mismanagement and shortage of water in Dadu.

According to revenue records, Abadgars cultivated cotton on 10,278 hectares, sugarcane on 4,115 hectares, and wheat on 58,250 hectares in 2004-05. About 20,728.505 metric tons of wheat was achieved by the Food Department from Dadu in 2003-2004. However, last year’s target set for this season appears difficult to achieve because of water shortage.

The Sindh Irrigation Department has approved a Johi water lift pumping scheme from RD 77 of MNV Drain to provide 300 cusecs to Johi Branch to meet the shortage during the tenure of the former Irrigation Secretary, Mir Mohammad Parhiyar in June 2002 with an allocation of Rs36.430 million. But after his transfer, the scheme was abandoned due to inefficiency in the department.

The official wheat cultivation season in Sindh has commenced from November 15 and will continue till December 15. The Sindh Seed Corporation has not provided wheat seed varieties to the Abadgars of Dadu of even to established centres for sale to farmers. A single variety ‘Sarsabz’ is being cultivated while the seeds of Abadgar 93, Anmole 91, Kiran 95 and Tandojam 83 are not available.

The Irrigation and the Agriculture Department officials are required to make provision for agricultural inputs including water to the tail-enders and need to work more effectively towards this end.