Green Revolution or Agricultural Force – By: Prof. Rahmat Karim Baig
Pakistan was supposed to be a rich country as it has fertile lands and good river system with numerous rivers flowing down from the higher north to the very coasts of the south. We should have been able to produce enough grain and cereals to feed our own growing population and also feed hungry stomachs outside the country but Alas ! we have failed badly in every sector and losing ground due to poor leadership and management. The political instability in the country is the major cause of it with high level corruption into the bargain. It is highly shameful for our leadership for its failure to set goals in the Agriculture sector to make the country self sufficient.
The agriculture practiced in Chitral as the only source of income in the past should be studied and taken as a model for the rest of the country. It is not only Chitral but also other states of the mountainous north had developed a native water channel engineering system and water rationing system that was sustainable and are good examples of resource management.
The members of the Norwegian Expedition to Terich Mer in 1950 had seen the water channels of Chitral and were amazed to see the construction of the canals over rocky lands and the maintenance system that was surprising for them and have given their views in the Expedition proceedings that Norway can learn this engineering system from the people of Chitral. It is a tribute to the skill of our forefathers and the same water distribution system works quite smoothly to date. The success story of ‘Ra ZHoi’ in Khot valley is perhaps the biggest one in Chitral.
The inhabitants of old Chitral were very hard working and discovered ways to use the meager springs in the hills to water their plots by building ponds where the small water from a source was stored and then carried to cultivations till the pond emptied and the pond was closed again to get another supply in a few hours and then released to water the rest of the plot. It was a wise use of natural resources as in summer crops need more water but the region is out of monsoon rains so the smaller streams were used wisely and in water rationing system. ( for details vide Hindu Kush Study Series Volume TWO)
Chitral as a political entity has not been a model State. It has one of the darkest ruling record but as far as the work of the farmer and cultivator goes it was a model one under the condition that prevailed all over the State. The men were good growers from small plots and got enough food stuff to feed their families.
The idea of organizing an Agriculture Force to be recruited from the jobless you can help the agricultural products under a strict discipline. We should create a network of canals for the barren lands and initiate model Farms for vegetables, fruit trees, cereals etc. to boost the poor economy of Khyber Pakhtonkhwa because here we have enough barren lands and very good gift of rivers from the mountains in the north. Agriculture and horticulture has to be focused for a better future.
