Gwadar - Government of Balochistan

during the last five years. However, for a good crop raising and earning, focus on the practices of horizontal crop yield
increase were made possible from within the framework of available farm resources. A high yield will not only improve the
farm and farmers' income but will also have a positive impact on the overall economy of the province. Therefore, each
year both in Rabi and Kharif cropping seasons, the cultivation area needs to be increased.
The mean Culturable Waste Land area has been recorded at 66.5% which has remained constant over the previous five
years period. This could be an indication to the scarcity of irrigation water. The ratio of cropping intensity decreased during
the Rabi as well as Kharif seasons. Culturable Waste Land reduced from 33,815 hectares in 2004-05 to 32,277 hectares in
2008-09.
Crops
Gwadar valley has two cropping seasons:
1. Rabi Crops: Rabi crops include; Lentil (Masoor), vegetable and Fodder. These crops are sown in the winter or during
early summer and harvested in late summer. For further details, please see table C1 Annexure C.
2. Kharif Crops: Kharif crops include; fruit, vegetable, Melon and Coriander. All these crops fall in the category of cash
crops and they are sown in summer and harvested in late summer or early winter. For further details, please see
table C2 Annexure C.
7.2.2. Major Crops, Area and Production
In major Rabi crops, vegetables cover the largest area, (23
hectares), which is 45% of the total area. This is followed by
Fodder which covers 23.5% of the area. More than 65% of the
area under vegetables' cultivation is being irrigated. The area
under Lentil (Masoor) cultivation was 16 hectares, 31.4% of the
total Rabi cropping area.
The production of Fodder was 442 tons during the year 2008-
09 reported as the highest, followed by 326 tons of vegetable
and 6 tons of Lentil (Masoor). The data shows that Masoor's
average yields of 375 kg/hectares in Gwadar is very high when
compared to the average yield of high yielding Masoor
genotypes in the un-irrigated areas of Balochistan.
Of the major Kharif crops, fruits occupied the largest area of
2,796 hectares which is 99% of the total area (2,832 hectares)
followed by vegetable (20 hectares) comprising 0.7% of the
area. The area under Melon was 13 hectares while Coriander
occupied 3 hectares: cultivation for melon and coriander was
0.5% and 0.1% of the total Kharif area, respectively. Fruit with
production, of 18,057 tons, was v dominant in the district with
a yield of 6,458 kg/hectares followed by vegetable with a
production of 130 tons and yield of 10,000 Kg/hectares.
Dates, Mangoes, Citrus, Guava, Chickoo and Coconut are the
leading fruits. The production level of Kharif vegetable was
5,700 tons followed by Coriander (333 tons) at a yield of 333
Kg/hectares. The data shows that the average yield of
Coriander (333 Kg/hectares), obtained under irrigated
conditions is about 62% less than the average yield in
Area and Production of Major Rabi Crops
Number
50,000
25,000
0
Area (Hectare)
Production (Tones)
Yield (Kg/ Hectare)
16
6
375
23
326
14,174
(Agricultural Statistics Balochistan, 2008-09)
12
442
Lentil Vegetables Fodder
Rabi Crops
Area and Production of Major Kharif Crops
Number
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2,796
18,057
6,458
20
114
5,700
(Agricultural Statistics Balochistan, 2008-09)
13
130
Fruits Vegetables Melons
Kharif Crops
Area (Hectare)
Production (Tones)
Yield(Kg/ Hectare)
36,833
10,000
Balochistan (541 Kg/hectares).
It seems that the Coriander varieties being grown are either not certified or the appropriate agronomic practices are not
performed efficiently like sowing time, balanced fertilizer application plus type of fertilizer to be applied, seed bed
preparation, irrigation intervals, hoeing and weeding operations and proper insect and disease control measures. In order
to improve the existing low yield, newly developed high yielding varieties of seeds shall be introduced. For further details,
please see table C2 Annexure C.
The Provincial Seed Certification Department should survey the area for monitoring and identification of varieties of crop
sown which would help curb the prevailing trend of sowing mixed and uncertified seeds. Moreover, both Agriculture
Research and Extension Wings should participate in the field days and provide updated information to farmers in the area
that how to follow the crop husbandry. Effective dissemination of written guidelines, pamphlets and newsletters about
proper management and handling of various crops be ensured and activated for the best interest and economic prosperity
of the farmers.
7.2.3. Discussion on Production Trends
a) Fodder: At the district level, Fodder contributed to 23.5% of the
area under Rabi crop cultivation. Fodder contributed 0.4% to the
total Fodder area in Balochistan at 3.1%. The production growth
rate was 2.3% in Gwadar whereas 22.5% at the provincial level.
Yield growth rates were 49.9% and 29.1% at the district and
provincial levels respectively. Hence, it is quite possible that wheat
cultivation would be continued at the same level in the existing
cropping system.
b) Fruit: At the district level, fruit contributed to 99% of the area
under Kharif crop cultivation. The area growth rate was higher than
that of Fodder (97% > 20.1%) and so was the production growth
rate (94.7% >19.7%) at the district level. The yield growth rate was
8.7% compared to 2% at the provincial level
Growth Rate Comparison - 2008-09 (%)
(Agricultural Statistics Balochistan, 2008-09)
c) Coriander: At the district level, Coriander contributed to 0.1% of the area under Kharif crop cultivation. The area growth
rate was lower than Fodder and fruits (0.1% < 0.2%) and so was the production growth rate (0.01% < 0.03%) at the district
level. The yield growth rate was 0.5% compared to 0.2% at the provincial level. Therefore, Coriander cultivation is not as
economical as Fodder and fruit; however, it should be continued provided the cropping area is increased at the district
level.
c) Lentil: At the district level, Lentils (Masoor) contributed to 31% of the area under Rabi crop cultivation. The area growth
rate (0.6% > 0.3%) and production growth rate (0.03% < 0.04%) for Lentils remained higher than coriander at the district
level. The yield growth rate was 0.5% compared to the 0.3% at the provincial level. For further details, please see table C3
Annexure C.
7.2.4. Discussion of Cropping Patterns
26 27
Percent
100
75
50
25
0
97 95
20 20
Area
Production
23
29
2
9
3 0 2
Yield
Area
Production
Yield
50
0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1
Area
Production
Yield
Area
Production
Fruits Fodder Coriander lentil
Major Crops
Balochistan
Gwadar
Single cropping pattern is practiced to cultivate Lentil (Masoor), vegetable, Fodder, fruit, Melon and Coriander, whereas
inter cropping, mixed cropping and crop rotation are not practiced. Some fields/plots remain uncultivated as fallow land to
maintain the soil's fertility which might otherwise have been exhausted in the past under crop husbandry.
Yield