pakistan geographical review 1954 - University of the Punjab

It will be seen that the distribution of principal crops in the two wings
of Pakistan is of a complementary character. Out of a total 10,832 thousand
acres under wheat, East Pakistan has only 94,000 acres. Cool early winter
rains and dry and sunny ever summers with plenty of water available for
irrigation provide the geographical background for the wheat crop of West
Pakistan. It is the principal Rabi crop of the irrigated districts. Similarly
cotton is the principal Kharif crop. In the irrigated districts the bulk of it is the
improved American Cotton. It responds very well to a dry summer and
judicious application of water. The physical environment of East Pakistan is
too humid and wet for both these crops. Similarly more than 90% of maize
is produced in the irrigated and well watered districts of Punjab and N .W.F.P.
Bajra, Jowar and gram do well in dry areas and sandy and comparatively
infertile soils. They are therefore grown in the unirrigated districts of
West Pakistan with low rainfall. The" area under Jowar and Bajra in East
Pakistan is practically negligible and that under gram is less than 10%.
East Pakistan his about 90% of the rice and all the acreage under jute.
Jute is a very exhausting crop but the application of manures is uneconomic
owing to its low price. It can stand floods, and is actually greedy for water
right upto the time of harvest. Annual renewal of fertile silt on a very extensive
scale, maintenance of high temperatures and good rainfall, therefore, contribute
to the heavy concentration of this crop in East Bengal which has been producing
about 65 to 80 p.c. of the worlds' jute. The main jute area is concentrated
along the banks of the three principal rivers, Jamuna, Padma and Meghna on
account of the availability of fresh water for steeping. Cheap and industrious
labour, requiring hours of standing in water and unsusceptible to the stagnant
smell produced in retting is another important factor.
Similarly, large area flooded every year, existence of numerous Bhils
and swamps, war.n winters and long summers with high average temperature
and good rainfall extending over both early and late summer, pro vide a suitable
environment in which rice replaces wheat as the principal foodgrain here. It is
cultivated all over East Pakistan, excepting the saline coastal areas. Three
crops are grown in a year, Arnan (winter rice), Aus (autumn or summer rice)
and Bora (spring rice). This crop is the mainstay of the people. It gives a
higher return per acre for the dense population and its straw provides food for
cattle. A small quantity of rice is also grown in West Pakistan where it is
mainly distributed in the flooded riverain areas or depress e d Barani or irrigated
areas.
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