National News

PESHAWAR, Oct 22 (APP): The unusual hot weather in current year which still persists in the usually cold month of October, has destroyed around 80 percent of gourd fields in Khyber Pakhtunkwa, impacting livelihood of thousands of people associated with farming of this vegetable. Gourd is being cultivated in vast lands of Mardan and Buner districts of KP and it is the only farming of this vegetable during winter season in Pakistan, informs Dr. Tariq Nawaz Khattak, Bio-chemist and Research Officer in NIFA (Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture). The winter season gourd cultivation in thousands of acres of land in Rustam, Charghali, Totalai, Katlang, and Thakhtbhai areas provides livelihood opportunities to thousands of people who are associated with farming from generations, Dr. Tariq told APP. The environ of these areas are very suitable for cultivation of gourd during winter season and gives significant benefits to the growers, he added. However, due to changes in weather patterns caused by global warning and climate change, the livelihood of thousands of people through gourd farming is impacted and at risk, Dr. Tariq warns. Dr, Tariq informed APP that this year an unusual delay in summer season has badly damaged gourd fields which came under severe attack of white fly. Those who sowed seed during routine days of end of September have faced a lot of losses and all of their fields are destroyed, he added. He said from the last several years, farmers, engaged in gourd farming in Mardan and Buner districts during winter season are facing losses and compelled to consider plans for changing profession to make their both ends meet. From big farmers to small ones all were facing losses due to reduction in cultivated vegetable because of climate changes, he added. Most of the farmers of the areas have now decided to cultivate wheat after destroying gourd fields due to losses they received, informed Jannat Gul, a former in Charghali area of Mardan district.