KANDAHAR CITY (SW): Farmers in Kandahar’s Damaan and Dand districts have raised serious concerns over dropping levels of underground water.
These two district are located close to the provincial capital Kandahar city, and are famous for its wheat, melon, watermelon, pomegranate and grapes’ cultivation. The locals told Salam Watandar some of them have tried deep wells on their own expenses, but even that failed to address the issue of water shortage here.
Mohammad Ismaeel, a local farmer, said in this regard that his farms and fields have adversely been affected by the shortage of water. Mohammad Akbar, another farmer in Damaan district, informed that he has personally seen a number of people associated with agriculture selling their farms and migrating to other places due to shortages of water here. The worried farmers urged upon the government, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) in particular, to help resolve their issues.
Habibur Rahman, director media affairs at the provincial directorate for agriculture, irrigation and livestock, has acknowledged that the shortage of water in these two districts is a serious issue. He, however, claimed the locals have not shared their issues in details with the directorate for agriculture, irrigation and livestock. He informed up to 300 deep wells have been developed in these two districts with the support of the police headquarters to help address the issue.
The director media affairs at the provincial directorate for agriculture, irrigation and livestock informed a dam is under construction in Dand district that would help resolve the problem of the local farmers to some extent. He advised the farmers not to dug deep wells on their own, and seek the help of experts from the provincial directorate for agriculture, irrigation and livestock on this matter.
There are 17 districts in Kandahar, and many of them rely heavily on agriculture. The locals assert that more help and facilities for the farmers would help restore peace and stability here.
ENDS
