Problems in Tharparkar, Sindh, Pakistan

This part of the Sindh Province remains one of the country’s most disadvantaged regions in terms of governmental priorities. Sporadic and scanty rainfall, dwindling water resources, transient and limited grazing, and reliance on exploitative middle-men even for life’s mundane needs is a permanent feature of Thar. Except for subsistence farming and limited opportunities for generating incomes, mostly through handicraft and carpet productions through middlemen, there are no viable economic alternatives. It is common for individuals or whole families to migrate towards the irrigated plains to labour on farms; brick kilns or in low-paid work so as to survive in the emerging cash economy. Compounded by difficulties of access and communication, Tharparkar’s economy is characterised by high population growth, increasing number of migrant communities, decreasing socio-economic opportunities based on traditional practices, and most of all, a rapid and unfettered deterioration in environmental resources which may soon threaten the very survival of the population. The soils are generally infertile and because of severe wind erosion are overblown with sand. The desert vegetation is mostly herbaceous, or of stunted scrub; trees occasionally dot the landscape. The grasses form the main natural resources of the desert and provide nutritive and palatable pasturage. Water is very scarce. Whenever rain falls, it is collected in tanks and reservoirs and is used for drinking and domestic purposes. Most groundwater cannot be used because it lies deep underground and is often saline. Hence all these situations make solid reasons to have an organisation for addressing these issues. The desert areas of Tharparkar district, generally known as Thar, consist of the Talukas of Mithi, Chachro, and Nagarparkar and parts of the Diplo and Umarkot Talukas. The total area of the Desert is 22,000 square kilometers and the population is between .9 million to 1 million. The desert population from times immemorial has migrated to the irrigated areas in the dry seasons and particularly at the times of wheat harvest and also provides labour for sugarcane and for brink kilns. Mostly lower Hindu caste migrates regularly. Migrations do occur within Thar particularly on the first rain shower which occasionally covers the whole Thar in first instance. The animal population is estimated around 4 million with high portion of goats and sheep followed by cattle, and camel. The desert consists of sand dunes between, which are flat plains where agriculture can take place. The total land of Tharparkar is about 4.7 million hectares (1.7 million hectares not cultivable) Agriculture in the desert is entirely dependent on rainfall. However, since last couple of years the kitchen gardening on well water has started in the southern parts of the Thar and some agriculture cash crops are being cultivated around Karoonjhar hills of Nagarparkar. Rains charge all water sources in Thar. These water sources consist of wells, trais and covered tanks. The rainfall occurs between July and September in normal years varies between 200 mm to 300 mm. It is not uniform all over Thar. Sowing is done immediately after rainfall. The main crop are guar and millet mixed with lentils, till, and melons. After the rains the Thar Desert supports extensive grass growth with rains which provide high value feed to livestock.

Gori Temple In Thar Parkar Sindh