Nimroz livestock farmers hit by drought

ZARANJ (PAN): Thousands of household animals have died as a result of drought that hit agricultural lands in the Kang district of southwestern Nimroz province, residents and officials said on Thursday.

Resident Mahmood said nearly 20,000 animals had perished so far due to dry weather over the past four years. Almost every livestock farmer had lost 80 to 90 percent animals, including sheep and cows.

Another resident, Ghulam Sakhi, said most of animals had died because there were fewer meadows in the area. An ex-irrigation department official, he said farmers had sown wheat crops in their fields this year, but to no avail.

Kang district chief, Mohammad Juma Alami, confirmed the problems being faced by residents in the wake of the prolonged dry weather. He said residents were highly dependent on agriculture and the drought had landed them in deep economic trouble.

Many families had migrated to other parts of the province and others follow suit soon, said Alami, who suggested the only solution to the problem was cleaning the Lashkari canal between Zaranj, the provincial capital, and Kang.

The cleanliness would let water flow to the district, he explained.

Agriculture Director Mohammad Akbar Sharifi said he had intensified efforts to seek assistance from the central government in mitigating people’s suffering.

ma/mud