Wheat farming in Sindh, Pakistan

Wheat Farming

Wheat is the most cultivated crop in Pakistan. According to a survey, the average yield of Pakistan is 28 maunds per acre, which is very low compared to other countries, while the first place is Ireland at 96 maunds per acre, the second place is New Zealand at 93 maunds per acre and the third place is Mali at 90 maunds per acre.

Pakistan is a major producer of wheat, with the crop playing a vital role in the country's economy. Wheat is grown throughout Pakistan, with the major producing regions including the Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Pakistan's climate and fertile soil are well-suited for wheat production, and the crop is an important source of food for the country's population. Wheat is also used to make a variety of food products, including bread, pasta, and pastries.

Climate Change Effect

Since the previous 5 years, climate change in Sindh has affected the whole agriculture sector. Weather problems in the month of February-March bring the winds and rainfall causing wind lodging in wheat. Wind lodging causes huge damage to the farmers and they can’t get input amounts in their fields.

Pakistan’s population is growing day by day and it will be difficult to meet the food requirements of the growing population due to the climate change effect. So it’s necessary to keep mitigating strategies to fight the wind lodging problem by introducing ridge farming in wheat.

Health benefits of Wheat

Wheat is a healthful grain that provides several health benefits when consumed as part of a healthy diet. Some of the health benefits of eating wheat include:

·       Wheat is a good source of essential nutrients, including carbohydrates, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. It is particularly rich in B vitamins, which are important for energy metabolism and brain function.

·     It helps with weight management: Wheat is high in fibre which can help you feel fuller for longer and may promote weight loss.

·       It improves digestive health: The fibre in wheat helps to promote regular bowel movements and helps to reduce the risk of constipation.

·       It lowers the risk of heart disease: Wheat contains a type of fibre called soluble fibre, which helps to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.

·    It helps to prevent type 2 diabetes: Some investigations suggest that consuming whole grains, like wheat, may help to lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The health benefits of eating wheat vary depending on the type of wheat product you are consuming. For example, whole wheat products (made from whole grains) tend to be more nutritious than refined wheat products (made from processed grains).

Selection of the land

Fertile soil having good water-holding capacity is to be selected. The best soil for the wheat crop is loamy or clay loam soil and neutral in reaction. For successful cultivation, light soil may be selected and proper irrigation and desired nutrition may be given.

Land preparation

Land preparation involves ploughing (Deep Ploughing), 
harrowing (Rotavator), and levelling 
the field (so that each plant receives an equal 
amount of water) to make it suitable for the crop.
Land preparation releases nutrients into the soil, 
destroying /reducing weeds and ant nests. 
It also improves soil and plant contact and reduces
 the incidence of pests and diseases
 infestation.

Seed selection and seed quantity

 Fine grain seed 40 kg per acre and thick grain seed 60 kg per acre

Varieties of wheat

 

Sr#                                               Variety                              Yeild(Mds)

1	TJ-83	45
2	Mehran-89	65
3	Anmol-91	47
4	Abadgar-93	67
5	Moomal-2002	60
6	TD-1	80
7	SKD-1	70
8	Imdad	60
9	Hamal-13	70
10	Benazir-13	85
11	Sindhu	80
12	I.V.2	80

Sowing Season

Wheat is usually sown in November and harvested in April. In southern Sindh, the best times for planting are from 1-20 November for early varieties and 21 November-15 December for late varieties. In northern Sindh, early planting is started from 10-30 November and late planting is done from 20 November-20 December.

Germination

The right time to plant may be selected as the pod 

of the seed grows well. Germination of seed is 

affected by temperature, water availability,

 oxygen, light, maturity of seed and physiological

 age of the seed.

Sowing Methods

Broadcasting:  the seeds are broadcast and then worked in by harrowing to cover them. This method of sowing should not be encouraged as the Germination of broadcast seeds is relatively poor and the plant stand is often irregular. Wastage of seed also results because most of the seed is left on the surface, therefore, is picked up and eaten by birds.

Nari: When the seed is dropped in furrows by hand, it is called the ‘Kera’ method and when it is dropped through a Pora or Nari a special attachment with a local plough it is called ‘Nari’ method. In this method, seeds are dropped at a depth of 5-6 centimetres and germination is satisfactory.

Drilling: In this method, seed is sown by seed drill. With the help of this implement seed drop at depth and results in uniform germination and regular stand. The seed bed should be fine and well levelled free from clods and weeds for the use ofa  seed drill or ferti-seed drill. Seed drills are easily available in the market. They may be either bullock-driven or tractor driven. The ferti-seed drill should be used wherever possible to ensure uniform depth of sowing, proper placement of fertilizers and good germination.

Dribbling: This method is used in the case where the supply of seed is limited. Sowing is done with the help of a small implement known as a ‘Dibbler’. It is a wooden or iron frame with pegs. The frame is pressed in the field and lifted and then one or two seeds are dropped by hand in each of the holes. It is not a common method because it is a verytime-consumingg process.

Zero tillage technique: This new method is used in the Rice-Wheat cropping system whthe ere sowing of wheat is delayed beyond 25 November. After harvesting of rice crop, the field requires at least 6-8 tillage operations in ploughing and harrowing for sowing of wheat, in which generally 10-15 days are required for proper field preparation. The yield of wheat decreases at the rate of 30 kg per hectare per day after the 25 November sowing. A Zero-till-ferti-seed-drill machine has been developed by which direct sowing of wheat is done in Rice field without ploughing. This helps advance the sowing of wheat as the time required for field preparation is saved.

Better growth (nutrition)

At the time of wheat cultivation, the maximum temperature must be 25 to 30 cm degrees. At this temperature, the seed germination will be improved and the required number of plants will be obtained. A good production of 12 lacks to 14 lacks plants is very important. 30 to 33 thousand plants are obtained from 1 kg of seeds.

 

Irrigation

Mainly grown under irrigated conditions, wheat’s water requirements range from 20-21 in/acre. The Indus Plains with their favourable topography, rich soil, and good agricultural facilities have a much greater acreage planted for wheat.

First irrigation is given after 20-25 days after sowing. Second irrigation is given after 80-90 days of sowing, and third irrigation is given120-130 days of sowing.

Wheat is mostly grown on irrigated land in Sindh. Wheat production from rain-fed areas is about 10 %. However, weather causes year-to-year fluctuations in crop production. Good rainfall means a good wheat crop. For example, 1997­-98 had good rainfall, and the production increase in wheat was 48 % in rain-fed areas compared with the previous year, whereas increased production in the irrigated areas was only 8.5 %.

 

Fertilizer

After planting wheat, at the time of the first water, use a bag of urea or ammonium sulfate mixed with a bag of standard zinc. This will increase the yield of wheat.

Give another water in 80 days and a bag of urea with it.

The third water should be given in 120 days, At that time, use a bag of potash fertilizer along with urea, it will increase the grain size of the wheat and the grain will be heavier

It is important to give water before the wheat harvest so that the filling of the grain can be better.

#Note: Watering depends on the land, it is not necessary to water every land as mentioned above

 

Diseases in wheat crop

Seed-borne diseases: these include seed-borne Scrab, seed-borne Stagonospora, common bunt (stinking smut) and lose smut. These are managed by fungicides.

Wheat rust is a common disease in Pakistan and can be controlled by planting resistant varieties.

Aphids attack wheat a little before the maturity stages of wheat and directly start eating the grain. Due to the recent change in the pattern of rail fall in Sindh, Aphids get back to wheat crop and cause approximately 17-20% loss to crop yield.

Aphids can be controlled by using biological control methods instead of chemicals. The easiest way to control the Aphids is by relay cropping of canola crops. Canola crops will attract the lady birds’ beetles, these beetles will attack the Aphids. It is reported that one ladybird beetle eats 800 Aphids in a day.

Harvesting

Harvesting crop begins in Sindh in late march and is expected to continue till mid of May. In rain-fed areas harvesting will continue up to mid of June. At harvesting time, wheat stalks begin to bend over, from the weight of their kernels. The entire plant becomes golden in colour. After the wheat is harvested from the field, the wheat thresher separates stalks of chaff away from kernels. Stalks and chaff are often used for mulch and animal feed.

Reasons for low production

Some indications that the lower production target could not be achieved are late sowing, shortages of phosphate fertilizer at sowing time, changes in a winter climate, delays in cane crushing season, delays in launching of loan disbursements by the ADBP, shortages of certified seed, stagnant support prices, and water shortages. Late monsoons also caused a delay in planting, because the harvest of the cotton crop was delayed. About 40 % of the wheat crop is sown after cotton.

Yield

In Pakistan, wheat is grown as a Rabi crop in the Sindh, Punjab, NWFP, and Balochistan provinces. In the northern parts of Baluchistan, some winter wheat is cultivated on a small scale. The wheat-growing area was 8.371 million hectares and production was 18.90 million tons in 1997. The major production area is in Punjab i-e 71.17 %, followed by the Sindh province (13.38 %). However, the yield per acre is slightly higher in Sindh (2,410 kg) as compared to Punjab (2,316 kg).