As parts of Pakistan ban water-guzzling paddy, one farmer has a solution
Both India and its western neighbour regularly forbid rice cultivation to conserve water and prevent land degradation. Representational image. | Mohsin Raza / Reuters
The season for sowing paddy is about to kick off in Sindh. But the province in southeast Pakistan has banned rice cultivation in 10 districts on the left bank of the Indus river.
This ban is announced every year at the end of April or early May to limit the waterlogging, salinity and drought-like conditions caused by successive rice farming. By some accounts, rice cultivation has been banned in these areas for over 90 years. Similarly, the Indian government bans paddy cultivation in “dark zones” to help water aquifers.