Seemed upset by an unseasonal torrential rains in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mirjan Khan, a 45-year-old progressive farmer was working against the clock on Saturday to complete plucking of strawberry in his five acres agriculture land to avoid financial losses following forecast of more rainfall in Charsadda district.
Engaged six extra labourers to complete strawberry’s harvest at his hometown Nisatta here, the poor farmer personally participated in its plucking in his farmland near Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway to avoid further rains damages to the crop.
“The unseasonal torrential rains occured this month has negatively impacted the strawberry besides resulted arrival of the mouthwatering food in the market last, and incured substantial financial losses to its growers in Charsadda, Mardan, Nowshera and Swat,” Marjan who sent two loads pick ups to the lucrative market of Peshawar on Saturday told APP.
“This year, the strawberry market is relatively small as the crop has been damaged by the recent torrential rainfall and flash flooding in Rivers Khayali, Kabul and Shah Alam, forcing many farmers to make its pre-mature plucking in Charsadda,” he said.
“Many farmers started strawberry cultivation late in November last, expecting that the spring rains will not impact the crop but the April’s rainfalls tarnished their dreams,” he said. He said since the strwabary crop is less in Charsadda this season due to rains damages, the retailers may sell at high prices but for farmers, there won’t be more profit due to increase in its mortality.
“There are around 100 farmers cultivating strawberries in Nesatta. At least 75% of strawberries produced in KP comes from Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, Malakand and Hazara divisions while the remaining 25% come from others districts of Khyber Pakthunkhwa and Punjab,” he said.
