Adam Khan Wazir Wana
Located in Lower South Waziristan District, is renowned for its flourishing fruit tree plantations and vibrant agricultural activities. However, a looming crisis threatens the very foundation of this agri-cultural prosperity, as dwindling water levels pose a grave threat to fruit orchards in the region.
Amidst ongoing fruit tree plantation campaigns and the annual dispatch of numerous trucks laden with fruits and vegetables to markets across the country, local farmers and cultivators are gripped with ap-prehension.
The continuous decline in water levels over several years has raised alarms, prompting urgent calls for government intervention to mitigate the crisis.
Haji Toor Khan, a prominent farmer in the area, lamented the dire situation, emphasizing the fertility of Lower South Waziristan District’s agricultural landscape. Famed for its apples, plums, potatoes, apricots, and peaches, the region’s agricultural pro-duce faces jeopardy due to the scarcity of small dams and check dams.
The absence of adequate water storage infrastructure has not only alarmed farmers but also drawn concerns from the broader community. Without immediate action, the livelihoods of thousands of families reliant on agriculture hang in the balance.
Addressing the gravity of the situation, South Wa-ziristan Lower Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Ziau Udin acknowledged the severity of the water issue in Wana. While highlighting efforts by the Irrigation Department to construct small dams and check dams, Udin stressed the urgency of preventing further depletion of water resources in the region.
Local tribals echoed the sentiment, urging the gov-ernment to prioritize the construction of small dams and check dams as a matter of urgency.
