Date trees suffer as drought hits Dalbandeen, the headquarter of Chaghi district.
According to the Balochistan Post correspondent, date farms have been destroyed in ‘Yak Moch’ area of Dalbandeen as result of a long-lasting drought.
Sixty kilometres from Dalbandeen, the small town of ‘Yak Moch’ has suffered the most, as a result of drought that has left no water left for cultivation and turning potable water into a scarcity.
Pir daad, a social worker, said to the media that in the past, trees were watered through Karez (water channels) but these Karez too have dried up due to the drought, and now they have no other way to save the date industry in Dalbandeen, once famous for its quality dates.
According to Pir daad, they have been watering the remaining trees on self-help basis. He also appealed the Government to find alternative ways of providing water to the farmers.
Date is the second largest production in Balochistan after apple, Balochistan produces 225, 000 tonnes of dates from an area of 42.3 thousand hectares every year.
It is a major source of income in Balochistan, which is under threat after the change in climate and the long-lasting droughts in Mekran division and Chaghi district.