Sustainable methods as applied to raising fruit crops

by M. H. Panhwar & Farzana H. Panhwar, May 1995

In 1965, we purchased 108 acres of agriculture and near Khesano Taluka Hyderabad (Sindh) to produce fruit crops. Climatic data of Tando Jam 5 km from this farm are given in table-I. The map No.1 shows agro climatic zone of Sindh. We introduced banana and mangoes on 50 acres each and left 8 acres for trials on other fruits. The land was precisely leveled in one acre plots (264x165 feet) by using dumpy level and tractor having rear end blade. An embankment 2 feet wide and 18 inches high was also constructed around each plot to hold irrigation water. Roads each 12 feet wide and 2 feet high were also built around every 4-acre. Irrigation channels were dug along both sides of each road, running east to west. Flood irrigation was the cheapest method as water charges were at a flat rate of about Rs.5.00 (US1.00) per acre per annum, irrespective of quality of water used. We were getting 636 acre feet of water annually for 100 acres. In the beginning conventional method of flood irrigation was used. The Agriculture Extension and Agriculture Research Sections were not geared to proper advice on fruit crops, as these were new introductions then. There was lack of literature in Pakistan on cultural practices involved in fruit production. Most of the extension bulletins written by Karim-Dino Rajpur and were based on Hayes “Fruit Growing in India” a pioneering work, based on the study of common country practices over centuries and lacking scientific supporting data. There was lack of books not only in the university libraries, but also in the market or private collections of agricultural officers. The recommendations for fertilizers, were in terms of such and such number of baskets (of unknown size of Farm Yard Manure (FYM), so many kg castor cake, so many kg of cotton oil cake plus NPK (from urea, potassium sulphate and SSP or triple phosphate and so on). The recommendations did not specify total fertilizers in terms of N₂, P₂O₅ and K₂O per tree per acre per annum.

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