“Wheat
Played Role of catalytic agent in Biodiversity Conservation”
There was a time, when there was no wheat crop in the valley
and with in May the community starts moving to the pastures
along with their cattle. But it was astonishing that in the
month of June, this year, when we visited village Harran in
Palas valley, the farmers were sitting under a shady tree,
wearing nice clothes than previously used and were happy.
We joined them and asked them as to why they have not gone
to the pastures this year, one of the elders replied that
this year we have wheat crop and therefore, we are here to
thresh the wheat crop and also to prepare land for maize sowing,
how can we move?
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Threshing of wheat crop at Badakot
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I asked the elder, no one has gone to the pasture this year.
He further explained that this year our families are mostly
divided into two, half have gone to the pasture and half remained
here for wheat threshing, storing and maize sowing. He said,
“They have left some of them for their milk requirement
and some are sent to pasture for grazing”.
and offered wheat bread in the lunch instead of maize bread
as previously. Thanked the PCDP for providing technical and
financial assistance in the production of wheat. He loudly
told that one of the community member belonging to Harran
has installed a cottage flour mill (diesel generated) at Harran
and We are making wheat flour there and at the same time,
they utter the words that they are now self sufficient in
wheat requirement.
He happily further said and narrated the comparative production
of wheat and maize according to the following table.
Table No 1 Yield data of farmers (during 2003)
| Names of the farmers and locations
|
Maize yield from a piece of land |
Wheat yield from the same piece
of land |
| Nowsherawan |
368 kg |
550 kg |
| Afzal Khan o |
644 kg |
600 kg |
| Haji Roshan |
1840 kg |
1800 kg |
| Gul zeb |
1150 kg |
900 kg |
| Mean |
4002 kg |
3850 kg |
| Value |
4002x7= Rs.28014 |
3850x 8.40= Rs.32340 |
It is evident from the data (farmer’s practice) that
the income from the same piece of land is almost doubled with
the introduction of wheat crop. As the average of four farmers
income from the maize crop is Rs 28,014/-, while additional
income from wheat crop is Rs 32,340/- along with wheat straw
for their cattle.
He also pointed out that this year the forest trees, like
oak and wild olive, have been less chopped than the previous
years due to the availability of wheat straw in the valley.
All these are the mercies of wheat growing.
Result:
Wheat cultivation contributed in poverty reduction and conservation
by reducing burden on Pastures and Forest tress and ultimately
helped in the protection of the wild life in the area.
Sayed Fazal Ahad
P O (ALR)
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