TABLE : AREA, PRODUCTION AND AVERAGE YIELD OF CROPS IN 1997-98

Source: Bureau of Statistics Sindh, Karachi./Office of the Director Agricultural Extension, Hyderabad.

2) Irrigation

Badin district is irrigated by the water originating from Sukkur and Kotri barrages. The area being fed by Kotri barrage is further divided into perennial and non-perennial system of irrigation. The irrigation network mainly comprises of two perennial and two non-perennial canals which is spread all over the district. The particulars of canals, area under command and discharge capacity is shown below:-

TABLE : IRRIGATION OF LAND.

3) Horticulture

A considerable area in Matli taluka is under gardens, the banks of Phuleli canal being studded with them.

Vegetables, such as carrot (daucus carota), radish (raphanus sativus), onion (allium cepa) etc., are grown, some fruits lilke mango (magnifiers indica), guave (psidium guajava), melon (cucumis melo), water-melon (citrullus lanatus) etc are also produced in the district. A statement showing area and production of some major fruits and vegetables during 1997-98 is given below:

TABLE : AREA, PRODUCTION AND AVERAGE YIELD OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES 1997-98

Source Bureau of Sindh , Karachi/Office of Director Agricultural Extension, Hyderabad

4) Forestry

Forest growth consists of four chief sorts of trees, namely acacia arabica or babul, propopis specigera or kandi, populus euphratica or bahan, and two species of tamarisk, tamarix gallica and dioica, called lai and jhao respectively. Of these babul is the most useful. It yield an excellent timber used extensively for wheels, agricultural implements, building purpose and fuel and in manufacturing coal: a gum which is only slightly inferior to the true gum-arabic, an astringent bark which is used for dying and tanning, and pods affording an excellent food for cattle of all kinds. It grows when young in dense unmixed crops, forming a covering to the ground through which little sunlight can penetrate, but become thinner naturally as it reaches maturity. It comes up readily from seed and is best regenerated by artificial sowings and has a maximum height of 18 to 24 meters. Kandi is next in importance. It yields a good fuel, but is of little use for building or other purposes; the pods are used as fodder for cattle, goats and cattle, goats and camels in the same way as those of babul. Bahan grows in the immediate area of the indentations and yield wood for building and lacquer work. Tamarisk exists chiefly in the new lands thrown up by the Indus , giving a good fuel and wood for agricultural implements and tannery. Tamarish hardly ever reaches a large size; bahan on the other hand, becomes a tree fo good diameter and respectable height. Kandi, when cut, is immediately attacked by insects and does not last. Tamarisk is liable to attacks of the same sort even when green, and it is difficult to find a sound tree of the species in the forests.

Another tree occurring occasionally in the forest in dalbergia sissoo or tali. It is found bever villages and wells in the revenue lands. And has presumably been planted there by the people because of its valuable timber. The timber is very durable and commands a high price in the market and is know as "rose-wood".

Other trees met within forest limits, including useful bushes, are:- zizyphus, jujuba or ber , yield fodder for goats and camels; azadirachta indica or nim yielding timber; albizzia lebak or siras ; ficus bengalensis , banyan or wad, and f.religiosa, pipal; tamarindus indica, tamarind; acacia farnesiana, vilayati babul; cordia myza, lasora and C.rothii, liar; parkinsonia aculeta, villayati kikar; casuarina equisetifolia; capperis aphylla, kirir and salvadora persica, khabar.

The minor produce from the forest are reeds from sar and kank grasses (sacchrum spontaneum and arundinaceum). Reeds are sued for blinds, shades and walls for huts and duck boards and for grass for baskets, chairs and ropes. Other grasses are used as fodder for animals. The total area under forest is 12,000 hectares.

5) Livestock

Good breed of buffaloes and cows, are found in the district. Sheep, goats, camels, horses, asses and mules are also the main lives-stock of the district. There is one world famous live-stock farm at Luari Sharif. In this farm high standard breeding animals are available and this farm had won many prizes in cattle shows organised throughout the country. The number of livestock in the district during 1996-97 is given below:

TABLE : 1.5 LIVESTOCK POPULATION IN BADIN DISTRICT

Source : Livestock Census 1996- Agricultural Census Organization.