Research Journal of Social Sciences, 3: 33-42, 2008

© 2008, INSInet Publication

Agricultural Productivity and Regional Imbalances:

A Comparative Study of Sindh and Balochistan
1
Syed Nawaz –ul- Huda, 2Farkhunda Burke, 2Muhammad Miandad, 3Qamar ul Haq, 4Salma
Hamza and 5Zahida T. Maqsood

1
Department of Geography, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Karachi,
Pakistan
2
Department of Geography, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
3
Department of Chemistry, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Karachi,
Pakistan
4
Department of Geology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Karachi,
Pakistan
5
Department of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract: The purpose of all human endeavors is to produce goods to satisfy human needs and wants.
The fact that food is one of the most basic requirements for sustenance is beyond dispute. This study
highlights the relationship between agriculture and population. Population growth apart from global politics
decreases agricultural productivity. Population not only consumes more and more food but also very
rapidly produces a cohort of unskilled people fit only for muscle labor in the primary sector, as education
in Pakistan is within access only for the most fortunate. These two problems stab the economy of the area
under study simultaneously from the front and back. In the study an interesting comparison has been made
between Sindh and Balochistan in terms of food-bearing land. Pakistan with its present population pressure
of about 123.06 million (1998 Census) provides 0.5 acres of arable land per person while Sindh and
Balochistan with populations of 20.99 million and 6.565 million provide 0.13 and 0.7 acres of arable land
per person respectively. These factors along with others have been highlighted as explanation for the
regional imbalances of agricultural productivity in the provinces under study and some plausibly beneficial
socio-economic suggestions for problem mitigation have been suggested.

Key words: Sindh, Balochistan, SNU, Optimum Carrying Capacity, Daily Caloric Intake

INTRODUCTION countries where undernourishment is most prevalent

The purpose of all human endeavors is to produce
goods to satisfy human needs and wants; the fact that
food is one of the most basic requirements for
sustenance is beyond dispute. Conflict and food
insecurity are closely related. In recent years there has
been increasing awareness that the analysis of food
insecurity should be carried out in a dynamic context.
It is essential not just to look at the current incidence
of an inadequate nutritional outcome, but also to
identify the individuals, households or the communities
who are more at risk of suffering in the future [1 9 ]. The
proportion of food emergencies that can be considered
human-made has increased over time. Indeed, conflict
and economic problems were cited as the main cause
of more than 35 percent of food emergencies between
1992 and 2003, as compared to around 15 percent in
the period from 1986 to 1991.[9 ] . M ore than half of the
experienced conflict during the 1990s [8 ]. As of early
September 2003, the number of countries facing serious
food shortages requiring international assistance in the
world stood at 38. Recovery from conflict and its
effects is not only about raising agricultural production
and productivity, availability of food-but also about
increased access to food. It requires rebuilding
government institutions and social capital.
The importance of agriculture to the macro
economy, the labor force and the poor suggests
that investment in agriculture should continue.
Indeed, studies in India and China have shown
that, dollar for dollar, agricultural research has
historically been one of the most effective means
for government spending to reduce poverty [3 ,4 ,5 ].
Other research has shown that agricultural growth
in Asia is typically more “pro-poor” than growth in
other sectors [6 ].

Corresponding Author: Syed Nawaz –ul- Huda, Department of Geography, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and
Technology, Karachi, Pakistan.

33
 Res. J. Soc. Sci., 3:33-42, 2008
Although the world’s population is increasing, the
amount of agriculturally productive land remains
relatively constant. Bringing substantial new land into
food production may not be feasible in most parts of
the world [9 ]. Despite the trends in urbanization, the
absolute size of the agriculture labor force is still
increasing in South Asia, more than half of the
economically active population is still involved in
agricultural pursuits. This, of course, means that the
arable land per person will decrease proportionately.
Agriculture is the mainstay of Pakistan’s economy.
Nearly twenty-two percent of total output (GDP) and
44.8 percent of total employment is generated in
agriculture. It also contributes substantially to
Pakistan’s exports. Agriculture also contributes to
growth as a supplier of raw materials to industries as
well as the market for industrial products. Not only
that 44.8 percent of the country’s work force is
employed in agriculture but 65.9 percent of the
country’s population living in rural areas is directly or
indirectly linked with agriculture for their livelihood.
W hatever ensues in the agricultural sector is bound to
affect not only the country’s growth performance but
to a large segment of the country’s population as well
(Economic Survey, 2005-6).
Population growth and global politics decrease
agricultural productivity. Population consumes more
and more food while global politics imbalances peace
among the different races and nations. As a result
different regions of the world faced horrible wars and
unbelievable activities of terrorism. These are factors
causing not only losses of population even loss of soil
and change in the climatic conditions of the globe. The
relationship between agricultural productivity and
population in the study area reveals the exceedingly
heavy pressure on the soils leading to their rapid
deterioration which goes on in a vicious cycle.
Sindh and Balochistan are provinces of Pakistan
(Fig.1). Both are neighbors and occupy nearly same
climatic region. Sindh lies between 23 o 40 and 28 o 29
north latitude and 66 o 40 and 71 o 05 east longitude.
Due to scanty rainfall (211.7 millimeter/annum) its
climate rates among the hottest and most variable in
the country (PCR, 1998). The total area of Sindh is
140914 square kilometers and density of population is
216 persons / square kilometer. As in the rest of the
country, agriculture is the mainstay of Sindh’s
economy. W heat, rice and cotton are its principle
crops. Climatically, Sindh can be divided into three
Agro-Ecological Regions [1 5 ]. Agro Ecological Region I
is the Indus area composed of saline, clayey soil and
dominant sea breeze. Moderate temperature helps in the
cultivation of rice, sugarcane, pulses. Agro Ecological
Region II having irrigated land comprises the lower
34
Indus plains, with loamy soil, silt near the river and
calcareous away from the river. W heat, rice, gram,
cotton and sugarcane cultivation predominante in this
region. Region III comprises of un-irrigated desert area,
while Balochistan falls in the Agro-Ecological Region
IX. Hot summers, cold winters, mild along the coast;
Soils being highly calcareous, silt loam, in the south;
millet cultivation and market gardening is practiced
where water is available; the arid tropical desert region
and coastal belt have summers which are not too hot
due to the sea breezes, the summer mean daily
maximum is around 41 o C in the north, lowering to 33 o -
34 o C along the coast, mean monthly highest ranges
between 38 o -44 o C, winter mean daily minimum 3 o -6 o C;
constantly dry season, summer mean monthly rainfall
is extremely meager (2-4mm) except for the extreme
south eastern part where it is 36-37mm, winter mean
rainfall is 9-36mm.
An interesting comparison can be made between
Sindh and Balochistan in terms of food-bearing land.
The present Pakistan population of about 123.06
million (1998 Census) divided into country’s arable
land gives a figure of 0.5 acres per person. The present
Sindh population of 20.99 million divided by the
current Sindh arable land amounts to 0.13 hectares
i.e.0.33 acres per person while Balochistan with a
population of 6.565 million, arable land gives 0.21
million hectares i.e. 0.7 acres per person. It is pertinent
to point out that although the proportion of arable land
to population in Balochistan is more than double that
of Sindh, the productivity of land there is very meager
because of aridity, although the soil of Sindh suffers
from serious salinity problems.
Data Base and M ethodology: Data has been collected
from various sources. Age structure extracted from the
Population Census 1998 at districts levels (41 DCRs.
4 districts of Sindh and 2 districts of Balochistan have
not been included because they do not have land for
cultivation) and agricultural data from Socio-Economic
Indicators at Districts Level, Sindh and Balochistan
publications.
Technique for Calculating Optimum Carrying
Capacity: Since carbohydrate intake is so critical,
this is generally the nutrition measure used to
show differences in diet and food intake levels
from one part of the world to another. It is
measured in calories. Table. 1A shows available
calories for selected crops and Table.1B shows
daily requirement of energy by age [1 ] . while
Tables 2 & 3 show rural population of both
provinces by age groups, the basis of calculating
energy requirements.
 Res. J. Soc. Sci., 3:33-42, 2008
Fig. 1: Location of the Study Area.
[1 1 ,1 2 ,1 3 ,1 4 ]
. have made an attempt, first, to determine
Caloric Output (Co) available for ingestion per unit
area under food crops and oilseeds after making a
careful total deduction for usages and wastages which
add up to 16.80 per cent of the total production, and
second, to compare the caloric output with the
W eighted Average Standard nutrition (Sn) for ingestion
in calories/person/annum. Finally, the Carrying Capacity
(Cc) can be expressed as,
Co
C c = )))
Sn
(1) Cc = Optimum Carrying Capacity
Total calories for ingestion
Cc = )))))))))))))))))))))))))) X 100
Percentage of total harvested area
(2) (Where, 100 is used as hectares to convert the
total caloric production to per square
kilometer)
(3) Sn = % of total rural population by category X
Daily recommended caloric intake
Discussion: During the last two decades economists
have taken a keen interest in issues related to
malnutrition and undernutrition mainly in search of
feasible policy interventions to alleviate poverty, hunger
and illness in Pakistan [2 ]. Malnutrition and under
nutrition are not only the cause of poverty [1 6 ]. but also
produce deficiency in the human body. The most
common themes of agriculture deal with nutrition and
aging, the needs, requirements and/or deficiencies, and
status of specific nutrients in the older population;
physical activity and energy expenditure and
requirements of elderly people; and nutrition-related
chronic diseases of middle and later life.
35
Many diseases have a nutritional component and
the lack of an adequate diet directly causes diseases or
contributes to an individual’s susceptibility to disease.
Nutrition related health problems can be divided
into several categories. The two categories i.e.
protein-calorie malnutrition in the younger and
chronic energy deficiency among the aged are
related to our present study. Adequate nutrition is
especially important in the first months and years
of life. Mothers who do not receive sufficient
protein or calories during pregnancy or during breast-
feeding produce children with increased susceptibility
to disease. If protein-calorie malnutrition continues
throughout the years of life, permanent, physical
and mental impairment of development occurs.
W hile chronic energy deficiency takes its toll,
individuals who are chronically deprived of sufficient
caloric intake are forced by circumstances to reduce
their activities.
Fig.2 shows that highest calories are available in
the districts of Badin and Hyderabad among all
districts of Sindh and Balochistan in terms of selected
food crops (except Karachi East, W est, South and
Central). Districts of Thatta preceded while M irpurkhas,
Nawabshah, NaushahroFeroze and Umerkot have
moderate available calories. Low level productivity is
seen in the north east districts of Sindh. All districts of
Balochistan have been observed to be the lowest
productive areas along with the north western districts
of Sindh i.e Dadu, Larkana, Shikarpur, Jacobabad and
Malir in the south. Very remarkable disparities of
agricultural productivity of selected food bearing crops
have been observed in the study of both provinces.
Table 4 provides information about combination of
crops in calories production, relevant to the present
study.
 Res. J. Soc. Sci., 3:33-42, 2008

Table 1
(A) Calories / K g in Food Crops (B) Daily Recom m ended Intake
S.N o Selected Food Crops Calories / Kg Age group Children M ale Fem ale
1 W H EAT 3460 U nder 1 1010
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 RICE 3450 2-----3 1325
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SU GARCAN E 3170 4-----5 1550
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 M AIZE 3420 6-----7 1710
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 GRAM 3490 8-----9 1875
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 JOW AR 3490 10------12 2150
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 BARLEY 3360 13------15 2500 2300
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 PU LSES 3410 16------19 2950 2100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 PO TATO ES 970 20------39 2550 2160
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 BAJRA 3610 40------49 2420 2050
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50------59 2300 1940
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
60 + 2040 1730
Source : ICM R (Indian Council of M edical Research Source : N utrition Cell, Planning Com m ission (2002).

Fig. 2: Available Calories for Ingestion: Sindh and Balochistan 1998

Fig.3 is a reflection of Fig.2. Badin (83.33) and
Hyderabad (82.58) have shown highest optimum
carrying capacity in the province, so these districts
have been placed in the topmost category, while Thatta
(56.31) has the second largest value and has been
placed in the second category. Mirpurkhas (47.11),
N awab shah (43.6 7 ), U merkot (39 .73) and
NaushahroFeroze (36.93) also have above Sindh
average value of carrying capacity i.e. 30.56 (the
middle category). Sanghar (21.45), Khairpur (21.09),
Ghotki (20.92) and Sukkur (19.15) have below Sindh
average. H owever these districts have better
performance as compared to Balochistan. Therefore
they have been put in the second last category in this
respect. All districts of Balochistan have been placed
in the category of lowest performance, as also some
districts of Sindh. Ziarat with highest value (17.75)
has fallen in this category. Dadu (13.89), Lasbela
(12.50), Barkhan (11.49), Sibi (11.19) and Larkana
(10.87) have shown better values in this class, while
Nasirabad (9.91), Jaffarabad (9.84), Shikarpur (9.83),
Chagai values above (9.60), Jacobabad (9.28), Khuzdar
(9.23) and Pishin (8.83) have values above that of
Balochistan average i.e. 8.15, the districts of Quetta
(7.98), Killa Saifullah (7.50), Kharan (7.48), Loralai
(7.32), Bolan (7.32), Kalat (7.32) and K ech (7.23)
falling in the last category have nearly same values in
terms of carrying capacity. W hile values of carrying
capacity in remaining districts showing worst
performance are Zhob (6.60), Musakhel (6.38),
Mastung (5.89), JhalMugsi (5.89), Dera Bugti (5.85),
Kohlu (4.98), Panjgur (3.73), Gwadar (3.73). Malir
(1.85) and Tharparkar (1.51). Sindh has shown
remarkable performance in terms of food crops because
most of the districts recorded high production values,
while all districts of Balochistan (except Killa Abdullah
and Awaran) have fallen in the lowest range (Fig.3);
only few districts of Sindh are found in this category.

36
 Res. J. Soc. Sci., 3:33-42, 2008

Table 2 Rural Distribution of population Sindh 1998

Under 1 2—3 4—5 6—7 8—9 10—12 13—15 13---15 16---19 16—19 20---39 20—39 40---49 40—49 50—59 50—59 60&+ 60&+
M F M F M F M F M F M F
Khairpur 34747 97840 98878 82095 76397 99333 35367 25984 51375 50777 158108 149514 42836 42958 29285 25329 30364 25297
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ghotki 23330 63751 63995 58798 55102 68965 22485 16598 34670 31795 112104 103394 30524 30444 21108 17535 20798 16543
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sukhur 13839 35861 36095 30953 28803 37096 12760 9064 19214 17863 60887 56282 17108 16817 12000 9812 11939 9272
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naoushahro 26878 70794 71395 60537 56678 74368 27684 19061 49271 19061 123301 118015 34071 35027 22613 19646 21975 19179
Feroze
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nawab Shah 22588 60975 61952 53822 51186 67573 21885 15911 31083 33802 110059 107941 29432 30147 19443 16938 19606 17652
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shikarpur 19018 57367 56195 47877 43531 53726 18319 12229 26286 28965 88677 91878 24428 24698 16263 14450 16566 13934
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jacobabad 31134 91395 89427 77951 73886 87723 26242 15380 38946 41850 148466 154338 40866 40466 26676 22792 26339 20822
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Larkana 38478 116104 118440 96771 90564 112137 37111 26699 52658 58586 179872 180726 51194 51093 32659 29613 34210 31061
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dadu 34541 100064 102671 86225 82526 109293 38335 27016 54707 55367 195183 181562 53801 51200 35091 29512 35828 30754
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hyderabad 38968 107035 107776 96114 89509 118184 39345 29533 56889 59541 204276 192853 57895 54444 37540 31419 39227 33618
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Badin 25721 70721 73129 65362 62188 81911 25083 19041 37159 35752 134146 125116 39262 36744 26172 21740 25846 23140
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thatta 24972 73418 75718 67130 63934 82731 25528 19483 39181 38593 147500 136007 41440 37128 27447 21535 26777 22017
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mirpurkhas 18877 45866 45691 41752 39878 53547 18015 14084 23322 22926 85352 79643 22997 22528 15626 13387 14232 13667
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tharparkar 29218 72251 68777 62874 64640 85019 30902 23536 30825 26331 102883 97244 32821 30822 23133 19324 26435 24107
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sanghar 35099 83528 84130 76826 74606 97856 33531 24195 45240 42974 158916 147237 42541 25128 29392 25128 29130 25412
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Umerkot 17361 43156 42532 38094 38802 50913 17016 12516 20829 12516 74102 70129 20480 12411 14416 12411 14314 13210
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malir 7715 20560 20698 20535 19321 27821 11024 9695 15095 13608 50154 42690 16158 12123 8345 6121 6402 6031
M. Male, F.Female (Table Extracted from districts census Report,Sindh,Government of Pakistan

Table 3: Rural Distribution of Population Balochistan

Under 1 2—3 4—5 6—7 8—9 10—12 13—15 13---15 16---19 16—19 20---39 20—39 40---49 40—49 50—59 50—59 60+ 60+
M F M F M F M F M F M F
Quetta 6659 15228 14654 13626 12613 17038 6136 5283 9477 8254 28210 24764 7833 6665 4476 3351 3668 2956
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pishin 12170 30711 14654 13626 12613 17038 6136 5283 9477 8254 28210 24764 7833 6665 4476 3351 3668 2956
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chagai 5280 13243 12859 12245 11503 15252 5624 4448 7807 6731 23450 18982 5997 5768 4133 3668 3965 2644
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Killa Abdullah 10479 26870 24955 23536 22965 29825 12121 6883 14183 12316 41180 41421 9477 9014 5853 5120 7249 4679
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zhob 7113 19997 19741 18773 18001 23678 10526 6059 10186 7427 25579 25662 7258 7196 4949 4409 5768 4020
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loralai 6764 19196 18824 17644 17520 22931 9034 6084 12051 10651 35799 36904 10443 9761 6593 5701 7116 5479
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Killa Saifullah 5145 14538 13923 12793 12423 16346 6505 3903 6662 6651 19531 20102 5490 5633 4061 3393 4323 2744
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Musakhel 3565 9505 9949 9547 9547 12785 6329 2071 5892 2600 13925 13616 4535 4564 2908 2527 3519 2804
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barkhan 2374 7170 7131 6869 6466 8199 2648 1693 3855 3301 13661 13013 3972 3981 2520 2193 2736 2233
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sibi 3073 8041 8202 8049 7912 10619 3551 2756 5426 4616 19514 16022 5312 5 009 3589 3021 3737 2618
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ziarat 1128 2620 2409 2257 2210 2903 1144 690 1523 1957 3788 4442 1060 1141 746 665 641 565
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kohlu 1771 6306 6063 5962 6001 7095 3165 1430 3657 3022 13787 13157 4134 3659 2674 2111 2912 1774
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dera Bugti 4901 13894 13243 12888 11226 13305 5017 2341 6681 5766 23511 22518 6318 5731 3517 3026 4375 2943
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jaffarabad 9625 27111 27800 24972 22449 27741 7874 5269 14914 14290 49001 48932 13350 13447 8451 7913 9384 7710
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nasirabad 5586 15885 15866 15120 13768 16563 4654 3047 8376 7874 29639 29850 8264 8161 5375 4914 5985 4572
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jhal Mugsi 2557 7727 8250 7407 7235 9119 3228 1700 4400 3261 13480 13336 4241 4299 2699 2383 2823 2110
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bolan 6265 17837 18498 17828 17227 22286 7412 5017 11301 8724 34055 30775 10760 10108 7207 5911 7467 5538
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kalat 6011 16596 16248 14947 14197 18945 6420 4549 8655 8324 25883 25982 7275 7273 4852 4210 5448 3809
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mastung 3994 10734 10428 9788 9002 11560 3857 3026 6890 6027 20763 17895 5567 5055 3677 3059 3654 2650
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Khuzdar 7862 22559 23441 21371 20394 27078 9354 6207 11601 11084 39426 38791 12100 11272 8314 6848 8883 6625
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kharan 4522 13756 13991 12324 12692 16202 6375 4969 7282 7524 21871 22943 6523 6059 4526 3930 5350 3760
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lasbela 4951 13193 13821 12588 12879 17738 6144 4661 8424 7663 27858 25159 8327 8040 5812 5018 5854 5158
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Awaran 3232 8982 9087 8776 8176 10588 3406 2504 4871 4560 15678 15651 4670 4619 3168 2683 3339 2319
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kech 10506 28825 26826 23544 24233 28881 10255 7950 14873 17903 43797 46881 11690 10873 7385 6360 8595 6033
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gwadar 2358 6914 6647 5689 5789 7851 2984 2353 3833 3376 10840 10191 3130 2880 2102 1750 2606 1831
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Panjgur 8288 20382 19227 16988 16287 20104 7893 5362 8140 8606 23177 24237 6736 6154 4185 3389 4205 2740
M. Male, F.Female (Table Extracted from districts census Report,Sindh,Government of Pakistan

37
 Res. J. Soc. Sci., 3:33-42, 2008

An analysis of common food crops that are used K hairpur and M astung have shown average-
as staple diet (which most of the population of the performance and have been placed in the mediocre
study area consume thrice daily) in both provinces has category. Sanghar, Sukkur, D adu, M irpurkhas,
been made and (Fig.4) the results are very different as Hyderabad, Nasirabad and Jaffarabad show low
compared to Fig.3. Khuzdar, Larkana and Shikarpur productivity in terms of the three selected crops. The
show highest values and have been placed in the result can be reconfirmed with Table 4 which reveals
highest category, while NaushahroFeroze and Jacobabad the trends of agricultural productivity in both provinces
in the next category. Ghotki, Nawabshah, of Sindh and Balochistan.

Fig. 3: Optimum Carrying Capacity: Sindh and Balochistan 1998

Fig. 4: Optimum Carrying Capacity of Staple Food Crops Sindh and Balochistan 1998 (W heat, Rice and Bajra)
Table 4: Percentage Distribution of Food Crops in term s of Calories Availability Per Km 2 unit area (Sindh and Balochistan, 1998)
D istricts W heat Rice Sugarcane M aiz Gram Jowar Barley Pulses Potatoes Bajra Total
Kairpur 30.47 1.07 65.53 0.00 0.19 2.62 0.02 0.01 0.03 0.07 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ghotki 41.73 1.28 56.24 0.03 0.05 0.56 0.02 0.02 0.05 0.03 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sukkur 31.54 2.46 61.76 0.05 2.67 1.46 0.02 0.00 0.02 0.03 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N aoushahroFeroze 21.79 1.04 76.58 0.02 0.08 0.46 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.03 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N awab Shah 17.65 0.95 80.74 0.03 0.05 0.49 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.07 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shikarpur 12.12 79.96 2.06 0.02 5.26 0.12 0.15 0.01 0.13 0.17 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jacobabad 15.77 78.60 0.22 0.00 4.82 0.60 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Larkana 14.46 79.35 4.99 0.00 0.94 0.12 0.14 0.00 0.00 0.00 100

38
 Res. J. Soc. Sci., 3:33-42, 2008

Table 4: Continued
D adu 25.02 29.70 43.35 0.04 0.65 1.01 0.21 0.01 0.01 0.01 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H yderabad 6.06 0.77 93.04 0.03 0.04 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Badin 1.43 2.23 96.23 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.07 0.00 0.00 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thatta 1.15 6.88 91.66 0.01 0.02 0.00 0.25 0.01 0.00 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M irpurkhas 14.37 0.14 85.36 0.04 0.00 0.05 0.01 0.00 0.00 0.02 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tharparkar 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.63 0.00 0.00 0.00 98.37 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sanghar 32.49 0.60 64.98 0.10 0.01 0.12 0.00 0.16 0.00 1.54 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U m erkot 17.14 0.16 82.38 0.10 0.00 0.12 0.01 0.02 0.00 0.06 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M alir 25.43 0.00 0.00 14.56 0.00 56.54 0.00 3.46 0.00 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q uetta 96.06 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.08 0.10 0.76 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pishin 96.24 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.76 0.00 0.00 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chagai 96.09 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.27 1.22 0.00 1.09 0.33 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Killa Abdullah 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zhob 88.43 0.00 0.00 7.49 0.00 0.00 1.23 0.00 2.85 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loralai 66.26 0.00 0.00 8.08 0.00 3.04 20.90 0.00 1.72 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Killa Saifullah 73.14 0.00 0.00 0.66 0.00 1.02 4.56 0.00 20.63 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M usakhel 67.61 0.00 0.00 16.20 0.00 6.20 5.97 0.00 4.02 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barkhan 89.78 0.00 0.00 0.17 0.00 8.43 1.62 0.00 0.00 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sibi 69.88 0.68 24.94 0.22 0.00 2.97 0.66 0.00 0.64 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ziarat 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kohlu 79.51 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.88 0.85 18.76 0.00 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D era Bugti 72.13 0.00 0.00 0.00 21.83 0.00 0.00 6.04 0.00 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jaffarabad 40.11 56.26 0.00 0.00 0.44 1.13 1.99 0.00 0.06 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
N asirabad 45.42 47.50 2.00 0.00 1.84 1.63 1.12 0.35 0.13 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jhal M ugsi 95.03 1.95 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.64 1.26 0.11 0.00 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bolan 79.35 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 18.17 2.35 0.12 0.00 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kalat 73.48 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.58 7.30 0.00 18.63 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M astung 85.33 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.17 12.48 0.00 2.02 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Khuzdar 85.36 9.90 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.65 0.00 0.00 0.09 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kharan 95.05 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.46 2.37 0.12 0.00 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lasbela 13.24 0.46 71.10 0.45 0.00 1.84 0.00 12.44 0.00 0.48 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Awaran 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kech 35.39 52.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.88 7.23 3.49 0.00 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gwadar 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Panjgur 76.45 4.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 19.54 0.00 0.00 0.00 100

39
 Res. J. Soc. Sci., 3:33-42, 2008
Conclusion: A comparative study of the performance
of districts on calories available for Ingestion, the
Optimum Carrying Capacity (of 10 crops), and
Optimum Carrying Capacity of Staple Food Crops (3)
reveals that the districts of Larkana, Shikarpur,
NaushahroFeroze and Jacobabad are better positioned
districts as they rank topmost in terms of staple food
crops in Sindh and Khuzdar, Mastung and Nasirabad
are similar districts in Balochistan as they are the
major producers of staple food which is the most
essential part of human diet specially in areas of
backward or developing economy. Other crops like
sugar cane, maize, gram, jowar, barley, pulses and
potatoes although consumed locally, are supplements to
the diet used for subsistence, in fact most of them are
produced for supplementing income or as partial cash
crops sold to a large extent for urban consumption. The
districts of Balochistan, however, are behind Sindh in
the production of these staple food crops. The districts
of Awaran, Killa Abdullah, Gwadar, Ziarat have no
production of staple diet, but Ziarat ranks 2 n d in terms
of calories available (on the basis of 10 crops) and 1 st
rank in terms of Optimum Carrying Capacity. This is
because of the notable production of potatoes in Ziarat
which are mainly supplied to the urban market.
This reveals that cash crops are increasingly
responsible for improving the caloric values and
carrying capacities of regions under study but at the
same time it reveals the increasing tendency towards
cash-crop production in areas of backward economy.
This is the reflection of the impact of market economy
on the effort for minimization of poverty as it is the
poorest areas which are attracted towards cash-crop
production where the poor peasants imagine it to be a
means of their poverty mitigation, while in actuality it
is the feudal land lord who is the actual beneficiary;
the poor peasants destined to live in never ending toil,
penury and poverty.
Improvement of agricultural practices, methods,
implements and inputs no doubt are historically
suggested measures for improvement of agricultural
productivity but these seem to be stop gap measures
and have not appeared to be admirably fruitful. W hat
may actually be suggested as a sustainable measure is
the curtailment of traditional methods of agricultural
labor hiring i.e. ‘hari’ or bonded labor system, the
abolition of landless labor, the abstinence from
continuous bifurcation of land to be replaced by
amalgamation of land. Reduction of the high proportion
of peasants engaged as agricultural laborers and
increased mechanization of agriculture are essential.
Diversion of agricultural labor, concurrent to reduction
of the population size, increasing literacy and education
and improving employment opportunities especially in
the secondary and other sectors of the economy are
some plausible suggestions. These may play a vital role
and have a visibly long lasting impact on the progress
of the area and the country and of maximum benefit to
the peasants.
40
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