District Director Agriculture Shangla

INTRODUCTION:

Agricultural extension services have a pivotal role in agricultural and rural development. It is the major source of technology dissemination and helps the farmers to rationalize the use of natural resources for a sustainable agricultural development. To achieve the objective, farmer’s awareness and training in specific areas of crops, fruits and vegetables and demonstration for the disseminations of improved/ latest agriculture technology essential to harness with the developments in the field of agriculture to boost-up food security and socio-economic activities besides employment generation district Shangla is part of Malakand division of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province. District Shangla is bounded by District Battagram to the east, District Swat to the west, District Kohistan to the north and District Buner to the south. Shangla Top with a height of 2,134 meter separates District Shangla from District Swat. Karakorum highway and Indus River form the eastern border of the district which separate it from Battagram and Mansehra districts.

The entire district is rural area without any urban locality. The district headquarter is Alpuri village located in proximity of Shangla top. It consist of 2 sub-divisions i.e. (1) Alpurai (2) Puran and 28 Union Council with a total reported area of 1334.955 Km2 (137495.5 Hectare =339614 Acres).

The district consists of four different  Agro-ecological zones i.e. (i) Sub tropical (ii) Sub temperate  (iii) Temperate & (iv) Cold temperate, which has a lot of potential of raising different fruit Orchards, Regular & Off-season Vegetables for raising Socio economic condition of the poor farming community.

The land use statistics of District Shangla is as under.

Agriculture is marginal economic activity in the district because of many reasons. Single crop is grown in the cold temperate zone of the district whereas double crop system is in most of the rest of zones. Land distribution is highly skewed, a vast majority of the farms (90%) are less than two hectare in size and account for 59% of the farm area. These small farms in single or double cropping zone cannot provide subsistence for the household; therefore, agriculture is their marginal economic activity. Rainfall is abundant and sustains all cultivation. Small streams and springs are common in the district and are used for irrigation. There is no large scale irrigation network or infrastructure in the district due to mountainous terrain and terraced farms.

Farming is highly labor intensive as traditional methods and implements are used for cultivation. Animal power is mainly used for ploughing and land preparation and threshing. Tractors and other implements cannot be used on undulating land and terraced fields.

Cropping pattern of the district comprises maize, wheat, rice and fodder crops. Vegetables are grown mainly for household and village consumption. Fruit trees, apple, peach, banana and persimmon are planted only for self-consumption and there are few orchards in the district. Crop production in 2007-8 was: maize (62,560 tons), wheat (20,215 tons) rice (3,612 tons), and barley (413 tons). Crop production is mainly for subsistence or local market as there is no agriculture market or commission agents for marketing of agriculture produce in the district. Transportation of goods in rural areas is very much difficult due to lack of roads and motor transport.

 PRESENT SITUATION:

Agriculture is the main domain of human activities the major crops maize are wheat & paddy (rice). The average area  under maize is 92120 acres (both irrigated and un irrigated) with a production of 59839 Tons (average 650 Kg/Acre ) followed by wheat as 51924 acres with a production 12946 tons and Rice 3208 Acres with a production of 2945 Tons respectively. There are no regular Fruit Orchards except defused plantation of few fruit plants and no vegetable cultivation in the area. At present the following developmental activities are carried out i.e. (i) Departmental/District Government Extension Activities. (ii) Model Farm Services Center Shangla (iii) Sustainable Development of Agriculture for Food Security through Integrated Approach In Khyber and (iv) Insaf Food Security Programe.

 PRESENT STAFF POSITION:

Agriculture Extension Department District Shangla is headed by “the District Director Agriculture (Extension) at Alpuri Shangla. Agriculture Extension Department Shangla is comprised of Sub-Division Alpuri and Sub-Division Puran operating its activities through following Staff.

• Subject Matter Specialist Plant Protection BS-18 Officer at District level responsible for carrying the activities related to plant protection and advisory services and currently facilitating the activities of MFSC Shangla.
• Agricultural Officer: stationed at DDA office Alpuri responsible for Agri. Activities at sub-divisional level and at the moment the position is vacant since Dec. 2012.
• Agriculture Supervisor: stationed at District Director Agriculture Extension office Alpurai responsible for agriculture activities at district level assisted by agriculture inspector and field assistants.
• Agriculture Inspector: stationed at District Director Agriculture Extension office Alpurai responsible for agriculture activities at district level assisted by agriculture inspector and field assistants
• Field Assistants: 8 no. for 28 UC’s, posted at Union Council level, responsible for Agri. Activities in the Union Councils at field level assisted by one field worker or Budder each. At the moment,6No. positions are vacant.

There is only one vehicle at District level in running condition being provided by the District Govt. for 3 Officers to carry out departmental activities.