Pakistan Drought Hit Thar Desert - Case Study Example

Pakistan drought hit Thar Desert Grade Pakistan Drought Hit Thar Desert Introduction Thar Desert is the biggest in its region. It consists of barren sand dunes, tracts covered with thorny bushes. It has irregular parallel ridges with enclosed valleys. Karakilcik and Kalyar (2014) observe that the valleys have enough moisture. These tracts are, however, inhabitable due to extra salinity of sub soil and lack of enough water. The salt lakes formed rarely dry up. There is no waterway in the area apart from scarce shrubs, thorny trees, and herbs. This paper will extensively cover the causes of increasingly drought conditions in Thar desert, the effect of the established water projects in people’s lives, demonstrate institutional failures and corruption of Thar government and how they have led to distrust in the public and my opinion to reduce such occurrences. Decrease of monsoon rainfall is caused by Arabian Sea that branch north of Cambay gulf resulting in extreme drought conditions in Thar Desert, unexpected change of air currents, and the dry air of Sind. Karakilcik and Kalyar (2014) argue that deflection of air currents to the east in Arabian Sea is increasing causing the air to move east and southeast. As a result, the rain bearing wind reaches south-west of Arabia and marks the end of monsoon rainfall. This has caused increasingly drought conditions in Thar Desert. Thar Desert in south East Pakistan has been suffering from extreme drought conditions for a period of three years. Jillian (2015) notes that Tharparkar region is the most neglected areas in Pakistan. Lack of proper rain for the last three years has affected people and livestock greatly. An interview with one of the residents of Thar parkar region in Pakistan indicates that drought has left nothing edible for people and livestock. Halepoto (2012) indicates that 90% of the agricultural land has perished due to inadequate water. Human beings are suffering. Reports from the local doctors and hospitals indicate that children are the most affected due to malnutrition and premature births. Despite the increased efforts by the government to get the people of Pakistan from crisis, the continuous increase in drought is dragging their efforts (Halepoto, 2012). Water borne diseases from saline water and malnutrition have caused increased number of infant deaths. In search of greener pastures, thousands of people migrate to the nearby farming districts close to River Indus (Poonia and Rao, 2013). Trained Health care workers are migrating to big cities, such as Karachi to look for employment (Halepoto, 2012). There is also no continuity in drug supply. Transport problems also affect medical sector since the sick find it very difficult to access treatment. Health authorities have also reported increasing night blindness and deficiencies in vitamin A. Decreasing nutrition standards cause child tuberculosis. There are no schools and teachers in this village. Positive Effects of Services and Projects in People’s Lives Despite the above conditions, a ray of hope is being offered by the new solar-powered project used to treat the underground saline water. Dams, reservoirs, pods, and wells have also been constructed. Construction of modern scientific reservoirs has created suitable catchment areas for harvesting. Sand in Thar Desert contains water-soluble salts that contain metal ions, such as CaCO3, to form grout chemical. The pods also grow guar plants whose seeds produce guar gum used as a thickening agent in food industries and collecting water (Gupta, Hooda, Mathur &Gupta, 2009). Macro and micro ditches that have been formed have blocked the runoff water, thus trapping rainwater. This has formed a good ground for irrigation. Land smoothening and stabilizing the sand have aided in digging dams and ponds used to store rainwater. A network of ditches has been formed to reload the sediments making the water clean and suitable for farming. As a result, barren sand dunes have been transformed to forestland, saline water is used to develop grassland, economic plants such as jojoba to produce wax have been grown, rangelands have been developed thus increasing livestock and agro forestry is present in marginal dry lands. All these practices have controlled desertification in Thar Desert. Training is, however, done to the local people with an aim of improving the lives of the people in Thar region. Solar powered RO plants water system acted as the only project to secure people since it has plenty of underground water. Succession of these projects will save many livestock, which is the most precious asset of Thar people (Jillani, 2015). Other services being offered to people and livestock include blanket vaccination of animals against fatal epidemics (Halepoto, 2012). This is done by the veterinary doctors. State sponsored socio-economic development builds food and fodder reserves in that region. It is also aimed at reducing deficiencies in infrastructure and upgrade veterinary services. Good monitoring of the above services will reduce poverty, which is the main cause of deaths among children and women. Diseases will also reduce in this area. The projects will protect the rights of indigenous populations. Tube wells have been dug to form an acquifer after which mechanical pumps have been installed. This has increased water consumption in the town more than six times. Use of Technology in Water Projects Ponds have used the technology of minimizing seepages through keeping the beds of the pods at the dense clayey layer, packing layers of clay in polythene papers, and spreading it on the beds of the pod. As a result, the depth of the pod is increased reducing its surface area. Panwar, Pareek & Bharti (2014) argue that this minimizes evaporation rates. Trees grown around the pod break the wind; thus, reducing huge storms from destroying the pods. Earth walls around the pod act as windbreakers that prevent the pods from depositing sand from wind erosion into the pod. According to Jillani (2015), Park Oasis, the manager of the project, has indicated that the project is designed to cost $33m, which will involve installing 750 water purification projects. Approximately 280 systems have been installed. He further indicates that the project uses Danish technology to pump the saline underground water. The impurities are removed using American membrane technology. This filtration process is called Reverse Osmosis (RO). This powered project has zero electricity costs because it uses power from solar panels from China. Slow development of this project has been caused by a recommendation from the local politicians to employ unqualified local plant operators who do not have skills needed to operate the plant. Sharma (2001) and Sigh (2009) indicate that time taken to train them lags behind the establishment of the projects. The government has used technology to install RO plant in Tharparkar village. Ebrahim (2015) argues that this plant uses solar energy to produce approximately 20,000 litres of water daily. This has also reduced electricity costs in the region. This system has been a good source of water for 30 households. The system has reduced fights among women that resulted from water. It has also provided clean water for livestock and human beings. The company has also applied the use of technology to construct water troughs for livestock outside the water plants. This is mostly because animals are the only assets for the people (Ebrahim, 2015). The long distances covered by women in search of water have been reduced by the water schemes. Technology has been used to install water purification plants thereby reducing water borne diseases, such as typhoid and cholera. Appleby (2012) argues that volunteer water community in Thar Desert in Pakistan has used technology to construct underground cemented dish shaped yards as water storage tanks, pods, and wells. The volunteer community is also introducing kitchen gardens and encouraging people to plant trees to attract rain. This technology has helped villagers to develop themselves as well as eliminating tribalism among the Muslims, Hindus, and Christians. The underground water storage technology keeps the rainwater cool and free from evaporation. This water is used for cooking, drinking, and for livestock. Haq (2014) indicates that dams and dikes have been constructed by USAID and ADB. Bhasha Dam has cost over $12 billion to be constructed. This dam holds a lot of water enough for households and which can produce electricity. The dam produces 4500MW renewable energy. Conserved water is used in irrigation. Technology has helped the farmers to change from low water intensive crops to high water conserving crops. Blinkhorn, Archyuthan, Petraglia & Ditchfield (2013) observe that this would reduce wastage of water. Drip Irrigation Company known as micro drip conserves water in this land. Cotton grown using this water has also increased in production. This company also provides training and after –sale services to increase production at lower costs. Thar politicians do not agree to be taxed on any income from their farms. Kugelman & Hathway (2010) argue that ruling politicians reward themselves with huge interest free loans and highest earning jobs. These jobs give them the highest incomes leaving the lower level workers with meager salaries. They also extract money from state owned enterprises, which slash the money budgeted for long-term investments such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Hathway (2010) asserts that the corrupt nature of politicians slows any country development while increasing insecurity in the land. Insecurity makes any investment difficult since the military is not motivated with good pay. Political instability leads to severe attacks, threats, and scarcity of the country’s resources. Mass starvation and deaths of people and livestock make the citizens fail to trust its government. My opinion In my opinion, the voters should take advantage of their voting rights to vote the most appropriate leaders during elections and by-elections. This is the only way the public can give out its opinion and benefit from good governance. The voted in government will manage the available resources in a proper way. Good governance ensures that the country has good security. Learning Points in This Case Study For Other Governments/ Organizations Facing Difficulties in Serving Citizens, Based On Health Care Centers. A country that has enough food fit for human consumption does not suffer from food related illnesses, such as diarrhea, cholera among others. Taking a case study of drought experienced in Pakistan in Thar region, the government will learn various lessons. Fugleman and Hathway (2010) observes that food insecurity is a great issue in Pakistan. Hundreds of Pakistans who were unemployed at the time evidenced this. They ate all the food from a bakery and destroyed the cash registers. In another encounter, 20 women and girls were killed trying to compete in a free rice snacks. To avoid recurrence of food insecurity, Kugelman and Hathway (2010) indicates that other governments facing management issues will learn from Gondal (minister for food and agriculture). Gondal issued a no export policy on any excess wheat in the country. Good food governance will make sure that there is no mismanagement of food in the country. Governments must avoid corruption, which slashes money meant to buy foods. Equal distribution of food, water, and other resources will be easy when there is good governance. Critism directed to the agricultural sector due to lack of equity knowledge leads to misallocation of resources, monopolies, and demand for government subsidies. This teaches other governments to acquire equity knowledge to manage resources. The government should also establish food policies. Poor governance causes policy makers to under spend on defense and refuses to pay debts among other failures that lead to poor living standards of its citizens due to food inflation. Kugelman and Hathway (2010) assert that Saraland is preparing to lease nine million hectares of land to farmers. This is in combination with banning export of food during famine or war. This policy teaches other governments to impact food policies that restrict export of food during drought, starvation times, and war. The Pakistan government is providing immediate food aids through World Food Programs. WFP has brought tons of food to Pakistan during global food crisis to hunger stricken districts. This program would help retain students in schools. This is because WFP distributes food to health centers and schools. Kugelman and Hathway (2010) comment that food distributed to schools is distributed to malnourished children, pregnant, and lactating mothers. This serves as good lessons for the government to form good organizations that will be responsible for distributing food in times of hunger. The government also learns lessons of educating the parents on the importance of sending their children to schools since there will be enough foods offered and other amenities. Like the government of Pakistan, farmers should be taught risk minimizing farming methods, such as planting different types of crops simultaneously. This reduces risks since faster maturing crops are harvested earlier than the rest. This leaves the people with continuous supply of food. In anticipation of drought or harsh weather, the farmers should harvest their crops and store them. The government should, therefore, purchase high quality machines that will correctly understand the signs of drought. The government should have good communication with farmers to reduce periods of starvation. Adequate supply of food reduces food related illnesses, such as beriberi. Poverty, hunger, and famine will also be reduced. Governments that have succeeded in maintaining continuous supply of food to their citizens has a healthy population. In conclusion, Pakistan drought case teaches other governments to declare hunger as a national security issue when it strikes, revitalize the agricultural sector, get involved in making food security policy network and reconsider training farmers on diversifying their crops. The government should also mind about the most affected gender by food insecurity, strengthen its governance, address all information shortages, increase the advantages offered in schools to boost food insecurity, make the public know about food shortage problems and guard against international investment. The government should also focus on macro level agricultural developments, understand, and solve the obstacles encountered while trying to solve food securities. References Appleby, J. (2012).Volunteer community water project in Thar Desert, Pakistan. Retrieved from http://www.ch2mhillblogs.com/water/2012/06/26/community-water-project-thar-desert-pakistan/ Blinkhorn ,J., Archyuthan, H., Petraglia, M., & Ditchfield, P.(2013).Middle Paleolithic occupation in Thar Desert during the Upper Pleistocene: the signature of a modern human exit out of Africa. Quaternary Science Reviews, 1(6), 1-6. Ebrahim, Z. (2015). Expensive water plants won’t quench thirst in Pakistan’s Thar desert. Retrieved from http://www.thethirdpole.net/expensive-water-plants-wont-quench- thirst-in-pakistans-thar-desert/ Gupta, S., Hooda, K., Mathur, N., & Gupta, S. (2009).Tailoring of Guar gum for desert sand stabilization. International Journal of chemical technology, 1(16), 1-6. Halepoto, Z. (2012). Thar stories of malnourished land. Pakistan: HANDS, Karachi publishers. Haq, R. (2014). Thar Drought: precursor of dust bowl in water-stressed Pakistan? Retrieved from www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/ASIA_100412_PakistFood_rptL0713FINALVERSION.pdf Jillani, S. (2015). Ray of light in Pakistan drought-hit Thar desert. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-31851835 Karakilcik, Y., & Kalyar, M. (2014).Role of Thar Desert in Ecological and socio-economic development of Pakistan. Journal of Multidisciplinary Engineering Science and Technology (JMEST), 5 (1), 1-10. Kugelman, M., & Hathway, R. (2010). Hunger pains: Pakistan food insecurity. Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 1-175. Retrieved fromhttp://www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/files/ASIA_100412_PakistFood_rptL0713FINALVERSION.pdf Panwar, D., Pareek, K., & Bharti, C.S. (2014).unripe pods of prosopis cineraria used as a vegetable (sangria) in shekhawati region. International Journal of Science and Engineering Research, 2(5), 1-4. Poonia, S., & Rao, A.(2013). Climate change and its impact on Thar desert Ecosystem. Journal of Agricultural Physics, 1(13), 1-9. Sharma, A. (2001). Arid Zone Agroforestry: Dimensions and Directions for sustainable livelihoods. Central Arid Zone Research Institute, 1-12. Sigh, G. (2009). Agro forestry and farmers income. Arid Forest Research Institute, 1-4. Read More