The efforts of a group of young individuals from Karachi to cultivate Ajwa, Mazfati, and Aseel date palms in the sand-swept Tharparkar district have proved successful.
Out of the 500 trees planted by Dua Foundation since the project’s inception in 2018, 200 have started bearing fruit. This initiative aims to improve the prosperity of local farmers in Tharparkar by cultivating different types of date palms using underground water for irrigation, according to Dua Foundation Chairman Amir Khan.
The organization utilized barren farmland to plant the trees and arranged irrigation in the arid region. They provided free solar-powered tubewells to farmers who could not afford them. The success of this experiment could revolutionize agriculture in the Thar desert, an area previously devoid of palm trees, Khan noted.
Six years ago, the experimental cultivation of dates began with the support of the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council. Palm trees from Punjab, Khairpur, and Dera Ismail Khan were planted across different tehsils in Thar. The project has brought hope to the malnourished people of Thar, offering employment opportunities and improving the health and living standards of local families.
Dua Foundation’s initiative planted these trees for free on the barren lands of the poor, also providing them with training. With income from date palms planted in Diplo, Kaloi, and Dahli tehsils, the local populace will achieve financial independence and a better quality of life.
The foundation has established over 60 agro-farms across all Thar tehsils, where date palm trees were experimentally planted on many farms. In Kaloi tehsil, a ceremony was held to celebrate the project’s success, with agricultural experts praising the hard work and determination that led to the flourishing of palm trees in Tharparkar.
