LARKANA: May 26, 2012. (Nazir Siyal) The USAID`s Sindh Agriculture Recovery Project (SARP) has met with astounding success in rehabilitating flood ravaged farmers throughout the Sindh province. This was USAID funded agriculture project designed to get high-value crops as quickly as possible for farmers devastated by floods of 2010-11. The SARP was launched in partnership with the Rural Support organization (SRSO) and Sindh Abadgar Board SAB). The Sunflower cultivation has got vary popularity among growers as a Rabi crop, has been proved a major source of quality edible oil as compared to other oilseeds. The crop has not only attracted the growers in both upper Sindh but they getting reasonable returns. After visited various Union Councils (UCs), Villages in Shikarpur, Jaccababad districts on Saturday, it believed that the power of social mobilization and capacity-building can play a dynamic role in changing the landscape. Once the rural poor are organized, important changes can take place changing their real socio-economic condition. After the 2010 floods, the greatest challenge for donors, the government and flood-related agencies, was to get rid of the accumulated water to secure land for next crop. In this regard there were successful models of paradigm change in cropping patterns after the floods to ensure food security for the disaster prone areas of lower Sindh. During the meeting with farmers and enquired from them about the project. Although most of the farmers had never grown sunflower before in the districts of upper Sindh, including Shikarpur and Jacobabad districts they were happiest with the success of the sunflower cropping and getting benefits. After the success of the SARP, farmers of the Northern Sindh purchased themselves seeds of the sun flower at their local markets and cultivated better with ensured supply of seeds, tools, and money to assist them in growing sunflower crops. “Time was of the essence with the harvest period of December, only one month later, identified as the ideal planting time” said a farmer Ghulam Nabi, 47 years old, son of Qadir Bux of village Hassan Jatoi, Shikarpur district. Ms Bibul of 46 years aged of village Muhammad Hassan Jatoi UC Wazirabad told that the crop/production of Sunflower has brought revolution in these areas and made us prosperous. According to her that flood of 2010-11 had destroyed everything and was deeply disappointed regarding the production. In such circumstances, we had lost hope that there would be no any kind of production but due to intervention of SRSO and its guidelines the production of Sunflower has been too high. There are 80 households in village Hassan Jatoi. This village is predominantly having the population of Jatoi community. The Sun flower were cultivated about 40 acres in only this village of Hassan Jatoi. “The increasing cost of sunflower oil has taken away the farmers’ profitability,” this observed young women farmer Sahiba Khatoon, 28 years aged of UC Wazir Abad. Ms Marriyam, 36 Years of aged, residing same village told that she and her husband Hakim Ali jointly cultivated 4 acres of Sunflowers and in return got tremendous production which is really enough for our lives. She thank the SRSO for the Funding adding that as a result, the people had seen real progress on the ground being made; and provided loan under the Community Investment Funds (CIF) then we were able to purchase seed of the sun flower and cultivated. Mai Pathani wife of Muhammad Ibrahim aged 52 years of village Muhammad Ibrahim Buriro, UC Mirpur Buriro, Jaccababad is excited to have a good sunflower crop and also aims to cultivate in future that’s why we purchased the sunflower thresher. According to Nawab Khatoon, 37 years old, wife of Jogi told that seeds of sunflowers purchased from Shikarpur town herself around Rs 900 to 1100, were the price of each bag of seeds of sunflowers. The result is the economic prosperity in our lives. A grower Muhammad Sadiq son of Abdul Razaq of village Allah Dino Brohi, UC Bachro, Jaccababad district told the sunflower has been cultivated in 100 Acres by 50 people of this area where growers had increased acreage under cultivation in the hope of better prospects of this crop. That’s why community leader Mor Khan of the village Allah Dino urged the government to regulate prices and ensure availability of technological input. A woman, Ms Shabiran, 32 years aged, wife of Habibullah, resident of village Muhammad Nawaz Magsi, Shikarpur commented that she is absolutely happy that as compare to previous year the result of production is manifold high. “The crop of sunflower is absolutely ripe and ill sell at very profitable and reasonable price and will earn handsome money, this said by Ms Jeejal, 45 years old, wife of Iqbal Magsi” The man, women farmers expressed their satisfaction and thanked the SRSO, it would continue successfully throughout the province of Sindh. Farmers from Kashmore- Kadhkot, Khairpur and other districts were also beneficiaries of the Sunflower Agriculture Project which was launched immediately after the floods to enable the farmers get back to their lands and start getting income and become self-sufficient. Sun flower cultivation proved as most suitable in areas where availability of water remains a serious issue during the Rabi as it is short duration and low delta crop. If farmers are properly trained as well educated they can easily utilize their area more surplus of wheat for sunflower cultivation and reap the benefits. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) SRSO Dr Sono Khanghrani said that the organization did not just provide development assistance, but actively works to promote trade in agricultural products, expertise and services too.” With SARP project leading the way – also shared similar climactic conditions and soils – could share a great deal of experience and knowledge in the vital area of agriculture to create a more food secure world. The flood-affected farmers have cultivated Sunflower over 1,01,152 acres in seven districts of Sindh. Earlier, the SRSO purchased the produce from growers on the spot and contacted industrialists and traders for its onward sale in the market. Flood-affected growers are advised to cultivate sunflower crop and vegetables for early recovery from losses incurred during 2010 and 2011 floods. The recent showers in Sindh benefited the crop and it proved to be a success in the flood-affected districts with more benefit than wheat grain. The projects were strictly monitored through third party to ensure that all wheat and sunflower seeds distributed among growers through the Thardeep Rural Development Programme (TRDP) and SRSO were fully sown. According to a Larkana - based Merchant Haji Fayaz Ahmed, he purchased about 900 mands sunflower seeds adding that this is first time that we had purchased such huge quantity of sunflower seeds. “Lat year I purchased 1500 mands and rate was Rs 1200 per mand, but this year if seeds are clean and dry rate is Rs 2100 per mand” told Haji Fayaz. The Sunflower crop has reaped on the 5552 acres in only Larkana district, he maintained. He said that he is trading with Punjab and hopes he will earn maximum profit and being encouraged to the growers. Solvent plant owners are establishing further procurement centers at their district headquarters, the grain merchants, retailers and traders are taking keen interest to purchased sun flower.