Global Rice News

In a recent event called the Lyallpur Punjabi Sulekh Mela, a panel discussion was held to shed light on the state of Punjab’s dying rivers. The event, organized by the Lyallpur Young Historian Club (LYHC) and Lyallpur Literary Council (LLC), aimed to highlight the cultural significance of rivers and the need for sustainable development in the region. The panelists, including Dr. Parvez Vandal, Dr. Zafar Haral, and Punjabi writer Nain Sukh, discussed the adverse impacts of canal colonization and the neglect of riverine communities.

Dr. Vandal emphasized that canal colonization disrupts Punjab’s economy by limiting agricultural progress to meet market demands. He highlighted the importance of integrating agriculture, pastoral, and industrial activities to foster economic development. Dr. Haral, on the other hand, focused on the cultural significance of rivers and how canal colonization leads to a sense of alienation among local inhabitants. Neglecting river protection customs has caused internal feuds and pollution. Nain Sukh added that canal colonization gives rise to new diseases due to waterlogging and salinity, contributing to land ownership disputes.

The panel discussion also touched upon the historical context of Punjab’s rivers, including the challenges posed by the partition of Punjab between Pakistan and India. The 1960 Indus Water Treaty diverted water from eastern rivers to water-intensive crop fields, leading to a neglect of river sharing norms. The resource nationalism discourse overshadowed the importance of environmental considerations.

Taking a step towards reviving the dying rivers, local activists from Pakistan and India gathered under the banner “Ravi Bachao Tehreek” to demand the restoration of rivers through amendments to the Indus Water Treaty. This initiative aims to preserve the cultural values associated with rivers.

Shifting focus to agriculture, it is noteworthy that Pakistan has transformed into the 10th largest rice-producing nation worldwide. The country’s rice production has witnessed significant growth, emphasizing the contemporary dominance of rice cultivation. However, this shift has raised concerns about sustainable water usage and environmental conservation.

To address these issues, it is essential to reconsider the historical path dependency of agrarian resource extractivism. The colonial-era canal networks and land enclosures were designed to meet the demands of European markets, leading to the cultivation of wheat and cotton. In the neocolonial period, rice cultivation emerged as a dominant trend, impacting the environment with its water-intensive nature.

Understanding this historical trajectory is crucial in devising sustainable solutions for the present and future. Basin-level planning, consensus on halting new land enclosures, and reorienting agricultural policies based on local needs and ecological considerations are fundamental for reviving Punjab’s dying rivers. By promoting agroecological practices and uniting farmers across borders, the critical agroecology farmers’ movement seeks to challenge existing paradigms and advocate for sustainable agricultural practices. This movement envisions a future where ecological balance and cultural values are reinstated, fostering the revival of Punjab’s deteriorating rivers.

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