ISLAMABAD: Skillful terracing can turn hilly areas of Pakistan into cultivable lands and farms to increase the yield of crops and prevent soil erosion.
An expert told WealthPK that ‘terrace farming’ was successful in mountainous areas. He added that terracing was a useful tool for increasing grain output, preventing soil erosion, preserving soil fertility and ensuring long-term production stability.
Bench terraced farmland, sloping terraced farmland and the combination of level terraced farmland and natural slope land are three famous types of terracing. In the mountains, a bench terrace is the most common type of farming. With its flat platform and projecting or ridged rim, a bench terrace can preserve rainwater for the purpose of irrigation.
In the areas having more water, a proper drainage system should be set up at the farm. Only riser dikes and no land levelling are used in sloping or retention terraced farmlands. Deep plowing will gradually flatten the soil surface over the years. The natural slope affects the spacing between riser dikes. The riser dikes are raised in tandem with the siltation of sloping terraces.
However, in terms of soil and water conservation, the sloping terrace is less effective than the bench terrace. It is usually used in areas where land availability per capita is high. The quality of water can be improved with the help of technology.
Terracing has been known since long to decrease soil loss in sloped hills. The method was used to manage soil erosion in different countries, particularly in Africa during the colonial era.
Dr Ijaz Ali from the National Institute of Agriculture and Research said that terrace farming was useful in the area where the terrain was steep and landholding capacity was limited. “The livelihoods of small farmers have been badly impacted by recent temperature swings and high rainfall as they rely on natural resources,” he said.
He said that terrace farming became an obligation for farmers in mountainous areas. “Terrace farming involves carving steps into steep hills and edging the slope with stone walls known as “bunds.” The bunds prevent water and soil from escaping,” he added.
Dr Ijaz said that the Ministry of National Food Security and Research launched a project titled “Water Conservation in Barani Areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” at a total cost of Rs14.178 billion. The initiative is meant to alleviate water scarcity in arid areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by collecting rain, runoff, and spring water at a local level.
“Water can be preserved in earthen reservoirs. Sailaba and Rod Kohi irrigation systems besides check dams, sand dunes and groundwater can also help to irrigate farms in different types of land. Terracing is also used for moisture conservation and streambank stabilisation for protection of fertile land,” he added.
Dr Ijaz told WealthPk that under the project, terracing would be carried out on 370 acres of land. “The income of farmers will increase as terracing will transform their cultivable wasteland into fertile land. Landslides will also decrease with increase in infiltration of rainwater. Permanent agricultural methods will assist about 740 farmers. The building of terracing will provide opportunities of temporary employment to 1,850 local people,” he added.
-INP
