The agriculture/horticulture sector of the district is one of the important sectors to support the livelihood of the indigenous tribal people. However, the sector, despite all potential, has lagged behind. The horticulture has improved with the advent of electricity.

The total land of the district is 1,651,787 ha out of which only 60,980 ha is reported. The area under forest is 13,010 Ha. The potential area available for cultivation is 37,117 ha. For details see 1.1.

Land ownership in the district is not concentrated in a small number of land owners. People are not allowed to sell their land to a person outside the tribe without the consent of his tribe’s elders. Tenure exists. Tenants are hired on a yearly basis. In return for their services they receive a fixed share of the produced crops, in most cases 50%, while the inputs are provided by the landowner.

In the table below the cropped area, the production and the yield can be found for the major crops. It can be noticed that no figure is given for olive production.

The district has potential for the growth of olives, but the government does not encourage it enough. According to the Agriculture Department, the area for olives has grown with 3,020 Ha. The major factor accountable for the little interest in olive growing is that there is no market or industrial infrastructure available for the growers.

Sources: Agricultural Statistics of Balochistan 1994-95, Quetta

Agricultural Department Zhob

There are two cropping seasons: Khariff and Rabi. Rabi crops are sown between October and mid February and harvested in June. Kharif crops are sown from April to July and harvested by the end of October. In the areas with higher altitude (above 2300 metres) where the climate is colder, the sowing of Rabi crops continues till late March and harvesting takes place in late June or July. The harvesting of Kharif crops can go up to November.

For a detailed analysis of production/yields see the table above. The statistics cover the average yield total production of the crop items approximately. The exact number is very difficult to know.

According to the Irrigation Department, the majority of the area in the Zhob district is irrigated by springs. There are around 120 springs in Zhob district. The size of the springs vary. In the case of large springs, the water is led to the land through channels (Walla). In case of small springs, the water is stored in reservoirs and then brought to the land. The Karez system, a traditional source of irrigation in Balochistan, is almost nil in Zhob.

The farming system is largely traditional, but the use of machines is growing. Harvesting and ploughing is now mostly done mechanically.

The use of agricultural mechanisation in the district is limited. The major item of agricultural mechanization is the tractor. Tractors are also used to run tube wells in areas without electricity. Threshers are rarely used. The use of machines for fertiliser distribution and seeds is negligible. Spray machines are sometimes used, mostly in horticulture, against parasites. Many people prefer traditional methods to mechanization.

The major agricultural input required is fertiliser. There are various kinds of fertilisers used. They are Urea, D.A.P, Dye Ammonium phosphate, Potassic, S.O.P., S.S.P and N.P.K. Urea and D.A.P are most commonly used. They are bought from the Agriculture Department or from the private sector. The total amount of chemical fertiliser used according to Agricultural Statistics 1994-95 was: 673 tonnes: 190 tonnes of Urea, 290 tonnes of D.A.P., 120 tonnes of Nitro phos and 10 tonnes of S.S.P. Most fertilisers are used for horticulture, especially for the growth of apples, almonds, grapes and melons.

In 1980 the Government of Balochistan started a fruit development project in collaboration with the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) to promote the growth of various sorts of fruit. The project has two experimental stations, one of them is in Zhob district. Plots were allotted for the demonstration of planting, harvesting, marketing, nutrition etc. to the farmers. As part of the project the "trickle irrigation system" was introduced and installed in the farmers' orchards. The farmers also learned spray techniques. The project established many nurseries for the multiplication of root stocks and new commercial varieties. Part of the material has been imported from abroad.

Marketing is in the hands of private enterprise. The involvement of government in marketing is still minor, however its role is growing. The Agricultural Marketing Regulation Act 1991 is in function since June 1996 to reduce the middlemen's role and fix the commodities' prices, but it is hardly effective in Zhob. The middlemen’s role is still big because of the little commercial and marketing knowledge the producers have. Only some producers take care of marketing their products themselves. The major market for fruits is D.G. Khan and Multan. Quetta is also a major fruit market for Zhob and Killa Saifullah districts.

The marketing value for wheat and maize is small, as they are not produced in quantities large enough for commercial marketing. Zhob district depends on the import of wheat from outside.

Zhob is itself a big market for timber imported and smuggled from Afghanistan and Waziristan. Timber is exported to Punjab and NWFP through the road routes of Loralai and Waziristan respectively.

No statistics exist on the levels of income. There are broadly three levels of landowners: middle, lower middle and lower. One can hardly find a high level landlord or fruit grower.

The Department of Agriculture is headed by the Extra Assistant Director who is also accountable for agriculture. There is no separate agriculture extension wing. The Extra-Assistant Director functions under the Deputy Director stationed in Loralai. He is assisted by a team of field assistants and other staff.

Lack of water for irrigation is a factor for the underdevelopment of agriculture. The only source available is spring water. Underground sources are nil. The lift irrigation system is not very successful. It needs to be updated and advanced. However, rain water sources and flood water, if stored properly, could be a great help in the promotion of agriculture.

There is another factor accountable for the low profile of agriculture sector of the district. It is tribal feuds which have been a handicap in the cultivation of a large number of fields for wheat and maize. Cases have been reported of rivalling tribes destroying each other’s crops.

Other factors are the preference for traditional methods and the fact that many people rather invest money in contractor-ship or abroad. NGOs and the government should provide more incentives for the promotion of the agriculture sector.

Throughout the district, horticultural practices are improving, but it still falls shorts to its potential. Because of the assured returns on investment, there is a growing trend amongst farmers to cultivate fruits. The three fruit crops; apple, pomegranate and melon have been quite successful. In agriculturists' analysis, almond, a leading nut crop of the district, needs to be more promoted as it is more profitable for the orchard owners.

The Zhob district has huge potential for the growth of olive. It is cultivated on a substantial area, but because of no industrial sector in the district olives have as yet little market value. A medium size industrial set-up for the processing of fruits and olive can provide a big incentive to the area. The area also has potential for the growth of sunflowers on commercial lines.

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