Agriculture of Mianwali

Mianwali district falls in arid and semi-arid zone of Pakistan. The land is of multiple type and can be classified as loamy with clay soil which is suitable for wheat and maize, sandy soil, cultivated mainly for the rain-fed gram, Mong and Guara, and the irrigated areas which are mostly under wheat, cotton and sugarcane crops. Citrus plantation is also being carried out successfully in the area.  Land Reforms: Land Reforms were executed under Martial Law Regulation No 64 in 1959, MLR 115 of 1972 and Act 77 of 1977. An area of 103,436 acres was resumed from the big land lords and sold to about 10,536 tenants already possessing the lands. An area of 18,619 acres was leased out for stud and live stock farmers. An area of 11,128 acres has been transferred to local forest department for a forestation.  Cropping Pattern: The main crops are wheat, its area being 317,888 acres and average yield per acre 672 kilograms, Gram is sown in rain fed areas. Its area is 73,769 acres and the average yield 187 kilograms per acre. Besides these two staple crops oilseeds, lentils, cotton, sugarcane, Mong, Guara, groundnut, Bajra, Jawar, fodder, various kinds of vegetables and pulses are also grown on smaller scale.  Horticulture: Citrus, mango, guava and ber gardens can be seen here and there.Area under gardens is 6,000 acres. Gardens particularly of Malta and guava can be seen in all parts of the district. The gardens of Kalabagh and Wan Bhachran are the most worthy.  Forestry: Mianwali Forest Division is a prosperous husband-man of irrigated compact plantation as well as the linear plantation in the district. Kundian plantation, Hernoli plantation, Chak plantation, Shelter belts, Chak Sarkar plantation and resumed lands, scrub forest are spread over an area measuring 49,732 acres, whereas the linear plantation alongside roads and railway tracks measure about 566 kilometers.  Irrigation: Mianwali district is among those areas of the Punjab where an elaborate irrigational system is in operation. Two systems of Thal Canal, off-taking from the Indus at Jinnah Barrage, namely Mohajir Branch and Dullewala Branch irrigate an area of 123,024 acres in Mianwali district. The following Lift Irrigation Schemes were constructed and commissioned in 1964.  Mianwali Lift Irrigation Scheme  Gulmiri Lift Irrigation Scheme  Samandwala Lift Irrigation Scheme  Paikhel Lift Irrigation Scheme

Main Crops

Wheat, Sugarcane, Gram and Guar Seed are the main crops grown in the district. Production of these crops during the period 1998-99 to 2000-2001 is given here

PRODUCTION OF MAIN CROPS (1998-99 to 2000-2001)

CROP PRODUCTION (000 M. TONS) 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-2001 Wheat 281.14 237.78 217.00 Sugar Cane 241.90 205.20 169.60 Gram 21.20 17.40 14.80 Guar Seed 12.00 16.00 16.50 Besides, Ground Nut, Rice, Cotton, Moong, Mash and Masoor are also grown in minor quantities in the district. Back

Main Fruits Citrus, Guavas and Mangoes are main fruits grown in the district. Production of these fruits during the period 1998-99 to 2000-2001 is given here

PRODUCTION OF MAIN FRUITS (1998-99 to 2000-2001)

FRUIT PRODUCTION (000 M. TONS) 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-2001 Citrus 17887 19588 18737 Guavas 1589 1826 1782 Mango 769 806 784 Besides, Mango, Jaman, Dates and Banana are also grown in minor quantities in the district. Back

Main Vegetables Onion, Turnip and Tomato are main vegetables grown in the district. Production of these vegetables during the period 1998-99 to 2000-2001 is given here

PRODUCTION OF MAIN VEGETABLES (1998-99 to 2000-2001)

VEGETABLE PRODUCTION (000 M. TONS) 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-2001 Onion 4095 5748 5795 Turnip 1920 1875 1717 Tomato 1045 1111 1008 Besides, Bottle Gourd, Bitter Gourd, Chilies, Carrot, Cauliflower, Peas and Garlic are also grown in the district in minor quantities. Back

Forests An area of 40,019 acres is under forest in the district. There is also linear plantation of 1080 Km alongside the roads/rails/canals in the district. Trees grown in the area are Mulbury, Bakain, Eucalyptus, Simbal, Popular, Sirin, Acacia, etc. Back

LIVESTOCK POPULATION The animal population of the district is given in Table - 7.

ANIMAL POPULATION

ANIMAL POPULATION (000 HEADS) Cattle 323 Buffaloes 137 Sheep 246 Goats 455   Tribes in Mianwali The people of Mianwali district are happy amalgamation of several tribes, all of them forming a pretty pattern like a lovely garden. The prominent features of these tribes are that they have been living in perfect equanimity and composure and no ethnic disturbance of any kind has taken place in the district. The principal tribes of the district are Pathans including Niazis, Khattak and Balouch along them with are Syed, Qureshi, Jat, Rajput, Khawaja and Sheikh. Besides, there are working classes, the professionals like, Tarkhans, Mochis and Pawlis etc. Of late, the professionals have asserted themselves to equal respect and honor and are no longer looked upon as menials. All the tribes are Muslims, very staunch in their faith. A few hundred Christians are also living in the towns. They too enjoy perfect peace and freedom and are at liberty to profess their faith. The main characteristics of the different tribes are described in the following paras:    Syed, and Qureshi There is a sprinkling of all these tribes in almost every big village and town. Syeds and Qureshis are well-versed in religious matters and are held in great esteem.   Awan The Awans mainly occupy the upper table land beyond the Salt Range. Only two Awan villages Kalabagh and Jalalpur lie west of the Indus. The Awans are fair complexioned people with sharp noses. They are shrewed people and avail themselves thoroughly of the opportunities that come their way.   Pathans There are three different types of Pathans in the district, Niazi, Khattak and Balouch. Niazi The Niazis came from the north-west and settled along the high banks of the Indus in Mianwali and Isakhel tehsils. They are divided in to many sections and each clan has several sub-sections. The Niazis are generally well-built and fair complexions. Khattak The Khattaks preceded Niazis in the north of Isakhel tehsil and have clung to the hills. One section of Khattaks is called Bhangikhel and the other Bani-Afghans. They are hard and tenacious and are vigorous workers. They make good soldiers and enjoy a special place in army. Their natural temperament, their ability and excellence as mountaineers have made them simple, faithful and orderly. Balouch The Balouchs are settled in Piplan tehsil and in the villages surrounding that town. Their number is not too large. Jat and Professionals The Jats are good tillers. The professionals have turned a new leaf since independence. They no longer live on the traditional wages paid annually, called Thal. They are doing independent business. They dominate the business in hard-wares, pottery, ceramics, furniture and leather works. Culture of Mianwali The Muslim culture prevails all over the district. Eid -ul-Fitr is celebrated most pompously. Sivanyyan and Halwa, a peculiar kind, called 'Dodhiwala Halwa' celebrates the occasion. Muharam, Ramzan and Bakar-Eid are observed with due solemnity.      Dress    The natives are gracefully dressed. Although a few elderly gents and ladies still put on Chola and Manjhla and Patks, the greater majority has taken to the Shalwar-Qameez. The head-gear has disappeared altogether although Dhoti, Kukar ( in winter ) and Sindhi Ajrak over the shoulder are still very much in vogue. Khairee made of Tilla ( called as Tillay walee khairee ) is very popular over here.      Top         Marriage The marriage is an occasion of great festivity. The date is fixed a good fortnight and sometimes even a month before the actual wedding takes place. In the villages the invitation (called gandh ) is sent through the local 'Mirasi' or 'Nai' but in the towns very costly invitation cards are distributed. The marriage procession now-a-days goes on cars and buses and even when the distance between the two parties is not more than few steps, the bride would be carried in a car. Nikkah is performed at the bride's house.      Top         Births The rejoicing are generally greater in case of birth of a male child than in case of female child. After the birth of a child the Mullah is called to the house who recites Azan into the ear of the infant. The new born baby is given some honey which is generally done by an elder member of the family. According to popular belief the child acquires the same habits as the person administering him the dose which is known as Ghutti.      Top         Deaths The death of a person is now-a-days announced on the loud speakers in the mosques. The grave is dug by the professional grave diggers. Ghusal is usually given by the close relatives rather than by a professional. Funeral prayer, which is attended by all and sundry, is offered in the Janazagah, in open grounds and sometimes even in the mosques.      Top         Fairs and Urs The fairs and Urs are held at several places in the district. The Annual Horse and Cattle Show held in February in the District Council Stadium every year is attended by hundreds of thousands of people and is an occasion of great jubilation and gratitude.      Top         Sports Hockey is the traditional home of Mianwali city, which has produced several Olympians. There are dozens of Hockey Clubs. The game that has become recently extremely popular is cricket. Scores of clubs are patronizing this game. Ex Captain of Pakistani team, Imran Khan, and the new batsman Misbah-ul-Haq both belong from Mianwali. Volley Ball( shooting ) is popular as is football. The Kabaddi is also played with great zeal. Cock fighting and Quail fighting are popular recreations of the suburbs.   Weather and Climate The district has extremes of climate. The summer however has an edge over winter in ferocity. It begins in April and continues till October. May, June and July are the hottest months when the temperature shoots up as high as 9 degree centigrade. The average maximum and minimum temperature during these months are 42 and 27 degree centigrade respectively. The winter season lasts from November to mid February. The first fortnight of the February are the coldest days. The maximum and minimum temperatures in the months of January are 20 and 4 degree centigrade respectively.  Regular cyclones do not pass over the district . Dust storms which were common in summer in the past are now rare in frequency and milder in ferocity. It is due to afforestation and the conversion of desert into a greenery. Hail storms do occur and sometimes destroy entire crops.  Rain fall in the district is but scanty, the average for Mianwali district has never arisen above 40 millimeters.