CHARSADDA: Residents have complained about rapid expansion of housing schemes, townships and commercial developments here, insisting the agricultural land is fast shrinking to cause concernsabout food security.
Once known for its fertile fields, wheat and sugarcane production, vegetables and fruit orchards, Charsadda is increasingly witnessing the conversion of agricultural land into residential colonies and concrete structures.
According to official figures, the district has around 500,000 jeribs of land, including around 141,000 jeribs of agricultural land.
However, the area under cultivation is gradually shrinking due to population growth, expanding townships, housing schemes and commercial construction.
The cultivated area was previously estimated at 220,000 jeribs in Charsadda tehsil, 173,000 jeribs in Tangi and 95,000 jeribs inShabgadar.
However, the expansion of residential developments has significantly affected agricultural activitiesin different parts of the district.
Agricultural production has also suffered as large orchards and fertile fields have been converted into residential plots.
Wheat cultivation, an important source offoodfor the localpopulation, has reportedly declined to around 50,000 acres.
Sugarcane production has also been affected, while maize cultivation has witnessed a decline.
Tobacco, a major cash crop grown mainly in the rural areas of Tangi and northern Hashtnagar, is now cultivated on around 7,163 acres.
The district has also lost much of its traditional fruit-growing landscape.
Plum orchards, particularly in Sherpao and other areas, which once supplied fruit to Punjab and other parts of the country, have almost disappeared. Similarly, mango and persimmon orchards in several areas, except Abazai,have largely vanished.
The trend ofconvertingagriculturalland into housing schemes witnessed a rise after 2018.
An estimated 25-30pc of fertile agricultural land has reportedly been converted into townships and residential developments although an official land-use survey is needed to establish the exact extent of the loss.
Apart from reducing the area available for cultivation, the uncontrolled expansion of housing schemes is also affecting groundwater resources and the local environment.
Farmers and residents fear that the growing construction activity could further lower groundwater levels and create additional environmental problems.
The situation has also affected agricultural labourers and workers who depend on farming, orchards and related activities for their livelihood s.
Farmers said the conversion of productive agriculturalland into residentialplots had reduced the production of wheat, sugarcane, maize and other crops.
They warned that the continuation of this trend could undermine the local agricultural economy and increase dependence on food supplies from other districts and provinces.
They feared that if immediate measures were not taken, the district could face serious food security challenges in the coming years, with consequences extending beyond the local economy.
The growers also expressed concern over the continued construction of residential projects, including unauthorised housing schemes, and criticised the relevant departments for failing to effectively regulate the conversion of agricultural land.
Residents, including farmers, have urged authorities to ban the conversion of fertile agricultural land into residential and commercial projects and demanded a crackdown on illegal housing schemes, proper monitoring of land-use changes and effective legislation to protect agricultural land.