PESHAWAR: Farmers of various localities of Peshawar have expressed concern over the unavailability of irrigation water, fearing that if timely arrangement of water supply is not made they will be unable to cultivate crops and vegetables.

The growers of Agra, Jala Bela and Shaikh Kallay said in a joint statement here on Friday that owing to shortage of irrigation water they would be unable to cultivate crops in their agricultural fields.

The farmers, including Sahibzada Tahir Khan, Haroonur Rasheed and Abdul Basit, said that the three villages were the major suppliers of vegetables and crops to the local markets and any problem to the growers could result in shortage of the commodities.

They said that most of the farmers were poor and unable to purchase quality seeds and fertilisers from the market. `We cannot afford to get loan for purchase of seeds and fertilisers as in case of any calamity no one can return the loans to banks, they said and added that it was the government`s duty to facilitate them.

The farmers said that currently they needed wheat seed for cultivation and it was duty of the provincial government to resolve their problems. Bureau Report