The Thal Desert is a vast region that spans 190 miles in length and 70 miles wide in the province of Punjab in Pakistan. It is located near the Pothohar Plateau and is part of the Indomalayan biogeographic realm. Here, you can find information about farming techniques and cotton production in the Thal Desert.
Mandi town
The Thal Development Authority (TDA) has established seven market towns in Thal and named them Mandi Towns. These are Joharabad, Liaqatabad, Layyah, and Sar-e-Muhajir. In these towns, the TDA has provided underground sewerage, wide roads, shops, and hospitals. In addition, these towns have been subdivided into residential and commercial areas.
In order to gain information about this region, there are many books available. The “Colony Manual”, written by Sameer Ijaaz and Sharjeel Ijaaz, provides an official account of the colonization of the Thal Desert in 1939. Another excellent book on the subject is “Tareekh Riasut Mankera,” a history of the Thal area.
The Thal Development Authority, along with other government agencies, has helped the area develop. The Authority has established several industries in the area, and has also facilitated the development of agriculture in the Thal Desert. Since the TDA has been established, the area has become prosperous and the people are feeling more confident about their future.
A new agricultural farm was established by the TDA in 1954. The area is around one thousand acres, and of that, 480 acres are used for growing crops. Another five acres are used for roads and buildings. This farm has also become the research centre for the Thal Textile mill Liqatabad.
The Thal Desert in Pakistan is an arid, semi-arid region in the south of the Salt Range. It is a triangle-shaped desert with a length of 175 miles and a width of 65 miles. It is bounded by the districts of Bhakkar, Layyah, Jhang, and Khushab. It is naturally divided into three parts: the Northern Thal, the Eastern Thal, and the Southern Thal.
Cotton production in the Thal Desert
The Thal Desert is a vast sand area in Pakistan’s northwestern part. A portion of this land has been brought under canal irrigation from the River Indus. Some of this land was allotted to influential people in the country. However, the cattle and Brela camel herders were pushed away from this land. This forced them to move further into the desert.
The Thal Desert is situated south of the Salt Range and comprises a total area of five million acres. It is shaped like a triangle, with a length of 175 miles and a width of 65 miles. It is bounded by the districts of Bhakkar, Layyah, Jhang, and Khushab. It is naturally divided into three parts: the Northern Thal, the Central Thal, and the Southern Thal.
The Thal Desert is also prone to harsh conditions, such as sand storms and hot temperatures. It is difficult to grow crops in this region, but experts have been working on ways to increase the yield per acre. The Agriculture Department is working on developing more demonstration plots for the sowing of sugarcane and oilseeds.
The Thal Development Authority has established 11 industrial areas in the area. These industries include two sugar mills, two textile mills, one cement factory, a dairy and juice factory, a woollen mill, and three cotton ginning facilities. This has allowed the region to reduce its population pressure on the Upper Punjab region of Pakistan.
The Thal Development Authority has also set up an agricultural farm near Bhakkar city. This farm has a total area of one hundred and twenty acres, of which about 900 acres are used for crop cultivation, while three acres are used for roads and buildings. This farm serves as the research center for the Thal Textile mill Liqatabad.
Farming techniques in the Thal Desert
The Thal Desert is Pakistan’s third largest desert and consists mainly of sand dunes. Farmers here have adapted farming techniques to the harsh conditions. Many have turned to agroforestry and tree cultivation. However, the lack of water reduces crop yields. Researchers have looked at the impact of agroforestry on crop yields and household incomes in the Thal region. They collected data from 382 farm households in the Bhakkar district, one of the six districts in the Thal region.
The Thal Desert is a tropical sand desert spread over 2 million hectares. It has varying sand depths and different wind directions throughout the year, which has led to the formation of sand dunes. Uncontrolled grazing of livestock and ruthless tree cutting has exacerbated the situation. As a result, civil structures in the area were in danger. A PARC sponsored project aims to counter the problem by planting trees that cross the wind direction. The trees planted included Tamarix aphyila and Eucalyptus camaldulensis. These trees provide shelter from wind and sand.
The Thal Development Authority (TDA) was established in 1949. Its board of directors consisted of Deputy Commissioners of Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, and Sargodha. The first five years of work are summarized in the TDA Handbook. The book also covers the land acquisition process in detail. However, the book does not discuss the agricultural development.
The Thal Development Authority (TDA) has started establishing several industries in the Thal area. Two sugar and textile mills, a cement factory, and three cotton ginning factories are among the companies established in the Thal. In the future, these factories will become a major source of employment in the region.
Vegetation in the Thal Desert
The Thal Desert is a vast expanse of land in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. It stretches over 20000km2 and has a width ranging from 32km to 112km. It lies south of the Pothohar Plateau, between the Sindh River and Jhelum River. The desert is home to a variety of shrubs, trees, and grasses that are tolerant of drought conditions.
In February, the Thal Desert is a vibrant green, thanks to the cultivation of green chickpeas. These plants are distinctive for their chubby, elastic branches. Residents in this arid region also have access to the Thal Canal, which provides water for livestock feeding, irrigation, and daily activities. There are a few dune-shaped patches, where fading yellow sand rises in undulating waves.
This study has also documented traditional uses of medicinal plants in the Thal Desert in Punjab, Pakistan. The survey employed a semi-structured questionnaire to inventory medicinal flora in the region. The survey results indicate that people in the area have used over 120 plants, including several that were used as herbal medicines to treat human ailments. Each plant is noted with a botanical name, parts used, and preparation methods.
Development of heavy industries in the Thal Desert
A dust storm often occurs over the Thal Desert in Pakistan. This desert is so vast that it has little vegetation, and it is characterized by high average wind speeds. Because of the lack of vegetation, the Thal Desert has a low average annual rainfall, and it has predominantly sand. Because of this, the region experiences a high rate of wind erosion. This can result in a significant loss of top soil and good agricultural lands, and it can disrupt the transportation system.
In addition, a few projects have been initiated to create jobs in the region. For example, the Thal Development Authority (TDA) has managed to construct over 8002 peasant houses, 1712 huts for artisans, and twenty-five hundred cattle sheds. These projects have facilitated the settlement of almost three thousand families in the Thal and have reduced the pressure on the local population.
The Thal Development Authority (TDA) has also established seven market towns in the Thal region. These towns have been named Mandi Towns and include Liaqatabad, Layyah, Joharabad, Sar-e-Muhajir, and Nadawandabad. The TDA has also provided infrastructure to these towns, such as underground sewerage, paved roads, hospitals, and cinemas.
The TDA was established in 1949 and was governed by a Chairman. The Board consisted of the Deputy Commissioners of Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, and Sargodha. The TDA covers an area of about nine hundred thousand acres within the irrigation boundary and seven-hundred and fifty-five thousand acres outside the boundary.
The TDA set up an agricultural farm in the area near Joharabad in 1951. It was a perfect place for farming as the soil is ideal for growing wheat. In fact, the TDA’s agricultural experts recommended sixteen wheat varieties and three87 cotton varieties for cultivation in the Thal.
