Page 147 - Muzaffargarh Gazzetteer

Chapter 29

AGRICULTURE

The Agriculture Department existed in Muzaffargarh at the time of
independence. It was headed by an Extra-Assistant Director at district level;
an Agriculture Officer at tehsil level; and a Muqaddam at markaz level. The
set-up was not changed during or after the Basic Democracy system of Ayub
Khan. However, it was upgraded in 1977 and a Deputy Director was
appointed at district level; Extra-Assistant Director at tehsil level; Agriculture
Officer at markaz level; and Field Assistant at union council level. The set-
up primarily looked after the Extension wing, which worked directly with the
farmers to increase their produce by equipping them with modern technology
and information. There were other agriculture related institutions too.
However, with the promulgation of the Devolution Plan in 2001, all
agriculture related institutions/wings were combined under an Executive
District Officer (Agriculture). In 2017, The Department returned from district
to provincial level. The present hierarchy consists of one Deputy Director
(Extension) as district head assisted by 4 Assistant Directors posted in the
sub-divisions/tehsils.

LAND USE
The land use distribution in Muzaffargarh is as under:

LAND USE ACREAGE
Geographical Area 2052571
Cultivated Area 1157757
Un-Cultivated Area 894914
Irrigated Area 946410
Non-Irrigated/Barani Area 211347
Forest 59834

AGRICULTURAL DIVISIONS
For agricultural purposes, the district may be divided into four major zones:
Riverain tract, Sub-Riverain tract or Central Irrigated tract, Thal Nehri and
Thal Kalaan.

Riverain Tract
The Riverain tract may further be sub-divided into Indus Riverain tract and
Chenab Riverain tract. As regards the Indus, floods are common due to
overflowing of banks of the river in summer, and tend to spread over the low-
lying tract between the main stream and Sinawan. The flood water leaves
behind alluvium, i.e. fertile soil. Cultivation on this relatively narrow tract

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