InfoAnda - Pakistan quake hits apple orchards, livelihoods

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Stark warnings for those seen traitors in Sri Lanka | International | | 2 June 2009
Tomb Of A Bulgarian Princess Discovered | 6 August 2009
Australia's INXS calls it quits as touring band after 35 years | | 13 November 2012

Obama lifts Bush ban on stem cell research | 10 March 2009

">Forum Views () ">Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Pakistan quake hits apple orchards, livelihoods

Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Secondary Navigation Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam Search Search: Pakistan quake hits apple orchards, livelihoods AFP - 1 hour 30 minutes ago ZIARAT, Pakistan (AFP) - - The sweeping valley of Ziarat district in southwest Pakistan, hit this week by a powerful earthquake, is famous for its ancient juniper forests and orchards filled with golden and green apples. But the 6.4-magnitude tremor that destroyed homes and killed up to 300 people also felled many trees, robbing local apple industry workers of their livelihoods at a time when the sought-after crop was nearly ripe for harvest. "Our region is the largest apple producer in the country," said Dilawal Kakar, the mayor of Ziarat town, where Pakistan's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, had a retreat and which remains a haven for summer tourists and pilgrims. "The earthquake has destroyed many orchards in the affected region and rendered many people jobless and deprived their owners of their earnings." Most of the 100,000-strong population in this picturesque corner of mountainous Baluchistan province are involved in apple farming in some way, either as orchard owners or labourers. Honey farming is also a major source of jobs. Pakistan produced an estimated 350,000 tonnes of apples in 2007, more than Canada, Britain or Israel, according to the latest available UN Food and Agriculture Organisation statistics. Most were grown in Baluchistan while many of the remainder come from the violence-ridden district of Swat in North West Frontier Province and the troubled tribal areas of South and North Waziristan. Like many here, orchard owner Mohammad Shah lost close family members when the quake struck before dawn on Wednesday, killing the sleeping inhabitants of the flimsy mud-brick, straw-roofed houses that dot the rugged landscape. "I also had a one-acre farm in Wam village, which was destroyed by the earthquake," he explained. "With this destruction, I have no means of earning now and so was the case with my workers." Yet even survivors whose farms were spared the worst of the tremors and the hundreds of strong aftershocks now face a choice between keeping their families warm and with food in sub-zero night time temperatures or picking their crop. "How can we look after our orchards and market fruits as we would do in the past when we are faced with the very question of survival?" said one man, Allauddin, from the neighbouring village of Kan Bangla. "Most farmers and workers have lost their family members and houses and their immediate concern is to provide proper shelter to their families." Aid agencies have warned that they face a race against time to provide shelter for more than 70,000 people made homeless by the quake as the harsh winter sets in. But many locals have complained that help was slow in coming, particularly to more remote areas, while health officials said potentially deadly diseases like pneumonia and dysentery were already affecting children. Allauddin said the priority for him was not to tend his crop but to rebuild his home -- which could take several months. Meanwhile, traders in the provincial capital of Quetta, some 130 kilometres (80 miles) to the south, voiced fears that the earthquake could hit apple supplies in Pakistan and abroad. "Baluchistan province's Qilla Abdullah and Ziarat (districts) mainly supply the rest of Pakistan and export apple varieties to many countries," said businessman Ameer Ali. The apple-loving larger provinces like Punjab and Sindh had already seen shorter supplies and the quake would only make the situation worse, he added. Another earthquake survivor, Shahid Khan, said the situation could last well into 2009. "We'll have no money to support our children for the year to come. We'll need some job and support to restore our orchards for the next year," he added. Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Recommend this article Average (0 votes) Sign in to recommend this article » Most Recommended Stories » Related Articles: Asia Pacific China handing down 'death sentence' to Tibetans: Dalai LamaAFP - 48 minutes ago Australia anxious as Indonesia prepares to execute Bali bombersAFP - 56 minutes ago Death toll rises in China mine blast: state mediaAFP - 1 hour 13 minutes ago At least 22 dead in Vietnam floodsAFP - 1 hour 50 minutes ago Thai man shot after row with anti-govt protesters: policeAFP - 2 hours 9 minutes ago Enlarge Photo Pakistan quake hits apple orchards, livelihoods Most Popular – Asia Pacific Viewed US presidential race enters final weekend Consumers curb spending, deepening recession fears Australian F1 race posts record financial loss Millions remember Philippine dead When men see red, they see hot: study View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology

Other News on Saturday, 1 November 2008
Al-Qaeda propaganda chief killed in Pakistan strike: officials
Al-Qaeda propaganda chief killed in Pakistan strike: officials
Iraq, Iran to exchange remains of 1980s war dead
Bali bombers' executions very close: official | International |
Rabbis' ruling puts thousands of converts in limbo
Iran upholds sentence against Kurdish activist
Improved tribal relations could aid NATO in Afghanistan: General
Bolivia's Morales bars spying U.S. DEA agents | International |
Like never before, US voters plug into power of the Internet
Hungary saved from bankruptcy by international aid: PM
Iraq expects U.S. reply on troop pact within days | International |
Al-Qaeda propaganda chief killed in Pakistan strike: officials
Internet collaboration still in infancy: Wikipedia founder
Obama riding 'righteous wind' three days before election
U.N. envoy raps Israel for razing West Bank homes | International |
Morales halts US anti-drug efforts in Bolivia
Hundreds queue for new Nintendo console
Western diplomats bid to stop crisis in eastern DR Congo
Europe to help east Congo, but cool on troops | International |
SAS chief in Afghanistan quits in equipment row: report
ANC dissidents lay out platform for new South African party
Nineteen militants killed in Afghanistan: US-led force
Britain's Brown arrives in Gulf for whirlwind tour
Mexico death industry thrives on drug war killings | International |
Moderate Islamist returns to Somalia for talks | International |
Massa hails 'dream' pole for Brazilian Grand Prix
Quake shakes Peru capital Lima, no damage reported | International |
Swiss central banker calls limiting bankers' pay 'senseless'
India's central bank cuts key rates, cites 'unsettled' conditions
ANC defectors to form new party in South Africa | International |
Chavez: Biz related to scandal may be expropriated
Welsh road sign lost in translation
Obama riding 'righteous wind' three days before election
Green prisons farm, recycle to save energy, money
Hundreds queue for new Nintendo console
India's central bank cuts key rates, cites 'unsettled' conditions
India central bank cuts interest rate half point
Bond film opens with guns blazing in Britain | Entertainment |
Russia cuts oil duty but exporters disappointed
Libyan leader seeks energy deals with Russia
UN envoy to Israel: Halt house demolitions
Outgoing Indonesian top judge denies graft
Britain extradites three Tunisian terror suspects to Italy
IMF needs hundreds of billions of dollars more: British PM
West African rebels say no longer want to kill hostages
Libya's Kadhafi touts energy ties in talks with Russian leader
Rwanda, DRCongo leaders agree to summit: EU official
Russia humiliating EU over Georgia: Lithuanian president
West Africa rebels threaten to kill French oilmen 'one by one'
Taiwan says no violence during China envoy visit
Brother of Afghan minister kidnapped in Pakistan
NKorea releases new photos of leader Kim Jong Il
At least 22 dead in Vietnam floods
Thai man shot after row with anti-govt protesters: police
Bali bombers await firing squads as Indonesia stands guard
Malaysia's No. 2 leader close to clinching top job
China's Canton Fair suffers drop in attendance
South Asia braces for fall in vital remittances
Asia-Pacific weather
Security tight ahead of Bali bombing executions
Family defiant as Indonesia awaits bombers' execution
Indonesian landslide kills 25
Indonesia passes far-reaching anti-porn law
Indonesian lawmakers pass anti-porn bill
Indonesian hard-line Muslim gets 18 months in jail
Obama's former house in Indonesia draws attention
Obama's former house in Indonesia up for sale
Iraq earmarks $15 billion for reconstruction
British PM calls on Gulf states to give funds to the IMF
Eight soldiers killed in Pakistan suicide attack: official
Loeb wins record fifth World Rally Championship
Bolivia's Morales bars spying U.S. DEA agents | International |
Australia anxious as Indonesia prepares to execute Bali bombers
Pakistan quake hits apple orchards, livelihoods
North Korea shows photos of leader Kim at soccer match | International |
Suicide car-bomber kills 8 Pakistani soldiers | International |
Foods to prevent disease?
China vows to wipe out tainted animal feed | International |
Boeing machinists end strike
Afghan abductors free Bangladeshi aid workers | International |
McCain shows funny side on 'Saturday Night Live'
Helpless and hopeless, Myanmar cyclone survivors struggle on | International |
NKorea releases photos of Kim in bid to quash health rumours
Europe to help east Congo, but cool on troops | International |
NKorea releases photo of Kim
Green prisons farm, recycle to save energy, money
Morales halts US anti-drug efforts in Bolivia
Japanese firms hit by global crisis, stronger yen: survey
South Asia braces for fall in vital remittances
Hedge funds take beating in global turmoil
China's Canton Fair suffers drop in attendance
S.Korean financial system sound despite turmoil-c.bank
Real McCain joins fake Palin on Saturday Night Live | Entertainment |
Two Israeli police injured in clash with settlers
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01