Malakand Agency Research Articles

Ethnoveterinary uses of forage plants for domesticated ruminants in Malakand agency, Pakistan.

Plant ethnoveterinary uses are evident in various studies around the world, but the ethnoveterinary practices of forage species are not widely reported. Traditional knowledge is rapidly disappearing because of urbanization and commercial activities. The purpose of this study was to document plant species used by the local communities in Malakand Agency, Pakistan for foraging and ethnoveterinary purposes. Twenty different localities in the study area were surveyed for documentation of forage species and related traditional ethnoveterinary knowledge used for livestock. Semistructured questionnaires and field walks were used to conduct 67 interviews with local farmers and herdsmen. A total of 91 forage species from 26 families were documented, as well as their ethnoveterinary applications. Poaceae and Fabaceae were dominant families with 45% and 15% of speciesrespectively. Among the forage species documented, 62 were highly palatable, 26 were moderately palatable and 12 were less palatable. The region's major veterinary diseases are flu, ringworms, inflammations, low milk production, constipation, bloat, mastitis, pneumonia and wounds. The 62 forage species were reported for the first time for various veterinary uses. This study revealed that local communities commonly use a diverse range of forage species in conjunction with indigenous knowledge of ethnoveterinary uses. These forage species have the potential to overcome the recent fodder shortage. Such studies will be beneficial to the commercial production of such forage species.

Malakand Nizam-I-Adal Regulation 2009

The administration of Pakistan isn’t directly by Central Government, so that fail in administrative capacity. Malakand Division consists of Swat, Chitral, Dir, Malakand Agency. Before 1969 each states have had their own rule and regulations. After implementation of the PATA Regulation (Provincially Administrative Tribal Area) 1975, legal cases were decided by Tehsildar. Under PATA Regulation any person was arrested without any reason. So this Regulation was deteriorated Malakand situation. In 1994 imposition of Tehreek-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi (TNSM), so it was called enforcement of Islamic law in Malakand Division[1]. This Regulation was later on repeal in 1999. The emergence of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) 2007 and was swallow up whole of FATA. The TTP has adopted modern techniques to subdue terrorism. Bomb blast and suicide attacks killed thousand of people in whole country. TTP attacked inside in Pakistan was revenge of US involvement in Afghanistan. So in this violence and conflict situation another Regulation was enforced in Malakand Nizam-e-Adal Regulation 2009. In this regulation disputes are settle by informal institutions. It is ensuring of natural justice system, equality, peace and protection.
 
 [1] Sultan-i-Rome, Swat State, p. 308.

In the Shadows of Swords. The Antecedents of the Archaeological Research in Malakand-Swat, 1895–1899

Abstract This paper deals with the formative years of archaeological research in Malakand-Swat, Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa. Recent archival material sheds light not only on the central role Major Harold A. Deane, the first Political Agent of the newly constituted Malakand Agency (1895), played in these pursuits but also brings to the fore an institutional context, such as museums and other learned societies. The Bengal Government’s delegations, led by Laurence A. Waddell and Alexander Caddy in 1895 and 1896, in order to procure Gandharan objects for the Imperial Museum of India, have been subjected to historical and critical analysis. Moreover, Aurel Stein’s antiquarian sojourns in the area also make a subject of investigation. This study also evaluates this preliminary antiquarian work from the point of view of archaeological legislation, as it was in place at the time, in British India, historical considerations presented by scholars in the field and the relationship of knowledge creation with power.

Geological Characteristics and Petrography of Granite of Baru Area, Malakand, Pakistan

Granites are the key rocks of the continental crust that occur in almost all the orogenic belts of the world. This research paper is focusing on the mineral resources and structural elements of granitic rock of the Baru area of Malakand Agency of Pakistan. Petrographical study and Geological mapping of the study were carried out in several rock units. The study is emphasizing on the regional and local geological setting as well as the origin and evaluation of different granitic rock units in the area of Baru, Malakand Agency, Pakistan. The mineralized fractures are in the form of a single fracture or group of fractures with convergence and divergence phenomena. The mineralized fractures are hosted by the fine-med. grained foliated granite is more pronounced as compared to the fractures in the fine-grained sheared granite/aplite.

Effect of row spacing and nitrogen levels on the growth and yield of tomato under walk-in polythene tunnel condition

To estimate the “Effect of row spacing and nitrogen levels on the growth and yield of tomato under walk-in polythene tunnel condition” an experiment was conducted at Sakhakot in collaboration with Agriculture Extension Department Dargai Malakand Agency, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan in the year 2011-12 to find out optimum row spacing for obtaining maximum yield of tomato under walk-in polythene tunnel condition and optimize the nitrogen level for higher tomato production. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement was used in the experiment, treatments were replicated three times. There were two factors i.e. different row spacing (60, 90, 120 cm) and nitrogen levels (0, 60, 100, 140 kg ha -1 ). Tomato cultivar “Sahil” was used for the experiment. More days to flowering (62.93), days to fruiting (85.44), plant height (264.73cm) and number of branches (58.89) was obtained when nitrogen was applied at 140 kg ha -1 , while maximum number of fruits kg -1 (12.89) was recorded in control plots. The maximum number of fruits plant -1 (61.56), average fruit weight plant -1 (3.19 kg), fruit weight picking -1 plot -1 (17.78 kg) and yield (28.33 tones ha -1 ) were obtained when nitrogen was applied at 100 kg ha 1 .Similarly in case of row spacing, higher days to flowering (52.03), days to fruiting (81.08), plant height (261.23cm) and number of branches (58.10) was obtained when plants were row spaced at 120 cm. More number of fruits kg -1 (11.58) was recorded from the plot, having 60 cm row spacing. The maximum number of fruits plant -1 (58.03), average fruit weight per plant (2.92 kg), fruit weight picking -1 plot -1 (16.89 kg) and yield (27.96 tones ha -1 ) were produced by the plots having 90 cm row spacing. Thus, it is concluded that Sahil cultivar treated with 100 kg N ha -1 row spaced

Viability of meyer lemon over sour orange rootstock

The information pertaining the performance of Meyer lemon over citrus rootstocks is very limited. Fruit tree rootstocks have varying degrees of tree vigor and growth, salt and drought tolerance, resistance to pest and diseases and leaf mineral application. Sour orange rootstock is more favorable than other citrus rootstocks due to its resistance to gummosis, high flexibility to wide range of soil conditions, and the ability to produce high quality fruits. Therefore the present study was designed to investigate the Viability of Meyer lemon over sour orange rootstock, conducted at Government Fruit Nursery Farm, Jabban, Dargai Malakand Agency, an experiment was conducted during the year 2013. The experiment was laid out Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with one factor repeated three times. Meyer lemon was grafted on different dates (1 st May, 1 st June and 1 st July) on sour orange rootstock, grafting dates significantly affected all the growth attributes expect leaf area. Maximum scion diameter (1cm), number of leaves plant -1 (20), survival percentage (83%), scion length (30cm) and minimum days to sprouting (17) was recorded in plants grafted on 1 st June. It is concluded from the present study that Meyer lemon

Health risk assessment of heavy metals and bacterial contamination in drinking water sources: a case study of Malakand Agency, Pakistan.

Human beings are frequently exposed to pathogens and heavy metals through ingestion of contaminated drinking water throughout the world particularly in developing countries. The present study aimed to assess the quality of water used for drinking purposes in Malakand Agency, Pakistan. Water samples were collected from different sources (dug wells, bore wells, tube wells, springs, and hand pumps) and analyzed for different physico-chemical parameters and bacterial pathogens (fecal coliform bacteria) using standard methods, while heavy metals were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS-PEA-700). In the study area, 70 % of water sources were contaminated with F. coliform representing high bacterial contamination. The heavy metals, such as Cd (29 and 8 %), Ni (16 and 78 %), and Cr (7 %), exceeded their respective safe limits of WHO (2006) and Pak-EPA (2008), respectively, in water sources, while Pb (9 %) only exceeded from WHO safe limit. The risk assessment tools such as daily intake of metals (DIMs) and health risk indexes (HRIs) were used for health risk estimation and were observed in the order of Ni > Cr > Mn > Pb > Cd and Cd > Ni > Pb > Mn > Cr, respectively. The HRI values of heavy metals for both children and adults were <1, showing lack of potential health risk to the local inhabitants of the study area.

The Influence of Different Media on Rooting of Litchi Plant through Air Layering

The investigations were carried out in Jabban Dargai, Malakand Agency in collaboration with Department of Agriculture Extension during 2010. “An effect of different media on rooting of litchi plant through air layering” were studied & the data were collected on number of roots plant -1 , number of shoots plant -1 , number of leaves plant -1 , root weight plant -1 & percent plant survival. One-year-old erect, vigor & healthy pencil thickness branches of litchi were selected for practices of air layering using different media i.e. silt, (silt + sawdust), & sawdust in month of July. The maximum root weight plant -1 , shoot numbers plant -1 , roots numbers plant -1 , leaves number plant -1 & percent plant survival was noted in case of silt use as a medium and the minimum root weight plant -1 , shoot number plant -1 , root number plant -1 , leaves number plant -1 and percent plant survival was noted in case of sawdust using as a medium. Keywords: Different Media, Air Layering in Litchi, Silt

Toxoplasmosis; Seroprevalence, Comparative analysis of diagnostic techniques and identification of risk factors in humans in Malakand Agency, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and is a wide spread parasitic zoonoses affecting a broad range of mammals and birds. Members of family Felidae are specific hosts for T. gondii. Specific IgA, IgM, and then IgG antibodies appearance usually indicate the onset of an acute T. gondii infection. The aim of the study was to check the seroprevalence of T. gondii and related risk factors in Tehsil Batkhela, Malakand Agency, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A total of 420 females were screened during four months study. Sera were collected and examined by Immune Chromatographic Technique (ICT), Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Latex Agglutination Test (LAT) for detection of antibodies against T. gondii. The results were evaluated for occurrence rate; age wise occurrence, comparison of occurrence of T. gondii in pregnant and nonpregnant females, relation between animal contact and toxoplasmosis, T. gondii and abortion, comparison of ICT, ELISA and LAT. The overall occurrence rate was 65.71%, which was quite alarming. Middle age group (2130 years) females were highly affected (41.31%). Pregnant women had high infection level than non-pregnant. No any positive relation was found between the occurrence of toxoplasmosis and cats contact. Higher occurrence rate was found in aborted women. ELISA IgM method was found to be the most sensitive, reliable and accurate for the detection of T. gondii infection as compared to other methods. It may be recommended to study the same work on large population to identify further risk factors and to develop a molecular diagnostic assay for the accurate diagnosis of the infection.

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN RICKSHAW DRIVERS: Occupational Exposure to Environmental Stressor

Background: In urban environment, exposure to the emission of motor vehicles is common. In urban peoples it is a very difficult task to distinguish among peoples with different grades of momentous period exposure to such pollutants. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of diesel exhaust, gasoline emission, Particulate Matter (PM) noise and heat on the reproductive health of rickshaw drivers. Methods: Adult married male individuals were recruited randomly in the study from Btkhella, Malakand agency, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Two groups were made, control (n=45) and rickshaw drivers (n=50). A special questionnaire was designed about occupational activities, socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. From both groups 5 mL of the blood was collected and was analyze for serum total testosterone and cortisol using Biocheck (USA) and Antibodies-online GmbH (Germany) kits. Results: In control group the Mean±SEM of total serum testosterone was 657.6±16.84 ng/dl and cortisol was 443.8±14.67 mU/L. In rickshaw drivers the Mean±SEM of total serum testosterone was 577.1±11.42 ng/dl and cortisol was 595.1±8.879mU/L. In rickshaw drivers there was a significant reduction in total serum testosterone ( P 0.0002) but a significant increase in serum cortisol level ( P < 0.0001) at 95% confidence interval. Conclusions: Reproductive health problems like decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, absent morning and nocturnal erection, ejaculatory problems, primary infertility and secondary infertility were prevalent in rickshaw drivers but, no such problems were found in control group. Chronic exposure to pollutants such as diesel exhaust, gasoline emission, Particulate Matter (PM) noise and heat negatively regulate Hypothalmo-Pituitary Gonadal axis (HPG) leading to reproductive problems.

Beneficial Effects of Pentanema vestitum Linn. Whole Plant on the Glucose and Other Biochemical Parameters of Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rabbits

The residents of Lower Dir and Malakand agency, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, use the dry powder of whole plant of Pentanema vestitum for the treatment of asthma and diabetes. No documented reports are available about the therapeutic action of Pentanema vestitum. The present study was aimed to explore the antihyperglycemic effect of 70% methanol extract of Pentanema vestitum whole plant in glucose-induced nondiabetic hyperglycemic and alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits. During this study, the effects of plant extract on the serum lipid profile, GPT, ALP, bilirubin and creatinine of diabetic rabbits were also studied. The extract of Pentanema vestitum whole plant exhibited significant (P < 0.05) antihyperglycemic activity in glucose-induced hyperglycemic rabbits. Treatment of alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits with extract significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the elevated levels of serum glucose, GPT, ALP, bilirubin and creatinine. During the study of lipid profile, the extract proved to be antihyperlipidemic and HDL boosting in diabetic rabbit models. From the finding of the present research, it was concluded that the 70% methanol extract of Pentanema vestitum whole plant has beneficial effects on serum levels of glucose, lipid profile, GPT, ALP, bilirubin, and creatinine of diabetic rabbits.

Circulatory Land Tenure and Its Social and Ecological Impacts

This study explores the social and ecological impacts of circulatory land tenure in the villages of Allahdand and Dheri, situated near one another in the lower Swat valley (upper part of Malakand Agency). Apart from communal hill slopes, agricultural land is divided into 3 categories: damani (rainfed), jewardara (irrigated but with no rice), and shoulgarey (irrigated, mainly used for rice). The people permanently own the rainfed land, while the irrigated land is under a tenure system known as garzinda wesh (circulatory tenure), with 10 years' tenure rotation allotted through khasanray (drawing lot). This type of land tenure system also exists partially in other villages of Upper Malakand such as Jolagaram, Khar, and Totakan. This system was introduced in the 16th century with the idea of sharing all types of land—including irrigated land, fertile land, slope land, etc—in equal shares and with the aim of enabling the landowner tribe to respond collectively if some other tribe or majority tenants tried to seize any portion of land. Due to social conflicts, this system can have negative impacts today, especially in the form of soil erosion leading to land degradation. We highlight the positive and negative environmental impacts of the system. To this purpose, a detailed survey was conducted using focus group interviews, participatory rural appraisals, mapping, and transit walks with timelines. The results show how social response to the suitability of the system for livelihoods and social integrity can vary. The impact on fuelwood consumption is negative, leading to deforestation and lack of soil conservation. Abolishment of garzinda wesh in the village is recommended.

Enhancement of Agricultural Production Through Sustainable Agriculture and Poverty Allevition in Kot, Manazary Baba (Malakand Agency) Pakistan

Enhancement of Agricultural Production Through Sustainable Agriculture and Poverty Allevition in Kot, Manazary Baba (Malakand Agency) Pakistan

Viruses infecting winter tomato crops in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan

Malakand Agency is a unique production area in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan that is frost-free and in which tomato is grown as a winter crop. Tomato production in this area has been affected by virus-like diseases for the last 10 years. Tomato nurseries and fields at 11 locations in Malakand Agency were surveyed for tomato viruses during 1994–95. A total of 1071 samples from nurseries and 5083 samples from 142 fields were tested by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In nurseries, 3 viruses, Potato virus X (PVX), Potato virus Y (PVY), and Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), were detected with an incidence range of 9.8–22.3, 0–36.6, and 16.5–51.3%, respectively. In the field, 5 viruses [Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), PVX, PVY, ToMV, and Tomato yellow top virus (TYTV)] were frequently found with an incidence range of 0–13.3%, 2.6–16.7%, 0.4–13.8%, 26.1–41.3%, and 1.7–11.3%, respectively. All 5 viruses except TYTV were also detected from weed species in tomato fields or in the nearby vicinity. Of 12 commercial tomato varieties screened against CMV, PVX, PVY, and ToMV, 2 varieties (Florist and Forset) were resistant to 4 of the viruses including ToMV, for which the highest incidence was recorded in nurseries and field. These 2 varieties represent a previously undescribed and potentially useful source of resistance to the 4 inoculated viruses.

Biogeochemical and environmental study of the chromite-rich ultramafic terrain of Malakand area, Pakistan

The biogeochemical distribution of enzyme-bound metals in the plants and soil of the chromite-rich mineralized area of Malakand Agency and the non-mineralized area of Mardan (N.W.F.P., Pakistan) has been studied in regard to mineral prospecting and environmental pollution. Samples of lower plants accompanied with their associated soil samples were collected and analysed for copper, lead, zinc, nickel, chromium and cobalt. Considering the plant–soil chemical relationship, there is a weak correlation of Cu, Ni, Cr and Co relative to Pb and Zn. Among the five plant species, Verbascum thapsus has the greatest capability to accumulate Cr(VI) and Ni in its tissues by scavenging through the soil in which it is grown. This anomalous concentration of Cr and Ni in Verbascum thapsus can be used for mineral prospecting; however, it can be a major environmental threat with regard to the health of the inhabitants of the area.

Geochemical characterization of proterozoic upper crustal metamorphic terrain of southern Malakand Agency, Pakistan

Abstract Proterozoic crystalline schists that have extensive outcrops in the southern Malakand Agency and adjacent regions were sampled from localities west of Dargai town to include lithologically different samples. Their major and trace element chemistry and mineralogy indicate a sedimentary origin, protolith variations, and a passive continental margin tectonic setting. The REE contents indicate considerable mixing of various source lithologies during sedimentation. The samples have high TREE and LREE/HREE compared with the post-Archaean upper crustal values. The chemical data indicate their derivation from a typical granodioritic upper crust with a large component of K-rich granitic rocks.

Awaruite, iridian awaruite, and a new Ru-Os-Ir-Ni-Fe alloy from the Sakhakot-Qila complex, Malakand Agency, Pakistan

AbstractThe authors report the first occurrence of awaruite in Pakistan, in the Sakhakot-Qila ultramafites. Electron-microprobe analysis reveals a considerable variation in the compositions of awaruites from different parts of the complex. The presence of copper in awaruite, in amounts up to 5 atomic percent, is also reported for the first time. In one chromitite body, an iridian awaruite with up to 27 wt% of iridium occurs in association with ‘normal’ awaruite and a new Ru-Os-Ir-Ni-Fe alloy. The awaruites are discussed in relation to those from other localities.

Chromite from Sakhakot-Qila area, Malakand Agency, Pakistan

Chromite from Sakhakot-Qila area, Malakand Agency, Pakistan