The Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association (PFVA) estimates losses of between US$100–150 million in fruit and vegetable exports following recent floods, with recovery of damaged fields expected to take time. PFVA Patron-in-Chief Waheed Ahmed said exports stood at US$750 million last year.
He urged the government to declare the floods a national emergency, warning that the destruction of orchards and fields threatens rural livelihoods and food security. "Each year of inaction means fields will go barren and orchards will be destroyed, pushing farmers into great distress. What is needed today is decisive action because this is far beyond an ordinary calamity. It is a climate crisis that demands immediate and sweeping action," he said.
Waheed stressed that the damage extends beyond one harvest. "The devastation cannot be measured by the loss of one season's harvest because it takes years to establish orchards, and when they are wiped out, farmers are forced to start from nothing. The state must step in with direct financial relief to help families survive the present emergency; otherwise, rural communities will face not just food shortages but the danger of economic ruin," he added.
He proposed zero-interest credit, expanded grants to support orchard replanting, and community-led watershed programmes for soil protection, reforestation, and drainage improvements. He cited India's crop insurance, satellite-based flood defences, and cash support schemes as examples Pakistan should consider.
Losses already amount to billions of dollars, raising concerns for broader food security. Waheed warned that production and exports of kinnow could be affected as stagnant floodwaters increase the risk of crop disease. He also noted price increases in imported commodities such as ginger and garlic, which are unrelated to floods, and urged authorities to prevent unjustified price hikes.
Infrastructure upgrades were highlighted as an urgent priority. Waheed said, "Headworks and dams have been identified for years as vital safeguards, yet they remain unrealised while recurring monsoon floods wreak havoc." He called for immediate action to advance these projects, adding that delays result in losses of harvests and economic damage.
He also emphasised the need for climate-resilient farming. "Perennial orchards, especially mango, withstand harsh weather more effectively than short-duration crops. Providing incentives for orchard farming can help secure farmers' livelihoods while ensuring long-term food security," he said.
Source: Independent News Pakistan