Heavy rains and flooding are affecting fruit and vegetable production across Pakistan and India, raising concerns for both growers and markets.
In Multan, mango orchards have been under pressure from prolonged waterlogging. Mango trees take eight to ten years to mature, and their loss poses long-term risks for growers. "Mango is not just a crop; it is our livelihood," said Muhammad Arif, a grower from Nawabpur village. He estimated that losing 10 trees in previous floods cost him nearly US$1,080 annually, while the current damage could be worse. "Each tree produces fruit worth around US$144 a year. If thousands die, the blow will be unbearable," he added.
Agricultural experts note that mango roots require oxygen and are highly vulnerable to extended flooding. "Mango trees can withstand short-term stress, but long-term flooding is fatal. Growers should be extremely cautious at this stage," said Shahid Bhutta. The full scale of orchard losses will only be clear after the waters recede.
The damage extends to India, where vegetable supplies into Delhi have been disrupted. Azadpur Mandi recorded price increases of 11–34% between September 2 and 9 as crops in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh were damaged. CRISIL Intelligence reported that heavy August rains in Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana have affected cauliflower and onions. September rainfall remains critical for kharif vegetables such as paddy and onion, CRISIL noted.
Punjab's kinnow orchards in Fazilka district have also been impacted. Heavy rains raised the saline groundwater table from 6–7 feet to as little as 2 feet, submerging orchards in Abohar and Muktsar. "The groundwater in this region typically stays 8–10 feet underground, but the rains since August 1 have caused it to rise dangerously. The orchards are now submerged in saline water, which has been sitting there for over a month, creating a grave threat to our crops," said orchardist Arvind Setia.
The deputy director of the horticulture department, Kuldeep Singh, said about 1.35 lakh acres in Fazilka are dedicated to fruit cultivation, particularly kinnow. "Abohar and Balluana blocks, which have around 35,000 hectares of kinnow orchards, are still submerged. It's difficult to assess the damage at this point," he noted. Punjab normally produces about 1.2 million tons of kinnow annually.
Farmers report difficulties conducting pest control due to waterlogged soil. "We rely on tractors to spray pesticides and fertilizers, but with the soil so waterlogged, it's extremely difficult to manoeuvre the machinery. If we miss our scheduled pest management treatments, it could severely impact the quality of the kinnow fruit ahead of harvest season in October," said grower Parth Dawra.
Source 1: Hindustan Times
Source 2: Business Standard
Source 3: Geo News