Muhammad Saleem

Changing rainfall patterns are causing a water crisis in the agriculture sector.

Dr. Iftikhar Ali of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, speaking with WealthPk, said that farmers are facing multiple problems due to climate change. He said droughts, particularly in the rain-fed areas, are wreaking havoc on their crops. He said that heavy rainfalls cause major flooding in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur and their neighboring areas along the eastern bank of the Indus River.

Excessive rainfalls in mountain regions create floods that damage rice crops, cotton fields, and other growing plants in the lowlands. He said unexpected rainfalls destroy crops like rice and dates across Sindh province. The floods that struck Pakistan approximately two years ago wrecked local agricultural yields which troubled farmers in affected areas, he added. He claimed that the occurrence of early monsoon rains also creates an unstable situation for farmers.

When this situation emerges, most farmers are knee-deep in sowing their crops. Resultantly, the germination process takes a hit, and plant growth suffers. Now the million-dollar question is how can farmers tackle these pressing issues to avoid losses and take the agriculture sector to the next level? He emphasized the importance of mitigating climate change. The situation demands active participation from policymakers to implement effective policies in the country.

He said, “we have to put the brakes on the usage of fossil fuels to curb rapid climate changes. We also need to embrace clean energy and sustainable agriculture so that we can reverse the negative impacts of climate change.” Dr. Ali suggested that farmers learn water management strategies by creating ponds to efficiently store rainwater. He said they need to use mulching techniques to reduce water loss.  For drought-hit areas, he advised farmers to diversify their crops rather than relying on a single variety.

They must ask the people at the helm to assist them in providing drought-resistant and flood-tolerant crop varieties. Crop diversification, he said, will be a safety net for farmers. If some crops do not perform well, others can survive and help farmers to minimize overall losses. Sajid Sandhu, an agriculturist, talking to WealthPk, said that farmers are at the mercy of the weather, as unexpected rain patterns are changing the agricultural landscape rapidly.

He said at a time the country receives rains due to early monsoon, while some areas receive showers long after the season has passed. Similarly, he said that dry spells leave farmers in a difficult situation. “Since October, we have not received rain, badly hitting the rain-fed areas.”  He said the condition has compromised the wheat crop. The rainfall patterns are unexpected, forcing agriculturalists and farmers to scratch heads for solutions.

He said that changing rainfall patterns are shifting the crop-growing zones. “Recently we have observed that the cotton cultivation areas have been turned upside down as farmers have replaced cotton with sugarcane,”  he said. Quoting an example, he said that rice is now being cultivated in Rahim Yar Khan, a district known for its cotton production.

“No one ever imagined rice would take cotton’s place in Rahim Yar Khan, but the tables have turned due to changing rainfall trends,” he remarked. He warned that this transformation will lead to an increase in unexpected pest attacks, ultimately compromising the production. “Our product quality is already poor, and this situation will result in a critical problem, as we lack effective methods to control such attacks.”

Credit: INP-WealthPk