Drought-like conditions

As if inflation and other external factors were not taking enough toll on people’s ability to pay for food, we are now worsening drought conditions in several parts of the country. While Punjab appears to be less affected, the other three provinces are bearing a huge brunt of the reduced water supply either due to drought or below-average rainfall. The problems have been persisting for at least one year, as the Global Report on Food Crises has noted that 87% of livestock holders in Balochistan and 60% in Sindh reported livestock production difficulties last year because of reduced access to pasture and water, difficulty purchasing feed due to high prices, and limited access to veterinary services. Unsurprisingly, crop and livestock production fell significantly in both provinces. Many farmers don’t even have access to enough water to drink and rely on water tankers for their household needs.

Apart from the impact on the farming community, the drought is also taking its toll on agricultural output and associated industries, including the all-important textile sector — cotton is among the major crops affected by the ongoing water shortages, and Sindh alone is expected to see cotton yields drop by at least 20%. While admitting that weather is the most significant contributor, Sindh government officials have also been blaming the previous government — development work on Tarbela Dam was initiated in February, meaning it could not be used to supply water to Sindh in the early sowing season. Now, even though the work is done and efforts to fill the dam are under way, there is just not enough inflow to do it quickly. But farmers themselves also have to shoulder some of the blame. Rice — one of the most water-intensive crops — continues to be grown, despite appeals from the government.

While the primary focus should be on sorting out the situation today, we need serious agriculture policy reforms to ensure we are planting suitable crops, given our dwindling water resources.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2022.

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