Punjab’s fertile fields ravaged by floods

Punjab’s fertile farmlands, once abundant with the golden fragrance of ripe crops, now present a scene of devastation after the recent floods.

According to the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), over 1.441 million acres of agricultural land across 27 districts of the province have been affected. Major losses have been reported in Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Layyah, Bahawalpur, Chiniot, Kasur, Okara, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, and Narowal, where crops such as rice, cotton, sugarcane, and vegetables have been completely destroyed.

Experts claim that the floods have washed away the top fertile layer of soil, damaging its structure, nutrients, and salinity balance. Former Director General of Agriculture Punjab, Dr Anjum Ali Butter, explained that floodwater deposits salts in the soil, which hinder root growth. “The use of organic fertilizers and the cultivation of leguminous crops is now required to restore soil fertility,” urged Dr Butter.

Progressive farmer Aamir Hayat Bhandara revealed that previously one bag of DAP fertilizer was enough for a crop, but now three or four might be needed, significantly increasing production costs. “The government must conduct soil testing at the meso level to design area-specific recovery strategies,” suggested Bhandara.

In several flood-hit regions, thick layers of mud and sand have settled over the land. Farmers complain that removing these deposits is expensive and technically challenging. One such farmer, Rana Mubashir Hassan, estimated that restoring a single acre could cost between Rs50,000 to Rs100,000, an amount unaffordable for small farmers.

In Sharaqpur, another farmer, Chaudhry Muhammad Yaqoob’s 15-acre guava orchard was completely destroyed. “I had invested around Rs1.5 million and I now face a loss of Rs3.5 to Rs4 million,” lamented Yaqoob. Similarly, a Kasur-based farmer Mehr Javed reported that low-lying areas were still waterlogged, delaying sowing for the Rabi season vegetables.

According to an initial report by the Crop Reporting Service, out of Punjab’s 115,000 acres of land cultivating vegetables, 51,000 acres have been damaged, with Lahore, Sahiwal, and Faisalabad divisions being the worst affected. The vegetable-supplying districts of Kasur and Sheikhupura, which cater to Lahore, have also suffered extensive losses. Several villages along the River Ravi in Sharaqpur remain inundated.

In southern Punjab, mango orchards, and in Lahore division, guava farms, were hit particularly hard. A total of 71,467 acres of orchards has been affected across Punjab, including 64,480 acres of mango trees. In Multan division alone, 38,355 acres of mango plantations went underwater.

According to Dr Butter, stagnant water accelerates the spread of fungus and bacteria that damage tree roots, requiring five to eight years for complete recovery.

Agricultural experts estimate that full soil rehabilitation could take two to three years. Many even suggest the use of gypsum, potassium, and sulfate fertilizers, along with green manure crops like mung beans or berseem, to help restore fertility.

Farmers, however, opine that the government’s financial assistance is inadequate. Rana Mubashir Hassan pointed out that the announced Rs20,000 per acre aid was insufficient and could not even cover the cost of cleaning the land, let alone replanting.

On the other hand, experts attribute the devastation to climate change and poor water management. This year’s rainfall intensity was 50 per cent higher than normal, and weaknesses in the canal system, coupled with the sudden release of water from upstream dams, worsened the situation.

According to a United Nations report, around 2.2 million hectares of land in Pakistan remains submerged, posing a serious threat to future food security.