How Climate Change Is Affecting Farmers in Pakistan
For many years, we have heard that Pakistan is an agricultural country. Agriculture, along with the people associated with it, forms the backbone of our economy. It contributes a significant portion to GDP and exports, with crops like cotton, rice, oranges, and mangoes playing a major role.
This strength was largely due to the fertile land and favorable climate that Pakistan was blessed with. However, in recent years, climate change has started to disrupt this balance. Production levels have declined, crop quality has suffered, and exports are no longer as strong as they once were.
Pakistan is now ranked among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, floods, and droughts are becoming more frequent, creating serious risks for the country’s economic stability.
I am a mid-level agriculturist myself, and I have personally experienced these challenges. During the 2024–25 season, while some parts of Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan were facing floods, our region in KPK was dealing with drought. This was the time when rice nurseries were supposed to flourish. Unfortunately, due to water shortages, most of the crop failed.
In normal conditions, we produce around 3,000 to 4,000 maunds of rice. That year, production dropped drastically to only 1,000 to 1,200 maunds. This was not just a loss of crop, but a major financial setback.
Wheat farming has also been affected. Over the past few years, we have noticed a shift in seasons. Pre-monsoon rains now often begin during the harvesting period, which either damages the grain quality or delays harvesting. Additionally, during February and March — the critical growth period for wheat — temperatures have been rising during the day, which negatively impacts both yield and quality.
To compensate, farmers are forced to use more fertilizers. However, fertilizer prices have increased significantly, making it difficult for small farmers to afford inputs like DAP. This has increased the cost of production and reduced overall profitability.
In April 2026, heavy rains and strong winds in Punjab and KPK caused ready-to-harvest wheat crops to fall to the ground. This not only delayed harvesting but also damaged the crop, leading to further losses.
Cotton, once considered the backbone of Pakistan’s exports, is also in decline. Climate challenges, combined with lack of investment, have pushed this important crop into serious trouble.
Vegetable farming has not been spared either. Many farmers grow vegetables using vertical structures, but unexpected strong winds often destroy these setups, causing repeated losses.
There have been some positive efforts in the past. The Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Program was a major step toward addressing climate change. It received international recognition from organizations like the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Economic Forum.
However, in recent years, the momentum of such initiatives seems to have slowed. Even at a personal level, when we tried to seek support for plantation on our land, we were unable to receive assistance and had to manage it ourselves.
Farmers are often the first to feel the impact of climate change because they deal with nature every day. As a result, many are now shifting from traditional crops to more resilient ones. For example, some farmers are moving from wheat to canola because it requires less water, less fertilizer, and can better withstand changing weather conditions, while also offering better prices.
The situation is serious. Climate change is no longer a distant threat — it is already affecting our farms, our economy, and our future. If timely action is not taken at individual, national, and global levels, the consequences could be severe.
However, there is still hope. With better planning, awareness, and support for farmers, Pakistan can adapt to these changes and protect its agricultural future.
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