Pakistani mango production declined by nearly 60 percent in the current season due to climate instability and lack of resources, including the closure of water canals, electricity load shedding, and diesel shortage, at a very critical time for the harvest.
Extreme Temperature Variation Harmed Pakistani Mango Production
Extreme temperature variation from March 11 to March 17 from 37 degrees centigrade to 42 degrees centigrade, contrary to 34 degrees centigrade routine temperature in previous years, affected the Pakistani mango production to a greater extent, stated the Director of the Mango Research Institute (MRI), Abdul Ghaffar Garewal, in Multan on Sunday.
Likewise, the temperature in April also remained high compared to the ones in previous years, and it also worsened problems for the farmers. Abdul Ghaffar stated that the Pakistani mango production was affected by nearly 60 percent as the flowering stage could not bear the harshness of the weather. Besides climate changes, some other factors also damaged mango production.
Lack of Resources is Also the Cause for Not Being Able to Irrigate Orchards
He further stated that farmers could not irrigate mango orchards at the time of fruiting due to a lack of resources which included a shortage of canal water, electricity load shedding, and diesel shortage. The farmers could not operate their tube wells due to power outages. Shahid Hameed Bhutta, a farmer, also voiced his concern over the low production of Pakistani mangoes. He said that climate change was one of the important factors. For other reasons, he added that political instability during March-April, and “poor performance of the bureaucracy” also damaged the mango crop.
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