Climate Change Threatens Plum Production In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

(MENAFN- Tribal News Network) The Baghbanan area, situated 24 km from Peshawar, is renowned for its plum plantations. However, in recent years, production has significantly declined due to climate change. Once known for their sweetness, second only to Swat, these plums have been severely affected by hailstorms, strong winds, and excessive rainfall, leading to a consistent drop in yield.

Historically, Peshawar's plums were not only distributed to other provinces but were also exported to Afghanistan and Arab countries. Unfortunately, climate change has drastically impacted their production, limiting their reach.

Imranullah, a gardener from Tellaband who has been cultivating plums for thirteen years, explained that plums generally ripen by the end of May, with most orchards reaching full ripeness in June. From February, the orchards are irrigated, and in March, urea is applied around each plum tree. This watering continues until June, when it is then stopped.

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Despite these efforts, Imranullah reported a slight decrease in plum production this year compared to the previous two or three years. His orchard produced between fifteen hundred and eighteen hundred cartons of plums, down from previous years. While rainfall is beneficial for plum trees, excessive rain can cause the fruits to absorb too much water and burst, leading to spoilage.

Strong winds also pose a significant threat, causing ripe fruits to fall and be destroyed. May and June are particularly perilous months for plum orchards due to the prevalence of strong winds and hailstorms, coinciding with the ripening period.

Traders who invest heavily in these orchards face substantial losses when adverse weather strikes. Hail, strong winds, excessive rain, or high temperatures during these critical months can result in financial losses amounting to lakhs of rupees.

Additionally, a particular type of mosquito, though invisible to the naked eye, bites the plums, causing abscesses. Despite initial spraying to combat these pests, some mosquitoes and other insects still manage to damage the plums.

Water scarcity in the orchards further exacerbates the problem, affecting plum production. Polluted canal water used for irrigation leads to some trees drying out and becoming unproductive. Previously, apricot orchards thrived in the area, but due to inadequate water and climate change, they have vanished, and plum plantations are now similarly affected.

Imranullah suggests that the agriculture department should study the soil of the area to determine the most suitable fruits for cultivation.

The impact of climate change on agriculture in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is evident. According to a report by the Agricultural Statistics Institute of the province, the production of various fruits, including plums, has declined over the past four years. In 2018, 25,176 tons of plums were produced, which decreased to 23,300 tons by 2023. Apricots, peaches, and grapes have also seen a decline in production.

The Crop Reporting Service noted that 2023 was the hottest year in the province following the 2022 floods, negatively impacting agriculture. The year 2024 is also projected to be one of the hottest, with severe weather events not only damaging crops but also increasing the prevalence of harmful insects, leading to more crop diseases.

A 2024 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations highlights the serious risk climate change poses to food and agriculture. The FAO emphasizes that heat stress reduces fruit yield and quality, underscoring the need for intensified efforts to mitigate these effects.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is one of the most affected provinces in Pakistan due to climate change. Over the past three years, extreme weather events have led to a yearly decrease in crop production, threatening food security. More than 300,000 hectares of agricultural land have become uncultivable in the last decade due to population growth and climate change, according to the province's Crop Reporting Services.

International organizations, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), warn that South Asia, particularly Pakistan, will experience greater impacts of climate change, such as prolonged heatwaves and increased rainfall.

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