The warning signs are all too real. In Rahim Yar Khan — one of Pakistan’s most prominent mango-producing regions — crop yields are plummeting, a direct result of erratic weather patterns driven by climate change and persistent water shortages.
What was once a symbol of national pride and a key export commodity is now becoming another victim of environmental mismanagement.
This isn’t a distant concern — it’s an immediate crisis. The outdated notion that climate change is a problem for the future no longer holds. For Pakistan, where the economy is deeply rooted in agriculture, the consequences are especially severe.
Declining crop yields threaten not only food security but also livelihoods, trade, and overall economic stability.
What’s most concerning is that the very warnings issued by scientists and policymakers for years are now coming true — yet the response remains alarmingly sluggish.
Where policies do exist, they’re often mired in bureaucratic inertia or poorly executed. In the meantime, farmers face painful choices: watch their orchards wither or shift to less water-intensive, but lower-value, crops.
This should be a wake-up call — not only for the environmental ministries but for the entire political leadership. Building climate resilience must be central to all agricultural and economic planning — not an afterthought.
Pakistan cannot afford to lose both its agricultural output and the legacy attached to it.
Climate mitigation must move beyond talk and presentations, taking root instead in policies that reach the ground — into fields, farms, and financial systems — before our once-thriving orchard regions turn into barren wastelands of lost opportunity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Concepts
What is climate-induced yield loss?
Climate-induced yield loss refers to the reduction in agricultural output due to unpredictable weather events such as heatwaves, untimely rains, droughts, or floods. In Pakistan’s 2025 scenario, mango-producing districts like Rahim Yar Khan are experiencing sharp yield drops because of such irregular weather, making climate resilience an urgent issue for policymakers.
How is water scarcity affecting agriculture in Pakistan in 2025?
Water scarcity — caused by reduced river flows, over-extraction of groundwater, and lack of modern irrigation — is a leading challenge for Pakistani farmers. In 2025, areas like South Punjab are seeing decreased crop productivity, forcing many to abandon traditional fruit orchards in favor of less water-dependent crops, with economic and social consequences.
What is Pakistan’s Clean and Green Initiative?
The Clean and Green Pakistan Initiative is a federal program aimed at promoting environmental sustainability through tree planting, waste management, and clean water access. In 2025, it has expanded to include climate-resilient agriculture and afforestation near farmland, but critics argue implementation is too slow to meet urgent challenges.
What are the new taxes on agriculture in 2025?
The 2025 budget proposed taxing high-income agricultural landowners, sparking debate among political and farming communities. While the goal is to bring equity to Pakistan’s tax system, small farmers fear that poorly structured policies could increase their financial burden without improving infrastructure or water access.
What is the role of the Ministry of Climate Change in 2025?
Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change is tasked with implementing adaptation strategies, securing climate finance, and coordinating environmental policy across provinces. However, in 2025, many criticize the ministry for slow responses to real-time climate crises like crop failures and heatwaves affecting agriculture and food security.
What is agricultural switching and why is it happening in 2025?
Agricultural switching refers to farmers shifting from traditional crops (like mangoes) to alternatives that are less water-intensive or more climate-resilient. In 2025, many farmers in South Punjab are forced to switch due to poor yields and insufficient support, raising alarms about long-term impacts on exports and rural incomes.
What is climate adaptation funding and is Pakistan getting it in 2025?
Climate adaptation funding helps countries build resilience to climate change through infrastructure, research, and capacity-building. Pakistan is actively seeking such funds from global institutions in 2025, but slow bureaucratic processes and lack of project readiness often prevent timely disbursement, delaying on-ground solutions.
Why is Rahim Yar Khan important to Pakistan’s agriculture?
Rahim Yar Khan is one of Pakistan’s most vital mango-producing districts and plays a key role in the country’s fruit exports. In 2025, its declining mango yield has become symbolic of the broader climate crisis, with national implications for food security, trade, and rural employment.
