South Punjab, famously known as the land of mangoes, is facing massive destruction as recent floods wiped out vast mango orchards across the region. Farmers and experts warn that the losses could take more than a decade to recover.
Thousands of acres of popular mango varieties, including Chaunsa, Sindhri, and Anwar Ratol, have been destroyed. Many of these mango orchards were between 10 and 15 years old, representing years of hard work and investment. The floods have not only damaged the trees but also ruined the soil and irrigation systems, making replanting difficult.
While the government has launched surveys to record agricultural losses, local farmers complain that mango orchards are being ignored. They say only field crops are being assessed, leaving orchard owners uncertain about compensation.
Muhammad Ajmal, a farmer from Multan, said he was heartbroken after cutting down his 22-acre orchard destroyed by the floods. “We have lost 15 years of effort in one season,” he said. “The government must include orchard losses in the official record.”
Another gardener said that nearly 90% of his mango trees had died, while the rest were unlikely to survive. He added that government teams were documenting wheat and cotton but not fruit trees.
Farmer representatives have also voiced their frustration. Pakistan Kisan Ittehad chairman Chaudhry Haseeb Anwar called the exclusion of orchard data “a grave injustice.” He urged authorities to recognize the damage and compensate affected growers.
Agricultural experts warn that the effects will be long-term, as mango trees need six to seven years to bear fruit. This could lead to reduced domestic supply and hurt Pakistan’s mango exports, which are a major source of foreign income.
In response, City Assistant Commissioner Abdul Sami Sheikh said a detailed assessment of all orchards is underway. “We are collecting data on damaged mango plants, both large and small,” he stated. However, he admitted that the recovery of mature orchards could take up to 15 years.
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