The recent floods in Pakistan have had serious and extraordinary repercussions on the agricultural sector, severely disrupting food production and dealing a heavy blow to the livelihoods of farmers.
According to a report presented by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R) before the Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research, nearly 2.5 million acres of crops were destroyed, representing about 7.7 percent of the total cultivated area. The report was presented during a committee meeting chaired by Senator Masroor Ahsan on Thursday, outlining crop losses across various provinces.
Punjab suffered the heaviest losses with 162,000 acres of cotton, 274,000 acres of sugarcane, 998,000 acres of rice, 101,000 acres of sesame, 583,000 acres of fodder, and 500 acres of vegetables damaged. Additionally, maize losses amounted to 71,000 acres with over 242 acres recorded as severely affected.
Sindh also witnessed significant damage with 57,552 acres of cotton, 36,398 acres of date palms, 5,378 acres of onions, and 221 acres of chili crops impacted. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, alongside cotton losses on 4,233 acres, floods affected 27,446 acres of maize, 1,480 acres of vegetables, and 1,540 acres of orchards.
According to Arc GIS Story Maps, nearly 1.6 million hectares of agricultural land across different provinces, particularly Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan, remained submerged, devastating crops and pushing farmers into financial hardship.
The worst-hit crops were rice, cotton, vegetables, seasonal fruits and sugarcane in Sindh; rice, cotton, maize, vegetables and sugarcane in Punjab; and vegetables, maize, sunflower and some sugarcane fields in Balochistan.
The average water depth in fields ranged between 1.5 to 3 meters and the total agricultural damage was estimated at nearly USD 2.1 billion. Prolonged waterlogging and declining soil fertility are expected to delay the next sowing season, posing a threat to national food supply chains.
The floods not only destroyed standing crops but also cast serious risks over the upcoming wheat and Rabi crops. Agricultural experts caution that if land is not drained in time and seeds, fertilizers and farming implements are not provided, Pakistan’s wheat production in 2026 could decline by at least 15 to 20 percent.
Millions of farmers are burdened with debt as livestock, agricultural machinery and stored grains were also lost to the floods, further exacerbating food insecurity.
Beyond immediate agricultural losses, the floods also disrupted rural infrastructure including irrigation channels, farm-to-market roads and storage facilities. These damages are expected to increase post-harvest losses once new crops are sown. Analysts estimate that disruptions in supply chains for rice, cotton and vegetables could temporarily raise food prices by 12 to 18 percent in urban centers.
Rural labourers, many of whom depend on seasonal harvests for income, are among the hardest hit, with their employment opportunities shrinking sharply. International financial institutions have highlighted that the recovery of Pakistan’s agriculture will play a central role in stabilizing the overall economy, as the sector contributes nearly 20 percent to GDP and employs over 37 percent of the labour force.
In response, both the government and international organizations have launched emergency relief measures. Provincial administrations, particularly in Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan, are deploying machinery and rescue teams to drain fields, offering financial support to affected farmers, and providing seeds, fertilizers and farming tools to enable re-sowing. International agencies including various UN bodies, the World Food Programme (WFP) and relief organizations are also actively contributing to recovery efforts.
In the long term, this disaster underscores the urgent need to integrate climate change considerations into Pakistan’s agricultural policies. Improved drainage systems, climate-resilient seed development and the adoption of modern farming technologies are vital to safeguard farmers against such crises. Without these measures, the country’s food self-sufficiency could be at risk.
In conclusion, the recent floods have inflicted devastating losses on Pakistan’s farmland and crops, particularly rice, cotton, maize, vegetables, seasonal fruits and sugarcane.
Immediate relief, restoration of agricultural land and forward-looking strategies to manage future disasters are essential to stabilize food supply and protect the agricultural economy.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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