Rahim Yar Khan, once a key agricultural district of the country in terms of cotton production, is now witnessing profound adverse impacts on land, water, and crops due to the proliferation of approximately 9 sugar mills and the expansion of sugarcane cultivation.
Hazardous effluents discharged from sugar mills, particularly high levels of biological and total chemical contamination, dissolved salts and minerals, suspended solids, and heavy metals such as chromium, copper, and arsenic are steadily degrading soil fertility.
This has led to increased soil compaction and structural deterioration, resulting in a persistent decline in productivity. The absorption of these effluents has elevated soil electrical conductivity to toxic levels for plant roots, thereby posing serious threats to the long-term health of agricultural land.
The continuous monoculture of sugarcane in the district has rapidly depleted essential soil nutrients, particularly nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other micronutrients, weakening the natural fertility of the soil. To compensate for this depletion, increased use of fertilizers has raised production costs, while biological activity in the soil, especially the population of beneficial microorganisms, has declined.
Excessive irrigation and the extensive use of tube wells associated with sugar mills have adversely affected the physical structure of the soil, weakening drainage systems and rendering large areas hard and unproductive due to persistent moisture. Furthermore, the continuous cultivation of sugarcane has increased local humidity levels, placing cotton crops under greater pest pressure and making the regional climate less conducive for cotton cultivation.
Groundwater resources are also under severe stress. In Punjab, groundwater levels are declining at an average rate of 1 to 2 meters annually, with an even sharper decline in districts like Rahim Yar Khan driven by sugarcane cultivation. As a water-intensive crop, sugarcane requires approximately 3 to 3.5 times more water than cotton, accelerating the depletion of underground water reserves.
Consequently, the depth of tube wells, which previously ranged between 100 and 150 feet, has now increased to 300 to 400 feet. Moreover, harmful elements present in sugar mill effluents such as arsenic, fluoride, nitrates, and sulphates are infiltrating groundwater, deteriorating its quality and rendering it unsafe for both drinking and agricultural use.
The sharp decline in cotton cultivation is a clear manifestation of this imbalance. Historically, cotton was cultivated on approximately 800,000 acres in Rahim Yar Khan, which has now shrunk to around 300,000 acres, indicating that nearly 500,000 acres of land have been diverted primarily to sugarcane and other crops.
This shift has not only disrupted the agricultural balance but has also adversely affected both the yield and quality of cotton. At the national level, a similar trend is evident, with cotton production declining from approximately 15 million bales in 2014-15 to around 5.5 to 6 million bales in 2025-26. This decline is directly impacting the textile industry and increasing reliance on imports.
Freshwater and surface water resources are also being significantly affected. Sugar mills consume large volumes of water, and the discharge of untreated effluents into canals and watercourses is degrading water quality. This pollution is adversely affecting aquatic life, leading to increased fish mortality, and is also posing serious health risks to livestock and human populations.
In certain areas, the concentration of fluoride and nitrates in drinking water has exceeded safe limits, posing severe health hazards. Contaminated water is further contributing to soil salinity and waterlogging, rendering thousands of acres of land unproductive and leading to a continuous decline in agricultural capacity.
Under these circumstances, it is evident that without the protection of fundamental resources such as land, water, and cotton, the unbalanced expansion of sugar mills and sugarcane cultivation in Rahim Yar Khan is fostering an unsustainable agricultural model.
If this trend continues, the revival of cotton will become increasingly difficult, while groundwater depletion, declining soil fertility, and the economic distress of farmers may escalate into a major agricultural and social crisis, with far-reaching implications for the entire South Punjab region and the national economy.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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