LAHORE: Floodwater in the River Sutlej has destroyed major standing kharif crops, such as cotton, rice, maize and cattle fodder in the country’s most fertile and productive agricultural area.

This situation is also threatening to impact the sowing of Rabi crops, thereby adding to the risk of food insecurity.

Rabi sowing is set to begin in the next two months. If water levels remain high in the katcha area of the river, it will delay the planting of wheat and potato crops, adversely affecting their yields, according to a grower from the affected region.

Agricultural finance and agriculture-market systems are needed to support farmers and rural communities affected by water and climate change, says Aamer Bhandara.

He says that unpaid Kharif loans (both from Arthi and banks) will create difficulties in purchasing fertilizers and seeds, as well as operating tube-wells using diesel and electricity, negatively impacting agricultural growth.

He adds that poor control over fertilizer and seed prices is likely to reduce crop output in agriculture, as well as milk and meat production in the livestock sector.

With higher fuel prices, electricity and water bills, and seed prices for the next crops becoming unbearable for farmers across the country, it will exert pressure on the budgets of ordinary citizens.

This, in turn, will lead to an increase in food prices, affecting both the national economy and local food security levels.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2023