LAHORE, Aug 24: According to the estimates of preliminary flood damage to agriculture, Punjab maintains that standing crops on around 1.72 million acres have been damaged up to Aug 19.

According to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture sources, Punjab reported losses in 22 of its 37 districts, with Muzaffargarh being worst hit at around 400,000 acres followed by Rajanpur with 350,000 acres. The districts of Jhang and Layyah followed with 180,000 and 150,000 acres, respectively. DG Khan also suffered losses at around 150,000 acres, Sargodha just over 100,000 acres and Bhakkar just under 100,000 acres.

According to statistics provided by the agriculture department to the federal ministry, some 323 villages were hit in Muzaffargarh district, 322 in Jhang, 237 in DG Khan, 154 in Mianwali, 142 in Sargodha and 168 in Rajanpur.

As far as crop-wise damages are concerned, cotton took the biggest hit with 860,356 acres submerging by varying degrees of water. Fodder on 265,000 acres was the second bigger loser, sugarcane third with 220,000 acres and rice fourth with 170,000 acres. Moong was the fifth biggest crop hit by floods with 130,000 acres, mainly in Mianwali and Bhakkar districts.

Vegetables and mango losses have also been reported at 23,189 acres and 3,981 acres respectively, and so was citrus at 11,312 acres – mainly in Sargodha and Muzaffargarh districts.

Other crops like mash and maize also suffered damage, but they were largely overshadowed by other huge losses. According to ministry officials, these are initial estimates, which would go up in coming weeks, and they would multiply when the provinces are able to calculate loss of farm machinery and livestock. These statistics could best be described as “guesstimates” but they do reflect the magnitude of the “unfolding tragedy.”

The biggest worries these losses to major crops have evoked are about fodder and cotton targets, says an official of the ministry. Given the fact that over 30 per cent of livestock farmers already do not have access to fodder, these losses would make animals the most threatened species in post-flood scenario. “It will directly and hugely contribute to poverty in rural areas, where livestock is often the only factor standing between wretched poverty and farmers,” he said.

“With cotton losses standing close to 900,000 acres, there is a likelihood of provincial target being missed by 1.5 million bales,” says an official of the provincial agriculture department. These are Punjab’s preliminary statistics, such estimates from Sindh are still to follow that could cause loss of another million bales, or so – making it the biggest loss as far major crops are concerned. This would leave the country importing over four million bales and p ush domestic prices up, hitting over 60 per cent exports and economy of the country.

The spillover effect might make kinno export target hard to achieve this year and mango export next year, he said. Orchards of both fruits have taken a great hit, especially of mango where eight to 10 feet water hit trees and is standing there for the last few weeks. “Both these fruits are not six monthly crops but result of 15 to 20 years of labour, which is under great threat,” he said.