South Punjab, known as the land of mangoes, has suffered catastrophic damage to its world-famous mango orchards following recent floods.
The floods have wiped out thousands of acres of Chaunsa, Sindhri, and Anwar Ratol varieties, some of which were between 10 to 15 years old, leaving both farmers and agricultural experts deeply concerned.
While the government has initiated surveys to assess agricultural losses, gardeners complain that mango orchards are being neglected in the process. Many say the damage to orchards is not being properly recorded, which could further delay compensation and recovery.
Farmers struggle as orchards turn to ruins
Local farmer Muhammad Ajmal from Multan shared his heartbreak as he was forced to cut down his own dried mango trees after the floods destroyed his 22-acre orchard.
“The flood has wreaked havoc on my orchard. We’ve lost 15 years of effort in one season,” Ajmal said with grief. “We are worried that the government teams are not including mango orchards in the survey.”
Another gardener lamented that 90% of his mango trees have been destroyed, while the remaining 10% are barely surviving. “Government teams are coming, but they are recording only crops, not mango plants,” he said.
Farmers’ leaders condemn neglect in survey
Chaudhry Haseeb Anwar, the chairman of the Pakistan Kisan Ittehad, called the exclusion of mango orchard losses from the official survey an act of grave injustice.
“It is the worst injustice to mango farmers that their losses are not being recorded. Instead of repairing their damage, the government is ignoring them — creating a situation of extreme uncertainty,” he said.
Experts warn that the impact will be long-lasting, as mango trees take six to seven years to bear fruit. The loss of mature trees will not only affect domestic supply but also hurt mango exports, one of Pakistan’s key agricultural exports.
Govt responds with orchard assessment
Responding to farmers’ concerns, City Assistant Commissioner Abdul Sami Sheikh stated that a comprehensive orchard survey is underway to assess the extent of the damage.
“We are examining how many mango plants have been damaged, including small and large trees, and collecting all data simultaneously,” he said.
However, Sheikh acknowledged that the loss of mango trees is irreparable, adding that it will take 10 to 15 years to recover the lost productivity and restore orchard health.
