akistan’s economy depends on agriculture; it is important for food security, employment, growth and poverty reduction. It is the largest source of export revenue, contributing 23 percent to the nation’s GDP. Over 40 percent of Pakistan’s labour force, including a majority of working women, works in agriculture. More than 63 percent of the population lives in rural areas and relies heavily on agriculture. More than half of agriculture’s GDP comes from livestock (roughly 12 percent of the country’s GDP). Additionally, it offers many rural households with income security, particularly those with weak land rights.

A country once known for its agricultural productivity and vast cultivable land, has recently been facing the threat of natural disasters. From floods, earthquakes to droughts, the agriculture sector of Pakistan has been severely impacted by these calamities, which have caused colossal damages to crops, livestock, infrastructure and the lives of the farmers. Pakistan is one of the 10 countries most affected by climate change and natural disasters worldwide. Climate change is a risk multiplier that could have extremely bad consequences and cascade effects. Climate change and disaster events, such as heatwaves, floods, droughts and earthquakes, have already had an impact on agriculture. According to the World Bank’s Country Climate and Development Report, climate-related disasters over the past three decades have resulted in a number of fatalities and socioeconomic losses. Climate- and weather-related catastrophes in Pakistan caused $29.3 billion economic losses through damage to property, crops, and livestock between 1992 and 2021, which is equivalent to 11.1 percent of the 2020 GDP.

The devastating disasters of 2022 brought to light the significant climate vulnerability of the food system. The unprecedented monsoon rains in 2022, the heaviest and most concentrated ever recorded, resulted in the worst floods the country has ever witnessed. A third of Pakistan was under water as a result, affecting 33 million people. The country had the wettest August in 2022 since 1961. It is noteworthy that nationwide rainfall from June to August that year was about 200 percent higher than the 30-year average. According to the Pakistan Floods 2022 Post Disaster Needs Assessment, developed by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, the overall damage is estimated at Rs 3.2 trillion; total loss at Rs 3.3 trillion; and needs at Rs 3.5 trillion. A total of Rs 996 billion has been lost in agriculture, food, livestock and fisheries; water, resources and irrigation; business and industry; finance and markets; and tourism. 4,410 million acres agricultural land has been harmed. According to estimates, 0.8 million cattle died. Sindh accounted for 72 percent of the damage in the agriculture, food, livestock and fisheries sectors.

Another devastating disaster that struck Pakistan was the 2010 floods, which lasted for about three months, and affected around 20 million people across the country. The floods destroyed more than 1.7 million hectares of crops, displaced millions of people and killed many livestock. The disaster caused a loss of approximately $10 billion to the Pakistani economy and left thousands of farmers and their families devastated. The 2005 earthquake resulted in the death of thousands of people, and severely impacted the agricultural sector. The earthquake destroyed the irrigation systems, infrastructure and rendered the fields uncultivable. The earthquake caused a loss of approximately $5 billion to the economy and the agriculture sector endured a loss of $500 million.

Similarly, droughts have been disastrous for farmers, especially in Sindh and Balochistan. From crop failure to water scarcity, the droughts have caused significant damage to agricultural production and led to the migration of farmers to urban areas.

The impacts of natural disasters on the agriculture sector of Pakistan have been significant and far-reaching. It not only affects the food security and the livelihoods of the farmers but also jeopardises the country’s economy. The lessons learnt from these disasters can be a critical step towards building a more resilient agriculture sector in Pakistan. One of the essential lessons learnt is that the disaster management system needs to be strengthened at all levels. Effective strategies and policies need to be developed to address the vulnerabilities of the agriculture sector concerning the natural disasters, including early-warning systems, contingency plans and risk financing mechanisms. Another critical aspect is crop diversification, efficient water management and agriculture practices that are resilient and adaptable to the changing climatic conditions. Investing in infrastructure development, especially in flood-prone areas, is essential to mitigate the damage caused by natural disasters.

The impacts of natural disasters on the agriculture sector of Pakistan have been devastating. The lessons learned are critical in building a resilient and sustainable agriculture industry.

The writer is a communications specialist and a freelance writer. He is based in Rawalpindi. He can be reached at qureshiwaqas@gmail.com. He tweets @qureshiwaqasA