Speaking for most Lahoris, I think I can safely claim that the only silver lining to tolerating the sweltering heat of peak summer season in June and July is the delicious mangoes: bright yellow, lusciously smooth, tart yet sweet.

What can be better than slices of freshly cut, cold mangoes in the suffocating summer heat? As far as I can remember, mangoes have been a permanent delight in the Pakistani summer season. Much like the five daily prayers, we indulge in mangoes after every meal, and at times, before the meals as well. We serve them to guests, to children coming home from school and, of course, after chai.

You can only imagine my grief when this year’s crop of mangoes proved to be much less than satisfactory. Although the mangoes appeared to be ripe — a deep, warm yellow — the taste was sub-par: not sweet enough, or too tangy. If the conspiracy theory uncles are to be believed, these mangoes are lacking in flavour because they were ripened early artificially using some chemicals to make maximum profits on Eid. Even more baseless are the claims that Pakistan has shipped the best of its mangoes abroad and only the inferior stock is sold to the masses.

Anyways, far-fetched theories aside, there are real reasons for the mango conundrum at hand. Earlier in May, the All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association (PFVA) had predicted that there would be a 20 percent reduction in mango production, from 1.8 million metric tonnes to 1.44 million metric tonnes. Mango trees are very sensitive to temperature, and this year, Pakistan saw a prolonged winter season and a delayed summer, both unprecedented changes. Variability in temperature has also increased, with unexpected heatwaves and frosty weather wreaking further havoc.

As such, these unforeseen climatic changes can also increase mango orchards’ susceptibility to disease and decay. Traditionally, mango trees are grown with greater spacing between them and larger canopies. However, modern-day capitalistic high-density farming to maximise production and profit allows much less distance between mango trees with shorter canopies. This puts the mangoes at greater risk of fungal disease and pest attacks. In Sindh this year, the mango hopper pest, favoured by increasing global temperatures, dealt considerable damage to the crop. Climate changes in Pakistan have also included unexpected hail, thunderstorms and strong winds which have further damaged production and quality this season.

The mango situation this year is just a microcosm of the sort of far-reaching, unexpected and devastating effects that climate change and global warming cause. We can also see how many small factors are compounded to produce large-scale disasters, realised by years upon years of decision-making which prioritised profit over long-term consequences and planetary health. And now Pakistanis are deprived of delicious mangoes: truly apocalyptic.

Anyhow, this is not to paint too grim a picture of the future. Yes, the mangoes aren’t as good as they used to be on average, but I’m still enjoying those (while they’re here).

The writer is an interdisciplinary student of literature and sciences at Lahore College of Arts & Sciences. She can be reached at fajr.rauf5@gmail com