xtreme weather events, and repeated hailstorms in spring have adversely affected the apple, wild cherry, peach and apricot orchards in the tribal district Kurram. Known for its agricultural produce and fruits, Kurram will be relatively fruitless this year.

Israr Hussain Bangash is a farmer from Shalozan, a scenic village known for its variety of apples. He owns 6 acres (48 kanals) of apple, peach and apricot orchards. This year, he has had very low yields.

“Last year, we received good produce from our orchards. Unfortunately, this year, spring rains were very unpredictable. The heavy rains and hailstorms damaged my orchard. This season hasn’t been fruitful,” he says. There was a time when Bangash had a good yield every year. However, lately, he has noticed a decline in fruit production. He says that the agricultural extension and agriculture research department should train local farmers on how to protect their farms during extreme weather.

Bangash says to him his orchards are like his children. “But farmers lack training on protecting orchards. We need training, resources and tools to protect our farms from extreme weather.”

The losses endured by farmers in Kurram run into millions. The Agriculture Department is collecting data to assess the losses and damages faced by farmers in three sub-divisions in Kurram.

The Directorate of Crop Reporting Services is responsible for collecting crop and orchard yield data in the province. According to the crop reporting services data, last year, the farmers harvested at least 4,392 tonnes of fruit in Kurram from orchards on 381 hectares. The previous year’s production was reported as: apricots 719 tonnes, apples 621 tonnes, peaches 1,262 tonnes, pomegranate 314 tonnes, walnut 661 tonnes, persimmon 210 tonnes, and other fruits 479 tonnes. The current year has been declared fruitless.

The tribal district of Orakzai, adjacent to Kurram, has also been affected. According to the farmers in the district, they have received no yield from their orchards.

The tribal district of Orakzai, adjacent to Kurram, has also been affected. According to the farmers in the district, they have received no significant yield from their orchards.

Haji Ali Marjan, 66, belongs to Dandar Road, situated some three kilometres south of Parachinar city. For the last 25 years, he has been associated with farming. He owns one of the largest orchards in Parachinar. He grows apples, peaches, apricots, wild cherries and walnuts.

“The previous year’s yield was worth Rs 2.5 million. But this year, my income dropped to Rs 25,000 only. The weather damaged my orchards. I can’t fight with nature,” says Ali Marjan.

Abdul Malik Khan, 36, belongs to Ahmadi Shama, a village in lower Kurram. Khan, like his forefathers, is a farmer. He owns grape and apricot orchards. His orchard was also damaged during heavy rains and hailstorms. “My orchard was completely damaged. I received no yield. I ate the one apricot produced from my orchard,” Khan says.

For farmers who had earned thousands of rupees in the previous year, the current year’s yield was only a few kilogrammes. Khan says they are aware of no solution to their current predicament.

Iqrar Hussain is a senior research officer at the Parachinar agriculture research office. He too says that many farmers have received no yield this year. He says climate change has changed the weather pattern in Kurram.

“In the past few years, the valley faced dry spells. But this year, we received heavy rains and storms that have contributed to low fruit yields.”

Does the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa agriculture research department arrange any awareness sessions to help farmers adapt to climate change?

“Yes, we do arrange awareness sessions for farmers on the impacts of global warming and climate change on orchards and crops. We encourage farmers to grow climate-resilient orchards, grapes, pomegranates and walnuts that have the capacity to withstand harsh weather, and those which are suitable to be grown in Kurram’s environment. We are also carrying out research to introduce climate-resilient apple, peach and apricot varieties,” Iqrar Hussain tells The News on Sunday.

Between February and April, the Kurram valley received heavy rains. The erratic weather patterns impacted flowering and pollination in spring, which eventually contributed to low yields this season. In Kurram, the flowering season of pomegranate, walnut and grape starts in April. As rains had stopped by that time, some farmers had sparse yields.

Hussain says the rains left the air moist. This too affected the orchards. Several fungus breakouts were reported in fields and orchards in Kurram. This also contributed to low fruit yield. “To the farmers visiting the agriculture research office, we recommended timely spray.”

The writer is a multimedia producer. He tweets @daudpasaney