Pakistan is entering its rabi crop season with a serious water shortage. There is not enough water in the reservoirs for full irrigation, and experts fear the wheat harvest could suffer, according to reports. Wheat is the country’s staple food, and any drop in output would be felt in every household.
The Indus river system is under strain after a weak end to the monsoon. Low water levels in the major dams mean less water is available for the canals that feed the country’s farms. Irrigation officials are now dividing the available water carefully between the provinces.
Who Bears the Cuts
Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are exempt from the water cuts under the sharing formula. This means Punjab and Sindh, the country’s main farming provinces, will bear most of the shortage. Together, these two provinces grow the bulk of Pakistan’s wheat.
Farmers in these provinces are deeply worried. Many say they may have to leave part of their land unsown if canal water does not arrive on time. A poor crop could push flour prices even higher in the months ahead, they warned.
Prices Already High
Food prices are already under pressure across the country. Wheat flour prices remain about 19 per cent above their level before the Middle East conflict began, according to a UN market report. Cooking oil and pulses are also costlier than before.
The report found that a basic monthly food basket for a family of six now costs around Rs17,300, excluding vegetables and spices. Officials said they were monitoring the water situation closely and would review the position as the sowing season progresses.
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