MULTAN: Potato exports from Pakistan are projected to decline sharply this fiscal year, driven by severe environmental impacts in South Punjab. A recent webinar hosted by the Pakistan Horticulture Development Export Company (PHDEC) highlighted that smog has caused a 20 per cent drop in per-acre potato production in Punjab, a region that plays a pivotal role in the country’s agricultural economy.
The decline in potato yields has already resulted in a significant dip in export revenues, with earnings plummeting to $127 million in 2023-24 — a 40 per cent decrease compared to $212 million in 2022-23.
This drop is especially significant given that the major production areas for potatoes in Pakistan are located in Punjab’s Sahiwal and Okara districts, contributing substantially to the national output.
Dr. Syed Ijazul Hassan, director of the Potato Research Institute, Sahiwal, attributed the reduced productivity to a combination of rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and decreasing water availability. He warned that smog is not only hampering crop yields but also promoting late blight disease, which further damages tuber quality.
“Smog contributes to late blight disease, which compromises both the quantity and quality of the yield,” Dr. Ijaz said, suggesting integrated pest management and sustainable farming practices as critical solutions for mitigating these adverse effects.
Dr. Muhammad Nawaz Sajid, Principal Scientist at the Potato Research Station in Sialkot, echoed these concerns, highlighting that smog and pollution are major contributors to crop diseases such as early blight, late blight, and black leg.
He advised that fungicide treatments should be applied to protect against blight and recommended crop rotation to prevent disease buildup in the soil. Additionally, infected plants and tubers should be promptly removed and destroyed to contain the spread of late blight.
Athar Hussain Khokhar, CEO of PHDEC, underscored the broader implications of climate change on South Punjab’s agriculture, stressing that food security is at stake if action is not taken. “Climate change is a serious threat to agro-ecology. Crop failures and diminished productivity are among the most pressing challenges our agricultural sector faces,” Khokhar noted.
Khokhar pointed out that smog obstructs sunlight, impedes seedling growth, and disrupts photosynthesis — key processes for healthy crop development. “These factors collectively contribute to a reduced per-acre yield of the potato crop, impacting both local farmers and national exports,” he added.
The webinar reinforced the urgent need for adaptive strategies and comprehensive policies to counteract the harmful effects of smog and climate change.
Without these measures, the region may face further economic hardships and growing food insecurity, underlining the importance of sustainable practices to safeguard the future of South Punjab’s agricultural sector.
