Author: Ashfaque Soomro
As per flood damage reports by various agencies, including PDMA Punjab, the floods 2025 have damaged more than 1.5 million acres of farmlands, including mango orchards. Damages to mango orchards are not separately found out, but when we discussed with farmers of Multan and Bahawalpur, it is estimated that around 25% to 30% mango orchards are damaged in flooded areas in south Punjab, which is a bulk mango producing zone in Pakistan, besides Sindh province. In floodplain areas, mango farms are affected to more than 50%.
Pakistan is the 5th largest producer of mangoes in the world, and this exports bring significant foreign exchange to Pakistan each year, contributing to the national economy. Last year, Pakistan earned $46.7 million in mango exports, as per Ministry of Commerce, Govt of Pakistan. Pakistan produces 1.8 million metric tons of mangoes and of that, 70% is produced in the Punjab, 29% in Sindh. According to the Final Kharif Estimates 2024-25 by Burearu of Statistics, Punjab, the total mango production in South Punjab (three divisions combined) is around 44,598 tons which included 11,556 tons in Multan division, 19,987 tons in DG Khan division and 13,055 tons in Bahawalpur division. This production of mangoes comes to national markets and also exported. Alone in Multan Division mangoes are grown on 69,265 acres. In D.G. Khan Division on 51,733 acres and in Bahawalpur Division 28,721 acres are under mango orchards.
Farms which were on higher lands (even in floodplain) could have survived to an extent, but those which were in lower lands could not survived, as the floodwater level was more than 8-9 feet. In some areas, it was even 10 feet. A farmer from Nawabpur floodplain area informed that mostly, trees of Chitta Chaunsa mango variety is affected, because comparatively its wood is soft. Besides other mango tree species are also affected.
Mango tree take 8–10 years to mature, with sustained care, and once mature, it gives substantial income per tree annually. So the trees which are dried due to floods, will not give income to farmers. It is not only the farmer who bear this loss, but all those who are linked to mango business ecosystem- Picking, packaging, transporters, exporters will suffer. Many orchard owners are indebted; crop failure may push them into unmanageable debt.
Horticulture experts opined that partially damaged mango trees can become fertile again in 2–3 years with careful management, but it is very difficult and those mango trees which are completely damaged or dried will not bear fruit again. Even trees that appear to survive may suffer long-term stress, showing gradual decline, reduced vigor, and yield drop over subsequent years. Costs of rehabilitation (labor, chemicals, soil amendments) can be high, often unaffordable for marginal farmers.
For many farming households, that means the loss of their main income source for years to come.
