Pakistan’s farmers are bracing for a tough season as the country reports a 30% water shortage at the start of the Kharif crop sowing period, crucial for rice, cotton, and sugarcane. 🌊💧 The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) warns that shrinking glaciers and erratic snowfall—both linked to climate change—are disrupting water flow in the Indus and Jhelum rivers.
Why This Matters
🇵🇰 Agriculture makes up 24% of Pakistan’s GDP
🌾 Kharif crops rely on monsoon rains and warm temps
🌡️ Forecast predicts hotter-than-average monsoon season
Muhammad Azam Khan of IRSA told reporters: \"This water gap forces smarter planning—every drop counts now.\" The shortage comes two years after catastrophic 2022 floods devastated cotton fields, affecting 30 million people.
Climate Rollercoaster 🎢
With 250 million people, Pakistan ranks among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations. Farmers now face a cruel paradox: too little snowmelt now, followed by uncertainty as monsoons approach. Will 2024 bring floods or droughts? Scientists say both extremes are becoming the new normal.
