pakistan to encounter 30% water shortage during sowing season
Published on: April 4, 2024.
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Pakistan Faces 30% Water Shortage at Start of Sowing Season
Lahore, Pakistan – Pakistan is currently grappling with a 30% water shortage as the sowing season for key cash crops like rice and cotton begins, according to the Indus River System Authority (IRSA), the country’s water regulator. The shortage is a result of below-average winter snowfall in Pakistan’s northern glacier region, which has affected the catchment areas of the Indus and Jhelum Rivers that are crucial for irrigation.
Kharif crops, which include rice, maize, sugarcane, and cotton, are typically planted in April and require a wet and warm climate with ample rainfall. However, due to climate change’s impact on the country’s glaciers, there has been less snow than usual, leading to less water availability for these crops during the summer season.
Muhammad Azam Khan, an assistant researcher with the IRSA, explained, “There was less snow than normal as a result of climate change affecting the country’s glaciers. This will have a direct impact on the availability of water for kharif crops in the summer.”
While the water shortage gap is expected to narrow once the monsoon rains arrive later in the season, the country’s meteorological department has predicted higher-than-normal temperatures during the monsoon season, adding further uncertainty.
Agriculture is Pakistan’s largest economic sector, contributing approximately 24% to the country’s GDP. However, it has faced criticism for its inefficient water usage. As a result of the current water shortfall, authorities will need to plan more effectively to ensure optimal utilization of the available water resources, according to IRSA’s Khan.
Pakistan, the world’s fifth-largest country with a population exceeding 250 million, has been significantly impacted by climate change in recent years, experiencing shifting and unpredictable weather patterns. In 2022, devastating floods, which were linked to climate change by scientists, affected over 30 million people and severely impacted Pakistan’s cotton crop.
Source: [SpaceDaily](https://www.spacedaily.com)
