Massive Losses for Farmers in Muzaffarabad Due to Harsh Weather and Crop Diseases
Muzaffarabad: July 2025
Farmers in Muzaffarabad are currently facing a severe agricultural crisis. Unpredictable weather conditions, crop diseases, and a lack of timely government support have caused significant damage to their fields. As a result, hundreds of farmers have suffered major financial losses during what should have been a productive harvest season.
Sudden Weather Changes Damaged Crops
Over the past few weeks, Muzaffarabad has seen unusual weather patterns, including heavy rains followed by intense heat. These sudden shifts in temperature and moisture levels have had a negative impact on the crops. Farmers report that their wheat, corn, and vegetable fields have either rotted due to excessive rainfall or dried out under the burning sun.
Farmer Liaqat Ali shared, “We prepared our fields with great hope, but the rain destroyed most of our crops. The sun came out so strong after that, the remaining plants couldn’t survive.”
These extreme weather conditions are believed to be part of ongoing climate change, which has been affecting farming areas across Pakistan, particularly in mountainous and hilly regions like Muzaffarabad.
Crop Diseases Made the Situation Worse
A fast-spreading fungus affected wheat crops across several villages, turning healthy plants yellow and reducing yield drastically.
Experts say that due to the moist conditions caused by the rains, fungal diseases such as rust and blight spread quickly in the area. Without proper pesticides and timely spraying, the infections spread from one field to another, causing major losses.
“This disease hit us at the worst possible time — just when we were ready to harvest. We had no time or resources to stop it,” said another farmer, Abdul Rauf.
Lack of Government Support
Many farmers in Muzaffarabad are now criticizing the local government for not providing timely assistance. They claim that while officials were informed of the situation, no emergency support or expert teams were sent to guide the farmers or provide pesticides.
Local farming unions have demanded immediate action from the agriculture department, including free disease control kits, compensation for losses, and better weather warning systems.
“We don’t want charity; we want help to stand on our feet again. We grow food for the nation, but when we suffer, no one listens,” said union leader Haji Zaman.
Financial Impact on Farming Families
The financial blow has been devastating. Some farmers estimate that they have lost 70–80% of their expected earnings. Many had taken loans to buy seeds, fertilizers, and equipment for this season, hoping to repay them after a good harvest.
Now, with their crops destroyed, they are worried about how they will feed their families, send their children to school, and repay debts.
In one heartbreaking account, farmer Bashir Ahmad said, “This was our only source of income. I don’t know how we’ll survive the coming months.”
Need for Long-Term Solutions
Agriculture experts suggest that this is not just a temporary issue but a long-term challenge. They recommend the following steps to protect farmers in the future:
- Establishing early-warning weather systems in rural areas
- Training farmers on climate-smart agriculture
- Providing quick-response disease control teams
- Introducing insurance policies for crop damage
- Offering low-interest loans and subsidies during crisis periods
Dr. Farzana Malik, an environmental scientist, said, “If we do not act now, farming in areas like Muzaffarabad will become impossible in the next 10 years. The government must treat this as a national emergency.”
Local NGOs Stepping In
In the absence of immediate government help, some local NGOs have started reaching out to affected farmers. They are offering limited support in the form of food packages, small cash grants, and guidance on how to recover in the next season.
However, these efforts are not enough to cover the wide-scale damage that has already taken place.
Public Reactions
Citizens across the country have started noticing the rising price of vegetables and grains in local markets, which is partly due to crop failures in regions like Muzaffarabad. Many are now calling on the federal and provincial governments to step in and protect Pakistan’s farmers, who form the backbone of the country’s food supply.
Social media platforms are also filled with posts supporting the affected farmers, with hashtags like #SupportMuzaffarabadFarmers and #FarmersNeedHelpNow trending locally.
Conclusion
The current agricultural crisis in Muzaffarabad highlights the urgent need for climate adaptation, disease management, and policy reforms in Pakistan’s farming sector. Farmers, who work hard to feed the nation, are now in desperate need of assistance.
Without immediate and long-term support, this crisis could lead to more hunger, debt, and rural poverty — not just in Muzaffarabad but across the entire region. It is time for all stakeholders — government, private sector, and civil society — to come together and safeguard the future of agriculture in Pakistan.
