Climate Heat Threatens Pakistan’s Mango Heartland
Jehangir Khan Tareen
Multan: Pakistan’s mango industry, a crown jewel of the country’s agricultural exports, is coming under increasing strain as climate change reshapes traditional growing conditions across key orchard belts.
From Sindh’s Mirpurkhas and Tando Allahyar to southern Punjab’s Multan and Rahim Yar Khan, temperatures between February and June now frequently climb between 35°C and 45°C. For a crop that thrives best in a 24–29°C range, the heat surge is proving disruptive.
But scientists caution that temperature alone does not tell the full story.
Vapor Pressure Deficit
Agricultural experts point to a less visible yet more damaging factor, Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD), a measure of the air’s drying power. When high temperatures combine with low humidity, VPD rises sharply, accelerating water loss from mango trees.
Under elevated VPD, trees lose moisture rapidly through transpiration. To conserve water, leaf pores — known as stomata — close, reducing photosynthesis and disrupting calcium transport to developing fruit. The result is weakened plant physiology at a critical growth stage.
Between March and May, VPD levels in Pakistan’s mango-growing zones frequently exceed safe thresholds. The impact is increasingly visible in orchards: premature fruit drop, sunburned skins, poor firmness, misshapen produce, and declining yields.
Farmers Feel the Shift
For growers on the ground, the seasonal shift is unmistakable.
Zafar Hussain Mahay, a progressive mango farmer, says climate stress intensifies with each passing year.
“Temperatures are expected to reach 35–36°C within days, even though February used to be part of winter,” he observed. “We now feel summer arriving much earlier.”
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/kps-mango-farmers-grapple-with-global-warming/
According to Mahay, extreme heat during May and June often burns mango inflorescence, hampers pollination, and produces undersized or crooked fruit.
“Moderate temperatures are crucial for germination and cross-pollination,” he explained. “When flowering coincides with heat waves, productivity suffers.”
Science-Driven Solutions
Agricultural specialists argue that resilience lies in adopting a structured Integrated Management System (IMS), a comprehensive strategy built on prevention, response and recovery.
Maintaining soil moisture between 60 and 70 percent of field capacity is considered critical. During heat waves, drip irrigation systems can provide controlled and efficient watering. Experts recommend light but frequent irrigation, supported by organic or plastic mulching to retain soil moisture.
Nutrient management also plays a decisive role. High VPD conditions divert calcium toward leaves rather than fruit, leading to deficiencies that affect quality. Agronomists advise foliar sprays of calcium nitrate or calcium chloride, balanced boron and potassium application, and caution against excessive nitrogen use.
Biostimulants, including amino acids, seaweed extracts and potassium phosphite, are increasingly being used to safeguard photosynthesis and enhance antioxidant defenses in stressed trees.
Additional protective measures include canopy management, whitewashing trunks to reflect heat, anti-transpirant sprays, and installing shade nets in young orchards.
A Defining Moment for the Industry
Experts warn that climate change is no longer a distant forecast but a lived reality for Pakistan’s farmers. With mango exports supporting thousands of rural households and contributing significantly to foreign exchange earnings, the stakes are high.
“The future of mango cultivation depends on data-driven, science-based orchard management,” agricultural specialists say. “Without adaptation, climate extremes will continue to erode both yield and quality.”
As heat waves intensify and weather patterns grow increasingly erratic, Pakistan’s mango growers face a pivotal challenge — adapt swiftly or risk losing ground in one of the country’s most cherished agricultural sectors.
