Climate Stress Drives Nutrition Crisis in Balochistan
Nadeem Khan
Quetta: Before sunrise in Panjgur, Rahima Baloch begins her day fetching water from a distant well before the desert heat climbs above 45°C.
But the 32-year-old mother of four is already exhausted. Years of drought have left her land barren, her cows weak and her own body malnourished, a growing reality for thousands of women across Balochistan.
She fetches water from a nearby well to feed her two cows and prepares food for her children before the heat becomes unbearable.
Sitting inside a small room of her mud house, Rahima speaks quietly about her daily struggle.
“Sometimes I feel very weak and dizzy,” she says, shrugging her shoulders. “Our land is dry, and there is very little clean water. Even our animals are weak. The doctor told me I am malnourished.”
Rahima’s story is far from unique.
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Across Balochistan, repeated droughts, rising temperatures and deep-rooted poverty are quietly pushing many households toward hunger and malnutrition. For families that depend on small farms or livestock, even one bad season can lead to severe hardship.
Rising Temperatures
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area, receives very little rainfall each year. Summers are extremely harsh, with temperatures often exceeding 45°C in western districts such as Panjgur, Kech and Chagai.
Frequent heatwaves make farming and daily work increasingly difficult for local communities.
Drought and Shrinking Cultivation
In districts including Chagai, Kharan, Washuk, Kech and Panjgur, farmers say rainfall has become increasingly unpredictable.
Fields that once produced wheat now dry up before harvest. Date orchards yield less fruit, while vegetables wither quickly under the extreme heat.
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Experts link the rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns to climate change, which is intensifying drought conditions across the province. These changes are making farming more difficult, reducing food production and increasing the risk of malnutrition.
Grazing Land
Livestock owners face another major challenge: the shortage of grazing land and clean water.
According to assessments by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), more than 25 percent of livestock in southern Balochistan have been affected by prolonged drought conditions.
“Prolonged drought and extreme heat are affecting crops and pastures across the province,” said Wali Khilji, an expert at Balochistan’s Environment Department.
“Many families in rural areas depend on farming or livestock for survival. When these systems fail, their ability to feed themselves becomes extremely limited.”
For many impoverished households in Balochistan, there are few alternatives. Their livelihoods depend almost entirely on what they grow or what their animals produce.
Most rural families rely on small farms. Crops such as wheat, dates and vegetables struggle to grow due to low rainfall and limited irrigation. According to FAO, repeated droughts have reduced wheat yields by 30 to 40 percent in southern districts.
Growing Crisis of Nutrition
Health experts say the consequences are becoming increasingly visible, particularly among women and children.
Malnutrition is widespread across Balochistan. Nearly 50 percent of women are anaemic, while more than 40 percent of children under the age of five are underweight. Around one in five children suffers from acute malnutrition — a level considered a public health emergency.
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Experts also warn that more than half of children under five show signs of stunted growth, indicating long-term undernutrition.
UNICEF estimates that nearly one in every five children in the province suffers from acute malnutrition.
Dr Farah Naz, a public health specialist in Quetta, says climate pressures are worsening an already fragile situation.
“Climate change is intensifying an existing crisis,” she explained. “When drought reduces food production, families lose access to nutritious food. Poverty then makes it even harder to buy food from markets.”
She added that mothers often sacrifice their own nutrition to feed their families.
“We frequently see mothers who are extremely weak because they prioritize feeding their children first.”
A Family’s Daily Struggle
Rahima’s life reflects this harsh reality.
Her small date farm produced almost nothing this year due to failed rainfall. The cows she keeps provide very little milk, and buying food from the market has become nearly impossible.
“Some days we only have tea and a few slices of bread,” she said quietly, tears filling her eyes.
Even then, she ensures her children eat first.
“If there is little food, I give it to them.”
The crisis extends beyond Panjgur. In nearby Nushki district, many families have lost most of their livestock due to prolonged drought. Without animals, they lose both income and a vital source of nutrition.
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Local health workers say these farming families now make up a growing number of malnutrition cases seen in rural clinics.
Livelihoods Under Pressure
Scientists warn that climate change is intensifying drought and heat patterns across South Asia.
Heatwaves also limit outdoor work. Farmers and laborers can no longer spend long hours in the fields as they once did.
When crops fail and income drops at the same time, food insecurity quickly follows. For communities in Balochistan, this combination of pressures is becoming increasingly common.
A Fight for Survival
In villages across the province, climate change is no longer a distant concern about the future. It is a daily reality.
Wells are running dry. Crops struggle to grow. Livestock weaken in the heat. Food is becoming harder to find.
“When there is less food, I eat last,” Rahima said, her voice steady but tired. “But I will do anything so my children do not sleep hungry.”
Health experts warn that urgent action is needed. Dr Farah Naz believes stronger nutrition programmes and improved water access could make a significant difference.
“Supporting drought-resistant agriculture and improving maternal nutrition programmes are critical,” she said.
“Communities that depend on farming and livestock must receive support,” said Wali Khilji. “Without timely intervention, the crisis will continue to grow.” For Rahima and countless others, however, the struggle continues day by day under the relentless sun of Balochistan.
