When Borders Close, Mohmand’s Farmers Pay the Price

Murad Khan

Mohamad: The ongoing closure of the Pak-Afghan border has severely disrupted vegetable production in Mohmand tribal district, pushing farmers into a deep financial crisis.

Once a hub of high-quality vegetable farming, supplying local markets and exporting nearly 75 percent of its produce to Gulf countries and Afghanistan, the district is now witnessing collapsing markets and rising losses.

Local farmers, who previously thrived on cross-border trade, are struggling to recover even the basic costs of fertilizers and labor.

Israel Khan, a major grower in Tehsil Haleemzai cultivating crops such as bitter gourd (karela), tomato, cucumber, apple gourd (tinda), and chilies on over 1,000 acres, says the situation has forced farmers to sell their produce at throwaway prices, far below production costs.

“With around 70 percent of our vegetables once exported, the border closures have left us with no viable market,” he said, warning that continued disruptions could push farmers out of cultivation altogether.

Trade Halt Hits Mohmand Hard

Farmers warn that if the current situation persists, Mohmand may lose its identity as a hub of high-quality vegetable production. 

Israel Khan cautioned that growers could abandon the cultivation of signature crops such as bitter gourd (karela), Arya gourd, and chili peppers, once the backbone of the district’s export economy. 

Thanks to fertile soil, balanced pH levels, and a favorable climate, these vegetables had earned a strong reputation in international markets, including Dubai’s Al Aweer Fruit and Vegetable Market.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/how-secure-is-pakistans-wheat-without-stable-river-water/

Highlighting the scale of past exports, Israel said that more than 4,000 kilograms of bitter melon alone were shipped daily from the Haleemzai area to both domestic and international markets. In addition, thousands of kilograms of vegetables, including Arya (round pumpkin), apple gourd (tinda), cucumber, beans, peas, onions, potatoes, and tomatoes, were regularly exported to Gulf and European countries.

This trade not only generated profits for exporters but also contributed to government revenues through taxes and supported the shipping industry.

He urged the government and relevant stakeholders to reopen cross-border trade routes, emphasizing that restoring connectivity would benefit all countries involved.Echoing these concerns, district president of Anjuman-e-Zamindaran Mohmand, Malik Gulab Sher, said the district’s fertile land, rich in natural resources, has long supported a wide variety of crops.

However, recent border closures with Afghanistan and India, along with regional tensions, have pushed the vegetable sector into crisis.

“Under current market conditions, farmers cannot even recover the costs of fertilizers, transportation, packing, and land preparation,” he said.

Citing onion prices as an example, he noted that while consumers pay Rs50–70 per kilogram in local markets, farmers receive only Rs20-30 per kilogram, far below their production costs.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/wildlife-is-disappearing-in-bajaur/

Gulab Sher, who also serves as CEO of LEADS (Livestock, Education, Agriculture Development), pointed out a troubling imbalance: while farmers are forced to sell their produce at extremely low prices, consumers are paying high rates for fruits due to disrupted imports from neighboring countries.

“This situation is harming both producers and consumers,” he said, stressing that reopening borders and ensuring peace in the region would not only revive Mohmand’s economy but also benefit Pakistan as a whole through increased trade and business activity.

The case of Food Insecurity

Experts have warned that continued stress on the agricultural sector could have serious environmental and food security consequences if urgent measures are not taken.

According to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, nearly 70 percent of the world’s ice-free land has already been altered by human activity, affecting over 3.2 billion people.

The organization has further cautioned that intensive agricultural practices could result in the loss of 32 gigatons of carbon from land between 2015 and 2030.

Agriculture specialists say that without concrete steps from the government, NGOs, and relevant institutions, large areas of fertile land could turn barren. Such a shift would not only disrupt the livelihoods of hundreds of farmers but also worsen food security for thousands of people on both sides of the border.

They further warned that the long-term impact could extend beyond human communities, threatening regional biodiversity and putting countless species at risk.

The Writer is a Radio Producer and Freelance Journalist, who can be contacted on X.@muradonline123

The feature story is the writer’s investigation, it may or may not adhere to the organizational policy.