Violent Storms Devastate K-P Fruit Farms Amid Climate Change Concerns

Violent windstorms and unseasonal rains have devastated crops in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), with millions of rupees worth of damage. Farmers claim that years of hard work were wiped out within hours, highlighting the growing impact of climate change on Pakistan’s agricultural sector.

In Peshawar outskirts, plum orchards cultivated for generations have seen losses of up to Rs800,000 after strong winds and heavy rain struck just weeks before harvest. Shakeel Khan from Armar village lost nearly all his plums, while Nawaz Armar reported 90% crop destruction, resulting in around Rs5 million loss.

Farmers estimate that more than 70% of plum orchards have been affected, with trees damaged alongside the fruit. This double loss is compounded by rising costs for fertiliser, seeds, fuel, and transport. Many warn that repeated climate-related disasters could force growers to abandon agriculture altogether.

The crisis extends beyond Peshawar to Charsadda district, where strawberry farmers suffered severe damage due to untimely rainfall. Zareen Khan, a three-decade strawberry cultivator, lost his entire crop worth between Rs400,000 and Rs500,000.

Weather experts note that extreme events are becoming more common, with strong winds reaching nearly 90 kilometres per hour during recent storms. Agricultural experts warn that climate change is reshaping farming patterns across the province, urging the promotion of organic fertilisers, climate-smart techniques, and modern technologies to help farmers adapt.

As extreme weather becomes more frequent and unpredictable, K-P farmers fear for agriculture’s future without urgent support and effective adaptation measures.