Pakistan: Falling groundwater levels push Punjab's farmers into costly irrigation crisis
Khanewal, July 18
Rapidly declining groundwater levels in Pakistan's Khanewal district in Punjab province are emerging as a serious challenge for the agriculture sector, with farmers being forced to invest in deeper boreholes, high-capacity pumps and more expensive irrigation systems.
According to The Express Tribune, groundwater that was once available at shallow depths has receded significantly, driving up cultivation costs amid rising electricity, diesel and machinery prices.
As reported by The Express Tribune, farmers in Peerowal and surrounding areas say the falling water table has become one of the biggest obstacles to farming in South Punjab.
Many are now spending heavily on deeper tube wells and more powerful motors just to access water for irrigation.
The Express Tribune reported that agriculture experts attribute the crisis to declining rainfall, climate change, excessive groundwater extraction, the cultivation of water-intensive crops and the continued use of inefficient flood irrigation methods.
According to the report, Deputy Director Agriculture Khalid Mehmood said water scarcity is already reducing crop yields and farmers' incomes.
He called for wider adoption of drip and sprinkler irrigation, the promotion of less water-intensive crops and increased rainwater harvesting to recharge groundwater reserves.
Experts quoted by The Express Tribune warned that if immediate corrective measures are not taken, Pakistan could face severe consequences, including drinking water shortages, declining agricultural production, drying tube wells and land subsidence.
Farmers also say reduced canal water supplies and falling groundwater levels are making it increasingly difficult to irrigate wheat, cotton, rice, maize and vegetable crops, while deteriorating soil fertility and crop quality are further affecting farm incomes.
Agriculture officials, The Express Tribune reported, have urged farmers to conserve water, adopt modern irrigation technologies, promote afforestation and support stricter regulation of groundwater extraction to protect the future of Pakistan's agriculture sector.
The crisis has once again exposed Pakistan's failure to ensure sustainable water management despite repeated warnings from experts.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Sad to see Pakistan's agricultural sector struggling like this. Groundwater depletion is a global crisis, but it's especially painful in South Asia where so many depend on farming for their livelihood. The lack of sustainable water management is concerning—politicians need to act before it's too late.
As someone from Punjab, India, I can totally relate. Our farmers are facing the same nightmare—deeper borewells, higher electricity bills, and crops failing. It's heartbreaking that both sides of the border are suffering from the same problem. We need cross-border cooperation on water management, not just politics. 🙏
This sounds like a classic case of unsustainable farming practices catching up with reality. Monocropping water-intensive crops like rice and sugarcane in arid regions is a recipe for disaster. Pakistan needs to learn from Israel's water management success—drip irrigation and wastewater recycling can turn things around. 💧
While I sympathize with the farmers, this isn't a new problem—experts have been warning for decades. The real failure is political will. Both India and Pakistan have made grand promises about water conservation but implementation is pathetic. Without strict groundwater regulation and incentives for modern irrigation, we'll all end up with dry wells. 😞
It's easy to point fingers, but as an environmental scientist, I see this as a symptom of a larger problem: we treat groundwater like it's infinite. Rainwater harvesting and afforestation are great suggestions, but they need massive public investment. I hope Pakistan's government steps up—because if they don't, the food security crisis will affect everyone in the region. 🌱
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