Waheed Ahmed, Chairman of the Fruit and Vegetable Association, addressed concerns today regarding the severe impact of climate change on Pakistan's mango crop, reported 24NewsHD TV channel Friday.
He revealed that this year's mango production has plummeted by 35%, attributing this decline to adverse climate conditions.
Ahmed emphasized that climate change has been affecting Pakistan since 2013, with increasing global temperatures posing significant threats to agriculture and food security.
He pointed out that if immediate steps are not taken to mitigate these effects, the country could face severe food security challenges in the near future.
Highlighting the broader global concern over global warming, Ahmed underscored the recent heat-related fatalities in Karachi during June and July as examples of the dangers posed to human life by rising temperatures.
He stressed that these climate shifts also jeopardize agricultural yields, as evidenced by the need to import substantial quantities of onions and tomatoes last year due to local production shortages.
Ahmed urged policymakers and stakeholders to prioritize climate resilience strategies in agriculture to safeguard both crops and livelihoods from the escalating impacts of climate change.