Rapid attacks, fungal diseases raise alarm among growers, prompting calls for government intervention
HYDERABAD:
A sudden and aggressive wave of pest attacks has gripped mango orchards across Sindh, leaving growers reeling and scrambling for effective control measures.
The alarm was raised at a weekly meeting of the Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB), where farmers described the attacks as swift and overwhelming, often leaving little time for remediation. The session was chaired by SAB President Mahmood Nawaz Shah who highlighted the growing vulnerability of orchards under changing environmental conditions.
Participants noted that while farmers are generally comfortable dealing with pests such as leafhoppers, thrips and jassids, the current outbreak – combined with fungal diseases such as anthracnose and mango blight – has proved particularly devastating. Widely recognized as one of the most damaging diseases of mango worldwide, anthracnose can cause severe losses both before and after harvest, especially in poorly managed orchards.
In addition to mangoes, farmers expressed concern about the wider impact of climate variability, particularly El Nino, on key crops such as cotton and rice. They warned that excessively high temperatures during critical growth stages, such as grain formation, can lead to crop failure and significant yield reductions.
The board called for coordinated action and urged Sindh’s agriculture department and academic institutions to collaborate with farmers to study climate patterns and pest behavior. They emphasized the need for data-driven solutions to determine how temperature and humidity affect outbreaks and to develop timely preventive and curative strategies.
The meeting also emphasized the urgency of developing heat and drought resistant seeds as temperatures in the region have already crossed 45°C and are expected to rise further, increasing evaporation and water demand for crops.
Farmers further highlighted mounting economic pressures, citing falling market prices for vegetables and fruits – including tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, okra and muskmelon – along with rising production costs fueled by repeated fuel price hikes. They warned that these combined challenges are causing heavy financial losses to growers.
To counter these trends, the board urged the government to promote value addition in horticulture, enabling surplus produce to be processed and exported. Without such measures, they warned, the export potential will remain underutilized.
The meeting was attended by several key members, including Dr. Zulfiqar Yousfani, Bashir Nizamani, Syed Nadeem Shah, Aslam Mari and Manroor Soomro, among others.
