Unusual weather conditions in Multan and other areas of South Punjab have badly affected the wheat crop this season, raising fears of a sharp drop in production.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, temperatures in March were about 2.7 degrees Celsius higher than normal. The unexpected rise in heat disturbed the natural growth process of the wheat crop during a crucial stage.
March is considered an important month for wheat, especially for grain formation. However, the early heatwave caused the crop to form spikes sooner than expected, which did not allow the grains to fully develop. As a result, farmers are seeing smaller grain sizes and lower crop quality.
The situation became worse in early April when heavy rains and hailstorms hit the region. Standing wheat crops on around 210,000 acres were damaged across South Punjab, adding to farmers’ worries.
Growers say it may be difficult to even achieve 30 to 35 maunds per acre this year because of the disrupted growth cycle. Many are already preparing for financial losses.
