SWAT, Jul 23 (APP): The once-thriving peach orchards of Swat valley are under heightening threat, as climate change-induced erratic weather patterns have dealt a harsh blow to this year’s peach harvest in the picturesque district.
Torrential rains, flash floods and unseasonal hailstorms besides high temperatures have not only marred fruit quality but also left thousands of farmers reeling under financial stress in Swat Valley.
Attaullah Khan, a lifelong peach grower from Mingora, looked over his water-logged orchard gardens with dismay after recent torrential rains inundated it completely.
“This season has been unlike any other. The peaches are smaller, less juicy, and many trees hardly bore fruit which adversally affected its growers financially,” he said, echoing the sentiment of growers from Bahrain, Malam Jabba, Barikot, and Kalam regions once known for their lush peach harvests during monsoon season.
He said that unchecked deforestation, illegal construction in Swat river beds, excessive pesticide and climate vulnerabilities have marred peach production in Swat.
Attaullah said that 2022 devastated floods have caused irreparable financial losses to peach growers in Swat as PTI Govt has badly disappointed them with no significant relief.
He said the damages of climate change especially of torrential rains are beyond understanding and urged KP Govt to provide comprehensive to the affected farmers.
Peach is cultivated on about 20,000 acres in Swat, making the region the heartland of Pakistan’s peach industry. With Swat accounting for nearly 80 percent of the national production, its peaches are famed for their sweetness, affordability, and nutritional value.
However, this year, yields have plummeted. According to the Agriculture Department, Swat’s usual output of 400,000 kilograms of peaches has drastically reduced, triggering supply shortages and a sharp rise in market prices from Rs300 to Rs400 per kilogram in cities like Peshawar.
Ali Syed, a former agriculture research officer, explained the broader impact of climate change on peach production in Swat. “This decline is not just about lost income. It affects food access, market stability, and overall agricultural output of Pakistan. Peaches in Swat are not only a livelihood but part of our cultural heritage.”
Farmers are now forced to bear the brunt of erratic rainfall, poor infrastructure, and lack of institutional support. Many are spending extra on transportation to reach distant markets in Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi in hopes of better returns which is a burden not all can afford.
“Last month’s flash floods didn’t just drown 18 tourists they drowned our hopes,” said Atta Ullah. The flooding has not only damaged our crops but highlighted the unchecked encroachments along Swat’s riverbanks, which experts say worsened the flood impact on fruits orchards.
Criticism has mounted against the KP government, particularly the PTI-led administration, for failing to provide relief, remove illegal structures, or introduce adaptive farming policies.
Experts pointed to a convergence of human and environmental factors. Former Chief Forest Conservator Niaz Ali attributed the damage to both climate change and poor orchards management. “Peach trees require chilling hours during dormancy. With higher average temperatures and irregular rainfall, the fruit cycle is breaking down,” he explained.
He also warned that extreme heat causes sunburn in peaches and hampers photosynthesis which are key factors in reduced yields and poor fruit quality.
Beyond economics, peaches offered essential health benefits. Dr. Sirzamin Khan, Principal Medical Officer at Government Hospital Nowshera, emphasized their role in diabetic diets, highlighting the public health relevance of making peaches widely available and affordable.
Despite the setbacks, experts said the damage can still be reversed. “We need climate-resilient seeds, less dependence on pesticides, soft loans for farmers, and improved irrigation bodies preventing distribution of lands ,” said Niaz Ali.
He called for national attention, pointing out that Pakistan is among the top ten countries most affected by climate change with over 139 climate-related disasters in the past 20 years, the last one is drowning of 18 tourists last month in River Swat.
The crisis in Swat is a wake-up call not just for policymakers but for the whole nation. Rural communities, especially smallholder farmers, are at the frontline of climate disasters yet often left behind in recovery efforts.
To truly support inclusive recovery, experts urged the government to launch immediate relief packages for affected growers, provide accessible loans and climate training to women and marginalized farmers besides fund research on high-altitude climate-resilient crops.
Enforce land-use policies that reduce flood risk and better wages viz a viz marketing could help increase peach production in Swat.
For growers like Atta Ullah, these measures are not luxuries but a lifeline. “All we want is KP Govt support to keep our trees alive, and our children fed,” he reiterated.
As Swat’s peaches hang delicately on branches that once promised bounty, the message is clear i.e protecting this fruit means protecting a way of life that nourishes, sustains, and connects people.