Sindh's Mango Crisis: Shrinking Orchards, Water Shortages and the Fight to Protect a Signature Crop

A Smaller Orchard Footprint, a More Uncertain Harvest

Sindh's mango orchards covered more than 63,000 hectares a decade ago. By 2023-24, that area had fallen to just under 59,000 hectares, a loss of more than 4,000 hectares from a crop that supports farming families, seasonal workers and Pakistan's export trade.

The province is known for Sindhri mangoes, prized for their sweetness and flavor. For generations, its orchards have provided income and helped shape local identity. Now, extreme weather, unreliable irrigation, pests and diseases are putting pressure on both the trees and the people who depend on them.

Production has fluctuated, while the area devoted to mango orchards has contracted. In 2024, experts and growers warned that Sindh's harvest could fall by as much as 50% compared with previous years. That warning reflected several problems arriving together: cold nights during flowering, early heat, insufficient water and storms that knocked fruit from branches.

Pakistan produces an average of around 1.8 million tonnes of mangoes a year and ranks as the world's sixth largest producer. Sindh contributes nearly 29% of that output, while Punjab accounts for 70%. Trouble in Sindh therefore reaches beyond individual orchards, affecting the supply available to domestic shoppers, exporters and food processors.

As of June 26, 2025, growers' concerns extend from the immediate task of keeping fruit on trees to the longer task of developing varieties that can cope with changing conditions. Research collections and new harvesting methods offer possible responses, but growers say practical advice, reliable water and institutional support remain inadequate.

Weather Disrupts Flowering and Fruit Growth

Climate change is identified as the largest factor affecting Sindh's mango production. Heatwaves, unseasonal rain, drought and powerful windstorms have disrupted the conditions trees need to flower, set fruit and carry that fruit through to harvest.

The damage begins before a mango is visible. Flowers must survive before fruit can form. Sudden drops in nighttime temperatures during flowering have caused blossoms to wither prematurely, leaving fewer flowers able to develop into mangoes.

Early, intense heatwaves have brought temperatures above 40°C during flowering and the start of fruit growth. Those conditions have stunted development and produced undersized mangoes. Persistent drought and reduced river flows have also left orchards short of water during the months when trees need it most.

Windstorms create another kind of loss. Strong winds can bring unripe mangoes down before they mature, removing fruit that growers have already spent time and money tending. Unseasonal rain adds to the weather instability confronting orchards.

The effects extend beyond the number of mangoes harvested. Changes in size, taste and quality affect whether fruit appeals to local consumers or meets the expectations of overseas buyers. A smaller crop can therefore leave growers with fewer mangoes and a smaller share suitable for their intended markets.

Why Water Shortages Reach the Fruit Itself

Sindh's mango growers depend heavily on river and canal irrigation. Persistent shortages have made that supply increasingly uncertain, particularly during flowering and fruiting, when water is critical to the crop.

Growers describe a direct connection between irrigation and the size of their mangoes. One orchard manager said a mango that could have weighed more than a kilogram remained stunted because it had not received enough water before harvest. The example captures how a shortage can reduce the value of fruit even when it stays on the tree.

Reduced river flows and drought are part of the problem. Competition from other crops, inefficient irrigation practices and the broader effects of climate change on river flows add pressure to the same limited supply.

Reliable water is therefore central to both yield and quality. Even experienced growers struggle to maintain healthy orchards when they cannot irrigate at the necessary time. Improvements in water management and irrigation infrastructure are among the measures they are seeking.

Hoppers and Disease Add to Orchard Losses

Mango hoppers attack during flowering and the early stages of fruit growth, the same periods already exposed to temperature shocks and water shortages. These small insects suck sap from tender shoots and flower clusters, weakening the tree and reducing the amount of fruit that forms.

Hopper attacks also encourage sooty mold, a black fungus that impairs photosynthesis and fruit quality. Photosynthesis is the process through which plants use sunlight to make the food they need to grow. Damage to that process adds another strain to an already weakened tree.

Infestations have become more frequent and severe in recent years, with some orchards reporting yield losses of up to 40%. Growers say the lack of timely advice grounded in research makes the pest harder to manage.

Mahmood Nawaz Shah, president of the Sindh Abadgar Board, described both the growing frequency of attacks and the gap in guidance from agricultural authorities:

For the last few years, hopper attacks have become quite common. We don't get research-oriented and evidence-based advice from the agriculture department on how to deal with it.

Malformation, anthracnose and powdery mildew also affect the crop. Malformation causes abnormal flower and fruit development. These diseases thrive in the changing climate, while many growers operating small farms lack the resources or knowledge needed to tackle them effectively.

Weather, pests and disease consequently place several demands on the same orchard. Growers need to protect flowers, preserve developing fruit and keep trees healthy while dealing with uncertain irrigation and rising costs.

Harvesting Skills Meet Growing Financial Pressure

Seasonal workers from Punjab travel to Sindh to pick, sort and pack mangoes. Their skills are part of a harvesting tradition that relies on careful handling to bring fruit from the tree to the market without damage.

The conventional method, known as pattaee, involves workers climbing trees and gently lowering mangoes into bags. The aim is to prevent bruising, which can reduce the quality and marketability of fruit after the effort of growing it.

Some growers are adopting small bags fitted with cutters to reduce shock to the fruit and improve harvesting efficiency. These changes address the handling stage of production, where preserving the condition of each mango matters especially when fewer are available to sell.

Harvesting remains demanding work that requires substantial labor. Declining yields and mounting economic pressure make that work harder to finance. Many orchard owners now sublet their farms to contractors, transferring responsibility for managing the crop along with its possible rewards and losses.

Contractors and orchard owners remain exposed to weather and market conditions. The arrangement can help organize production, but a storm, poor harvest or unfavorable market can still leave those involved facing financial losses.

A Smaller Crop Puts Export Earnings Under Pressure

Pakistan's mango exports generate up to $100 million in foreign exchange each season. That income comes from buyers including Iran, Gulf countries, the UK, Europe, Canada, the USA and Japan.

The All Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association set a target of 125,000 tonnes for 2024, lower than in previous years. Supply constraints and problems with fruit quality created concern that the actual volume could be lower still. A final export volume for that season was not given.

Exporters face several pressures at once. Fewer mangoes reduce the supply they can buy, while quality problems affect which fruit can be sold abroad. Rising costs, logistical challenges and stricter import standards make it harder for Pakistani mangoes to compete in international markets.

Farmers and workers feel those pressures closer to home. Lower yields reduce income, while spending on water, pesticides and transport squeezes profit margins. The same orchard can produce less fruit while requiring costly efforts to protect what remains.

Processing, packaging and juice production have also suffered. Some companies have reduced their purchases because of higher taxes and input costs. That weakens demand from businesses that turn mangoes into other products, adding to the economic strain around the harvest.

For domestic consumers and international buyers, the consequences include changes in the supply and quality of available mangoes. For the families who grow and handle them, the problem is also about whether a season's work brings enough income to sustain the next one.

Genome Gardens Look for More Resilient Varieties

Researchers, growers and government agencies are investing in ways to protect mango cultivation. One approach is the development of genome gardens, specialized orchards containing a wide range of mango varieties for studying genetic diversity and their ability to grow under local conditions.

The practical purpose is to find useful traits. Researchers can examine which varieties tolerate heat, resist disease or use water efficiently. Crossbreeding varieties with desirable traits could help produce mangoes better suited to a changing climate.

Dr. Abid Sulehri, a food security specialist, explained how growing different varieties can guide the development of new ones:

By planting various varieties, we can determine which ones are well-suited to Pakistan's soil and climate. If a particular variety proves favourable, we can use it as a basis to develop new varieties. This is the underlying motive behind introducing the concept of a genome garden.

The Mango Research Institute in Multan maintains more than 250 local and 40 foreign mango varieties. That collection gives researchers a resource for studying differences between varieties and selecting material for future breeding programs.

Establishing genome gardens is expensive and beyond the means of most small farmers. Public research institutes are therefore leading this work. The challenge for growers is to connect such research with the practical needs of orchards facing heat, disease and unreliable water.

Growers Want Support Beyond Mango Festivals

Annual mango festivals celebrate the fruit's cultural importance, but many growers and industry leaders criticize the lack of effective government support. Their concerns focus on limited coordinated research, agricultural advice and financial assistance to help farms adapt.

Growers are seeking action across several parts of production and trade:

• Research based solutions for managing pests and diseases.
• New mango varieties that can withstand changing climate conditions.
• Better irrigation infrastructure and water management.
• Training and awareness programs for farmers.
• Support for processing and meeting export requirements.

The requests reflect problems at different stages of the crop's journey. Pest advice can help protect flowers and fruit; reliable irrigation supports growth; careful handling preserves quality; and export support helps fruit reach overseas markets.

Thousands of families depend on the sector. Growers warn that inadequate support puts both those livelihoods and Pakistan's reputation as a leading mango exporter at risk.

Similar Weather Losses Across the Region

Growers in India's Gujarat and Saurashtra regions have also faced losses associated with unseasonal weather and climate change. Thunderstorms, strong winds and drought have reduced yields by up to 35% in some areas, forcing early harvesting and bringing financial losses.

Sindh's warning of a possible decline of as much as 50% in 2024 and the losses of up to 35% in parts of India show the scale of pressure described in both places. Each figure relates to its own location and circumstances, with growers facing damage from several kinds of weather.

Regional weather patterns and global trade connect these experiences. Sindh's orchards form part of a broader South Asian mango economy in which growers must bring a vulnerable seasonal crop through heat, storms and shortages of water before it can reach buyers.

A Fruit Woven Into Daily Life and National Identity

Mangoes in Pakistan are a symbol of hospitality, a familiar part of summer meals and a source of national pride. Sindhri, celebrated as the "Queen of Mangoes," reaches tables from Karachi to London.

Protecting that place in daily life depends on protecting the people and systems behind the fruit. Farmers, researchers and exporters are working to adapt growing methods, preserve quality and develop varieties able to cope with changing conditions.

Sindh's shrinking orchard area, weather damage and pest losses give urgency to their calls for coordinated action. The immediate needs are concrete: water at the right time, useful pest advice, careful harvesting and markets that can sustain the work of producing the next crop.

Key Points

• Sindh's mango orchard area fell from more than 63,000 hectares a decade ago to just under 59,000 hectares in 2023-24.
• Experts and growers warned in 2024 that the province's harvest could fall by as much as 50% compared with previous years.
• Cold nights, temperatures above 40°C, drought and windstorms have damaged flowering, fruit growth and harvests.
• Some orchards reported yield losses of up to 40% from mango hopper infestations.
• Pakistan produces around 1.8 million tonnes of mangoes annually, with Sindh contributing nearly 29% and Punjab 70%.
• The 2024 mango export target was 125,000 tonnes, while seasonal export earnings can reach $100 million.
• Research collections and genome gardens aim to support new varieties, while growers seek better irrigation, practical advice and financial support.