Heatwaves in Punjab threaten agriculture, food security: UN
• Report says fruit yields plunge 50pc; heat stress spreads livestock disease, cuts milk output • Shrinking incomes, food spoilage limit rural families’ healthy diets • Women bear brunt of crisis due to heavy outdoor labour; preterm birth risk jumps 26pc in severe weather ISLAMABAD: Increasingly frequent and severe heatwaves in Punjab’s rain-fed rural areas are disrupting agricultural production,…
Heatwaves in Punjab's rain-fed areas are causing severe disruptions to agriculture and food security, according to a joint report by UN agencies. The assessment, titled "Extreme Heat and Agriculture," found that rising temperatures have already led to a 50 percent decline in fruit yields and reduced milk production in livestock.
The economic and nutritional impacts are particularly acute for rural families, who struggle to afford basic food staples and maintain diverse, nutritious diets. Women, who bear the brunt of the crisis due to their heavy outdoor labor, face an increased risk of preterm birth, with each 1°C rise in temperature linked to a 4 percent higher likelihood of premature delivery.
The report warns that extreme heat is a major hazard for global food production, threatening the livelihoods of billions of people and accelerating food spoilage. Rural families are suffering from a double burden: reduced agricultural output and accelerated spoilage of perishable goods, leading to higher market prices and worsening food insecurity.
While the crisis affects entire communities, women are disproportionately burdened by the heat-related health risks and limited access to resources and information. The report also highlights the global scale of the problem, noting that extreme heat is causing significant productivity losses across all agricultural subsectors and exacerbating other environmental hazards.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
