Mango growers in South Punjab face losses as middlemen stay away

Multan: Mango growers across South Punjab are facing mounting concerns this season as middlemen have largely stayed away from orchard contracts amid a sharp decline in expected production linked to climate-related weather disruptions.

Farmers in major mango-producing districts, including Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Muzaffargarh and Khanewal, say the long-standing practice of leasing orchards to contractors is nearly missing this year because yields have been badly affected. South Punjab accounts for nearly 70 per cent of Pakistan’s mango production, making the downturn particularly significant for the country’s fruit sector.

According to growers, unusual weather patterns have severely affected the crop. They said orchards saw heavy flowering, but fruit setting remained very low. Whatever produce had developed was then hit by recent hailstorms, further reducing the expected harvest.

Local mango grower Laique Shikhana said middlemen were unwilling to expose themselves to financial losses in a season when output remained uncertain.

Under the usual arrangement, many orchard owners lease their farms to contractors ahead of the season and receive advance payments. That system helps growers manage expenses and secure income before the fruit reaches the market. This year, however, the absence of contractors has created financial pressure for many farmers.

Growers say a large number of orchard owners do not have the means to market and sell mangoes on their own, leaving them more exposed in a season already marked by weak production. The lack of advance payments has added to their difficulties at a time when many are already dealing with the effects of weather-related damage.

One grower called on the government to announce a support package for mango farmers. He said orchards had already suffered losses of about 30 per cent in last year’s floods, and the current season’s damage had deepened the strain on the sector.

The situation has raised concerns among farmers in South Punjab, where mango cultivation is a major agricultural activity. With contractors avoiding orchard deals and production falling because of adverse weather, growers say the season is shaping up to be one of the most difficult in recent years.