Climate Change Exacerbates Waterlogging in Punjab Agriculture

In recent years, Punjab's agriculture sector has been grappling with the challenges of climate change. The altered monsoon rainfall pattern has led to intense downpours lasting only a few hours, replacing the light spells that typically stretched over several days in the past. As a result, vast areas of cultivated land have been submerged for days in several districts of Punjab due to the failure of natural waterways to carry rainwater away. The devastating effect of standing water on crops, particularly those sensitive to waterlogged conditions, has further worsened the plight of farmers already challenged by fragile farm economics.

Key Takeaways:

• The altered monsoon rainfall pattern has led to a significant rise in the number of days with rainfall above 100 mm, resulting in extensive waterlogging in cultivated land.
• The phenomenon of standing water has devastated crops, particularly sesame and cotton, which are sensitive to waterlogged conditions.
• The loss has exacerbated the fragile farm economics of farmers, who are already struggling with soaring input costs, declining crop yields, and falling market prices.
• Climate change vulnerabilities for farmers have been compounded by the added risk of waterlogging after rains.
• The recent heavy rains have exposed serious flaws in Punjab's agricultural drainage systems, including unplanned construction, poorly designed rural road networks, and neglected maintenance and desilting of drains.
• Unplanned construction and illegal encroachments on waterways have disrupted natural rainwater flow, resulting in waterlogging in low-lying areas and well-levelled fields.
• Farmers have contributed to the problem by allowing housing societies, private builders, and road contractors to excavate their fields to obtain fill material, leaving them vulnerable to waterlogging.
• The government's pilot project from 2016 to 2018, which focused on constructing ponds to collect excess rainwater and providing portable water pumps, remains a workable solution for managing standing water.
• Groundwater recharge wells have emerged as a promising alternative, being cost-effective and promoting more efficient land use, but awareness among farmers and stakeholders remains limited.
• The government's initiatives to raise awareness and promote the adoption of recharge wells are crucial to address the problem of waterlogging.

Statistics:

• The recent heavy rains in July 2025 and August 2024 resulted in a one-day downpour of 217 mm (nine inches) in Sheikhupura and a record-breaking rainfall of 337 millimetres (13 inches) in Lahore in just a few hours.
• The number of days with rainfall above 100 mm has risen significantly, causing extensive waterlogging in cultivated land.
• The financial allocation for the government's pilot project from 2016 to 2018 was Rs61 million, facilitating farms in seven cotton-growing districts of south Punjab.
• The government's initiatives to promote recharge wells aim to raise awareness among farmers and actively promote the adoption of this technology.

Sources:

• The article cites no specific sources.