How Swat's Sweetest Fruits Became A Fading Memory

(MENAFN- Tribal News Network) Swat’s apples, peaches, and apricots were once known across the country for their sweetness and high quality. Today, however, these orchards are rapidly becoming a thing of the past.

Climate change, repeated floods, untimely rains, hailstorms, diseases, and changing land use have pushed Swat’s horticulture sector into a severe crisis. Local farmers say not only has their income declined, but the livelihoods of thousands of people associated with this sector are now at risk.

The lush valley of Swat, once famous for its flavorful and high-quality fruit orchards, is quickly losing this identity. These fruits were once in high demand across the country, but due to changing conditions, orchards in many areas are disappearing.

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Zaroli, a farmer from Charbagh, says he once owned several apple orchards, but the 2010 floods completely destroyed them.

“After the floods, I tried several times to replant apple orchards, but they were never the same again,” he says.

Swat’s apples were particularly popular in markets for their sweetness, but today, apple orchards have almost vanished across the region.

According to Zaroli, not just apples but apricot orchards are also no longer producing as they once did. Continuous losses, unpredictable weather, and declining yields forced him to eventually abandon farming altogether.

Meanwhile, Rehmat Ali, a farmer from Ilam Ganj, says he used to own peach orchards that brought him significant profit. Buyers from different parts of the country would come to purchase his produce.

“Our household depended on these orchards. More than 50 people worked with me, while hundreds were indirectly connected to this business. But now, peach crops are repeatedly hit by diseases. Every time we tried to restart, either disease or hailstorms caused losses,” he explains.

He adds that many farmers like him have left the profession due to continuous losses.

Another farmer from Ilam Ganj, Shaukat Ali, says his apricot orchards have nearly disappeared.

“Untimely rains, continuous climate irregularities, and hailstorms damaged the orchards every year. The fruit would be destroyed before it could ripen, making it impossible to sustain the losses,” he says.

When these experiences are compared with official data, the situation appears even more alarming.

Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad, District Director of Agriculture Extension Swat, says that apple orchards in Swat have declined by around 95%, while overall orchards have reduced by about 90% over the past decade.

According to him, the key reasons behind this devastation include climate change, rising temperatures, disrupted rainfall patterns, repeated floods, hailstorms, increased pests and diseases, use of substandard fertilizers and pesticides, aging orchards, lack of modern horticultural practices, and the conversion of agricultural land for residential purposes.

He explains that fruits like apples require a specific cold period known as“chilling hours” for proper production, but rising temperatures and changing climate patterns have disrupted this natural process, affecting both yield and quality.

He further notes that recurring floods have not only damaged trees but also severely affected soil, land, and irrigation systems. Many orchards were completely wiped out, fertile soil was washed away, and repeated losses forced many farmers to abandon the profession.

Another major factor, he says, is the conversion of agricultural land into residential areas. Population growth, rising land prices, urban expansion, poor planning, and weak enforcement of regulations have led to houses and plazas being built where orchards once stood.

According to Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad, the impact of these changes is not limited to crops alone. The local economy has been affected by nearly 45%, with declining production, reduced farmer incomes, and shrinking employment opportunities also damaging Swat’s agricultural identity.

However, he adds that efforts for recovery are underway. The government is providing subsidies, training, technical support, improved plant varieties, and promoting modern horticultural practices.

Initiatives such as establishing modern orchards, introducing climate-resilient varieties, adopting advanced irrigation systems, promoting high-density orchards, and intercropping are being encouraged. Programs are also being implemented to improve farmers’ access to markets and provide technical training.

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