Natural pastures in northern Punjab are disappearing quickly. Climate change and unchecked construction are putting pressure on livestock farming, which threatens food security and rural livelihoods.
Areas like Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, and Rawalpindi have long been important for livestock. But rising temperatures and erratic rainfall are hurting grass growth. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), fodder production has dropped by 30 to 50%, affecting milk and meat output.
Many grazing lands are being turned into housing projects, reducing space for livestock. Malik Tariq Mahmood, a farmer from Kahuta, shared that his grazing fields have been replaced by new homes. “Buying fodder has become more expensive, and milk production is down,” he said.
Similarly, Ghulam Rasool from Attock noted that irregular rainfall has hurt grass growth. “Longer summers are weakening our animals,” he explained. Fatima Bibi from Jhelum echoed this sentiment, saying, “Drought and housing projects have taken away our grazing lands.”
A recent report highlighted how climate change is spreading diseases and leading to water shortages. Farmers’ incomes have reportedly dropped by 40%. Dr. Javed Munir, a livestock expert, pointed out that heat stress from rising temperatures also negatively impacts milk and meat production. Many small farmers are leaving livestock, while larger ones are importing fodder, driving up costs.
In response, a new four-year project aims to restore degraded pastures with support from the Global Environment Facility and the FAO. This initiative plans to rejuvenate 28,000 hectares in the affected areas and train over 1,500 people in modern grazing methods.
Experts stress the need for better land-use planning to protect the livestock sector. Without it, rural employment and food security could face even greater challenges.
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Shrinking pastures threaten rural livelihoods
