Published on, Sept. 29 -- September 29, 2025 2:25 PM

The devastating floods of 2025 in the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers submerged approximately 2.5 million acres of farmland in Punjab, prompting the federal government to declare a climate and agriculture emergency. While immediate relief is essential, long-term interventions are equally critical, including rehabilitating flood-affected lands and mitigating the risk of another severe flood in 2026, when rainfall is forecasted to be even higher.

During floods, rivers deposit fertile silt on distant fields while eroding topsoil from slightly elevated areas, leaving them exposed with underlying sand. As a result, all inundated farmland requires rehabilitation. Even fields enriched with s...