Harvest Problems.

The extended lockdown, even in its lighter version, it still causing several issues for businesses, industries and agriculture across Pakistan. The latest economic loss might soon be incurred by the mango growers in Sindh as per recent reports. With governments still restricting movement across provincial lines to a certain degree, the mass influx of labour both skilled and unskilled - that comes with the harvest from Punjab to Sindh might not be able to make it in time for the mangoes to be plucked at the best possible time. This would both waste the crop and cause massive losses for the growers.

Even in normal times, a spoiled crop is a big loss to both the farm owner and the national economy. However, with the pandemic already devastating the financial situation of the global market, we cannot afford to lose an estimated Rs2 billion to the inability to harvest mangoes before they become ripe.

The government must improve screening if it has to, but getting workers to Sindh mango farmers is urgently needed. Where possible, the growers must also adjust...