In Pakistan’s warming mountains, farmers fish for a new living
Poverty, hunger worse in Pakistan’s mountain regions
GHIZER, Pakistan: Two years ago, Raja Iqbal Hussain quit his job as a low-paid hotel waiter in Dubai and went back to his native village in northern Pakistan to set himself up as a fish farmer. The 36-year-old father of three has now started bringing in a small profit from his fish, and is looking forward to earning more next year once they have grown. Local farmers are increasingly choosing fish over crops, as the climate warms in mountainous GilgitBaltistan region.
In Dubai, Iqbal’s monthly wages barely amounted to 50,000 Pakistani rupees. “I earn a much better amount from my business here,” he said of the lake he built next to the river in Birgal village, Ghizer District, some 100 km (62 miles) north of Gilgit city. The lake contains about 50,000 fish, mainly trout, which Iqbal sells raw for 1,200 rupees per kg and cooked for 1,800 rupees. He charges 2,000 rupees per kg for fish caught by boat, which visitors can take out on the water.
A recent report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said steadily rising temperatures had increased the frequency and intensity of disasters in the region’s valleys, threatening the sustainability of traditional agriculture. One farmer reported that wheat productivity had declined by almost 50 percent from 2010-2015 with no sign of improvement, and said heavy rain had ruined his crops, it noted.
According to the report, poverty and hunger are worse in Pakistan’s mountain regions, with about half of households in Gilgit-Baltistan suffering from under-nutrition. Backed by government support, fish farming is gaining popularity in Ghizer District as a sustainable source of income and nutrition amid the growing effects of climate change.
Glacial lakes
Abdul Wahid Jasra, Pakistan country head for the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), said that, as temperatures rise, melt-water from glaciers is forming lakes that can be used for cold-water fish farming. They include Attabad Lake in the Hunza valley, which appeared in 2010 following a deadly landslide. “Mountain communities have very limited sources of income, and this sector can open multiple avenues for income generation,” Jasra said.
Neighboring China could become a major export market for fish with investment in factories and transportation, he noted. “I see huge potential for the mountain farmers for climate change adaptation to increase their livelihood through fish farming,” Jasra added. Crops commonly grown here - wheat, potatoes and barley and fruits such as grapes, apples and apricots can be badly damaged by heavy rains, pests and other weather-related diseases.
Fish farming, on the other hand, generates income all year round, and faces minimal risks from climate change, Jasra said. Ghizer District is popular for trout-breeding and fishing, which can only be done with the permission of the authorities. ICIMOD and the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council have established a mountain research centre in Gilgit and are setting up a laboratory to find out more about local and exotic cold-water fish.