Pakistan among countries hardest hit by floods, millions displaced, agriculture devastated: FAO

A United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) report has revealed that natural disasters caused an estimated $3.26 trillion in agricultural losses worldwide over the past 33 years, averaging $99 billion annually. The report warns that global food security is under threat, particularly as climate driven disasters become recurrent.

The report highlights that disasters between 1991 and 2023 destroyed enormous volumes of global food production, including 4.6 billion tonnes of cereals, 2.8 billion tonnes of fruits and vegetables, and 900 million tonnes of meat and dairy. 

Asia experienced the most severe impact, absorbing 47% of global agricultural losses, amounting to $1.53 trillion. The FAO attributes this to the region’s large agricultural output and its high exposure to floods, droughts and storms.

Pakistan remains among the most affected countries. Recent monsoon floods impacted over 9 million people and destroyed 849,000 hectares of crops.

FAO notes that successive disasters have reshaped Pakistan’s agricultural landscape, resulting in soil erosion, salinisation, damaged irrigation networks and long-term barriers to recovery.

FAO identifies digital transformation as a breakthrough opportunity for reducing disaster risk, including AI, drones, remote sensing, mobile connectivity and sensors, that would enable governments and farmers to access real time risk assessments and early warnings.

FAO Director General QU Dongyu said digital platforms are already reshaping agricultural disaster management. He noted that 9.1 million farmers now access parametric insurance digitally, and early warning systems supported by FAO have helped evacuate 90% of at-risk populations before disasters strike.

The report highlights the need for stronger global monitoring systems that measure not only immediate crop losses but also the long term ecological and economic impacts of disasters. It also mentions the growing threat to aquatic food systems, with marine heatwaves causing $6.6 billion in fisheries losses from 1985 to 2022.