This study, conducted in Southern Punjab province, explores the impacts of a massive flood in 2010 on the livelihoods and food security of rural communities. The disaster was of unprecedented level, affecting more than 20.1 million population in Pakistan, especially in the district Muzaffargarh, which was selected as the study area. A total of 120 flood affected people were interviewed.
The study found that agriculture was the major income source of the area and that the flood severely affected natural capital (land, irrigation, orchards, and livestock). This resulted in food insecurity, deficiency, and contaminated commodities. Overall, the disaster had the effect of pushing farmers’ prosperity levels several years back.
The report recommends that the integration of the public and private sectors, along with NGOs and national and international funding agencies, could facilitate farmers regaining their resilience. Furthermore, the establishment of an early warning system and capacity building for flood victims could be helpful to cope with disasters in the future. These actions should be established in the flood prone areas across the entire country.
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