Pakistan’s Climate Crisis: Devastating Floods Fuel Modern Slavery and Land Dispossession
The recent devastating floods in Pakistan have exacerbated the country’s ongoing climate crisis, leading to a surge in modern slavery and land dispossession. As I witnessed firsthand during my visit to farming communities in rural Sindh and the Kacchi Plains of Balochistan earlier this year, the floods have left fields submerged and soil damaged, making it impossible for farmers to sow seeds and earn a livelihood.
The situation is particularly dire for small and landless tenant farmers who rely on sharecropping arrangements with landlords and local moneylenders. These farmers, unable to obtain loans from formal institutions due to a lack of collateral and documentation, turn to informal arrangements that often trap them in cycles of debt bondage.
Under the sharecropping system, landlords and sharecroppers share the costs of farming, with the landlord providing credit for seeds and fertilizers. The farmer then repays the landlord from the profits of the yield. However, if the crop fails to generate enough income, the debt is rolled over to the next harvest, creating an endless cycle of debt that is passed down from one generation to another.
In some cases, powerful landlords even detain their indebted farmers in private prisons until the debt is repaid through unpaid labor. It is estimated that over three million Pakistanis are trapped in such debt bondage.
For small farmers, the high interest rates imposed by local merchants and moneylenders, often as high as 40 percent, pose a significant risk. Should the farmer’s harvest fail to cover the loan’s value, an informal council overseen by tribal or local elites may order a transfer of ownership of the debtor’s land to the lender.
The devastating floods of 2022, which destroyed multiple crop cycles, have compounded farmers’ debts and led to the dispossession of their land. Many farmers have unsuccessfully appealed to landlords to reduce their dues. This has resulted in an increase in bonded labor, despite national and provincial laws against the practice. The recent monsoons have further worsened the crisis, with over 100 weather-related deaths and more displacement.
The vulnerability of women farmers is especially concerning. The UN Women report stated that 60 percent of women’s agricultural work in Pakistan is unpaid. Women, who make up a significant portion of cotton pickers in the country, are often exploited by the textile industry, working in unsafe conditions for minimal wages. The floods have destroyed Sindh’s cotton belt, further exacerbating their financial struggles.
The climate crisis in Pakistan goes beyond floods. Heatwaves and droughts have also ravaged the country’s agricultural sector. In districts of Sindh and Balochistan, temperatures can reach near 50 degrees Celsius, severely impacting the cotton crop. Delayed rain in Jacobabad has shifted the cultivation of rice, leading to poor quality and yield.
The Thar region in southeastern Sindh has experienced a significant drought from 2015 to 2018, forcing farmers into seasonal migration and unpaid labor on large landlords’ lands. The prolonged drought has created a new generation of bonded laborers, particularly among underprivileged caste women, leading to a rise in suicides.
While urban migration offers an escape for some, it is not a sustainable solution. Many Thari migrants moved to Karachi after last year’s floods, living under bridges and in construction sites. They chose these conditions over debt bondage and exploitation by landlords. However, others are willing to risk the dangers of illegal migration.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for debt relief and compensation for Pakistan, a nation struggling with external debt, and recovering from catastrophic floods. Some stakeholders argue that Pakistan should receive debt restructuring or relief as a form of reparation from the Global North for the impact of global warming.
To address the climate crisis and its impacts on modern slavery and land dispossession, it is essential for the government and relevant stakeholders to take action. This includes enforcing laws against bonded labor, people trafficking, and oppressive forms of debt. It will also require addressing the power dynamics between landlords and tenant farmers in Sindh and Balochistan, which may involve tackling influential local powerbrokers.
Efforts should be focused on supporting affected communities and raising awareness about their struggles. Activists, legal professionals, and civil society need to stand alongside farmers and advocate for their rights. This includes continued pressure on the government to implement appropriate laws and provide support to those affected by the climate crisis.
The connection between climate change and debt in Pakistan’s disaster-prone regions highlights the urgent need for action. It is a modern slavery issue that demands immediate attention and comprehensive solutions to mitigate the devastating impacts of the climate crisis on vulnerable communities.
