HUSSAINABAD: In response to the growing water scarcity caused by climate change, farmers in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) have turned to innovative methods, creating artificial glaciers to ensure a steady water supply for their crops.
With warmer winters reducing snowfall and the subsequent seasonal snowmelt, local farmers in the Skardu valley, situated at an altitude of over 2,600 meters in the Karakoram mountain range, faced difficulties irrigating their orchards. Seeking a solution, they discovered the concept of artificial glaciers through online resources, particularly watching videos by environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk, who pioneered the technique in Ladakh about a decade ago.
The method involves diverting water from streams into the air during freezing temperatures, causing it to freeze and form ice towers, known as “ice stupas.” These cones, which resemble Buddhist stupas, act as natural reservoirs, slowly melting throughout the spring and providing water during the drier months.
Zakir Hussain Zakir, a professor at the University of Baltistan, explained the process, noting that the water must be propelled into the air to freeze when temperatures drop below zero. This technique has gained traction in GB, where more than 20 villages now build ice stupas each winter, benefiting over 16,000 people by providing an alternative to traditional water storage methods.
Muhammad Raza, a farmer from Hussainabad, shared that eight ice stupas were constructed in his village this winter, storing about 20 million liters of water. This innovation has allowed farmers to avoid waiting for glaciers to melt in June, thus ensuring water availability during planting season. Ali Kazim, another farmer, echoed this sentiment, noting that the ice stupas saved their crops.
The artificial glaciers have also extended the growing season, allowing farmers like Bashir Ahmed in Pari village to plant multiple crops per year instead of just one. These efforts come in response to the broader issue of climate change, which has caused temperatures in Pakistan to rise at twice the global average rate between 1981 and 2005. With the country’s population of 240 million heavily reliant on river systems that originate in neighboring countries, Pakistan is at the forefront of the water scarcity crisis.
While glaciers across the world are rapidly melting, the Karakoram range has remained an exception, offering hope for the future. However, experts warn that continued climate change will ultimately affect water supplies, and measures like the ice stupas are essential for mitigating these impacts. For many, this initiative represents a vital step in combating the challenges posed by a warming climate, as Yasir Parvi, a young resident of the region, put it: “We decided to take a chance with the ice stupas.”
