Date workers in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province say extreme heat is making harvesting and boiling dates increasingly difficult during the season that began in July. In Khairpur district, where more than half of Pakistan’s dates are produced, workers collect fruit from trees, transport it by trolley, boil it over fires and dry it in the sun. Temperatures regularly reach 40 degrees Celsius, and were at 42 degrees when AFP spoke to worker Idris on August 14.

Workers begin before sunrise and divide their day into short shifts, but say the heat quickly overwhelms them. Some start in date orchards at about 2 a.m. to avoid the hottest part of the day, take breaks and continue until evening. Several workers told AFP they often suffer heatstroke, fainting and fever. Idris, who has harvested dates for more than a decade, said the heat has become unbearable and that workers seek medical treatment before returning to work.

Thousands of farmers and seasonal workers depend on Khairpur’s date sector. Idris said he earns about 1,200 Pakistani rupees a day. Grower Shah Nawaz Phulpoto said heavier seasonal rainfall linked to changing weather has disrupted yields and caused financial losses, while heat is the immediate main challenge.