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FOOD SECURITY

FOOD SECURITY

The unexpected Russia-Ukraine war in Europe disrupted all the supply chains and sparked shortages of everything from wheat to barley, edible oils, and fertilisers. However, the more profound, long-term concern is climate change as well as the impacts that will affect crops and food self-sufficiency as the temperature rises.

The government also understands that in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic people’s spending power has fallen acutely and for some, hunger is an ever-growing distress. Hence, the government has also extended the free-ration scheme for six months till end-September 2022.

Looking at the larger canvas, India, as the third-biggest greenhouse gas emitter and one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, has a serious interest in making economic growth less carbon intensive.

How is Climate Change Related to Food Security

• Climate Change and Food System Interlinks -  The climate crisis impacts all parts of the global food system — from production to consumption. It destroys land and crops, kills livestock, depletes fisheries, and cuts off transport to markets which further impacts food production, availability, diversity, access, and safety. At the same time, food systems also impact the environment and are a driver of climate change. Estimates show that the food sector emits around 30% of the world’s greenhouse gases.
• Global Issue - Along with India and Pakistan many other countries are having extreme heat events. France experienced record temperatures of 30-35°C on several days in May 2022. Also, rainfall was down by a third from normal and this would impact winter cereals like wheat and barley.
• Decline in Grain Output -  Other parts of the world too, like Canada and the US, have experienced unusually dry, warm weather over the last two-three years. The other big uncertainty is whether La Nina will go into the third year and further hit grain output in America.

Current Situation of Climate Change & Food Security

• The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) - It had declared March 2022 the hottest month since record-keeping began 122 years ago.
• Consistently Above Average Temperature - According to research, temperatures were consistently rising 3°C-8°C above average, breaking many decadal and some all-time records in several parts of the country. India experienced around 300 forest fires near the month of April 2022. It also offered some predictions about the future heat waves in the subcontinent.
• Extreme Weather and Its Impact -  Extreme weather events that were once supposed to occur once-in-100 years, are now 30 times more likely than before (or between every three-to-five year).Also, March 2022 was one of the driest recorded months, and 2022 April’s rainfall was also way below normal in north India’s crop-growing regions. In parts of Kerala, unseasonal rains forced cultivators to wade through watery fields to harvest paddy which results in low-quality crops.
• Overseas Sales Ban - The extreme heat wave coupled with the extremely low rainfall affected the growth of wheat in much of India’s grain basket of Punjab, Haryana, and Western Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

Impact of the Russia-Ukraine War on Food Security

• Price Inflation - A crucial portion of the world’s wheat, corn, and barley is trapped in Russia and Ukraine because of the war, while an even larger portion of the world’s fertilisers is stuck in Russia and Belarus. The result is that global food and fertiliser prices are rising. Since the invasion, wheat prices have increased by 21%, barley by 33%, and some fertilisers by 40%.
• Impact on Fertiliser Markets - Sanctions have also hit Russia’s closest ally, Belarus, a leading producer of potash-based fertiliser, critical for many major crops, including soybeans and corn. According to a report, the direct impact of the war on fertiliser markets will first be felt in the food-production seasons in India and Brazil.
• Surge in Fuel Prices -  The Russia-Ukraine conflict is responsible for rising fuel prices because supply chains, particularly those of crude oil, have been disrupted which raises even more pressure on the already stressed global supplies and low storage levels around the world.

With progress made on renewable installations, the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs), and turning India into a green energy powerhouse, the Indian Government is making a start. At the same time, it is also an urgent need to lift millions out of poverty and it is mandatory to address this situation now as declining agricultural productivity will result in higher food prices and will mean more economic hardships.