Climate change is one of the greatest threats that we face today, with the potential to cause unprecedented damage to our environment and our way of life. One of the most significant areas of impact that we have seen and will continue to see is on Agriculture. The effects of climate change on agriculture are already being felt around the world, with extreme weather conditions such as droughts, extreme heat waves, and heavy rainfall inducing floods impacting crop yields.

The Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022 report highlights the impact of climate change on food security and nutrition. In 2021, approximately 828 million people were facing hunger globally, and around 2.3 billion people were experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity. Moreover, almost 3.1 billion people could not afford a healthy diet in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these numbers.

(Food Insecurity refers to not having access to sufficient food to meet one’s basic needs.)

The agricultural sector is highly vulnerable to climate change, with the yield and nutritional value of crops being impacted. According to the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in March 2023, in the absence of adaptation methods for agriculture, the yields of major food grains (rice, wheat, maize) may go down by 20% by 2050. The recent unseasonal rain, hailstorms, wind, and thunderstorms in March 2023 have already destroyed over 5.23 lakh hectares of ready-to-harvest wheat crops, also impacting crops such as mustard, channa (grams), barley, and vegetables.

In addition, crops have increasingly been facing infestation of pests and insects, leading to losses for farmers and raising prices, causing inflation, and reducing buying capacity. This inflation impacts the economy and increases food insecurity, further impacting everyone.

To reduce the vulnerability of agriculture to climate change, society needs to take steps such as promoting sustainable farming practices, developing and implementing climate-resilient crop varieties, and investing in infrastructure that supports climate adaptation. Governments should also provide support and assistance to farmers to help them adopt climate-resilient practices and technologies.

In conclusion, climate change is a serious threat to agriculture and food security. Without concerted action, the impact of climate change on agriculture will continue to be felt globally. Therefore, it is imperative that we act on now to promote sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural practices to ensure that we can provide adequate and nutritious food for all in the future.