Page 44 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 20

Food Health

Climate breakdown and its im‑
pact in Asia

Agriculture is very climate depen-
dent. When the climate changes,
it disturbs ecosystem. Changes in
temperature, precipitation, and sun-
light affect the condition of arable
land, livestock and water sources. In
a domino effect, changes in the cli-
mate set off a chain of events that
alter anything from flowering and Agroecological farmers from Barangay Bisaya, Batangas, the Philippines. Photo:
harvesting seasons to the moisture MASIPAG
balance in farmland, as well as the
intensity of pest attacks. An increase 29% of the world’s meat, and nearly in the last 20 years, destroying as
in temperature alters underground 50% of the world’s green vegeta- much as USD $42 million worth of
water levels, water temperature, bles, but it is also a major importer crops. Fish farmer, Abdur Rashid
and ground water quality. All this of animal feed from international of the Lebubunia village in Gabura,
impacts the quantity and quality markets. Climate change would not Satkhira, lost a third of an acre of
of food production, which, at its only greatly affect China’s agricul- his fishpond to Amphan and again
turn impacts the rural economy, the ture, with broad implications for its by heavy floods in August, plung-
income of producer households as food security, but it could also shake ing him into poverty, forcing his
well as the revenue of entire nations. global food prices. 3 children to quit school. Another
For example, in India, it’s Economic farmer, Abdus Samad in Kalmati,
Survey has cautioned that climate No Asian country is spared from Lalmonirhat had his field flooded
change could reduce annual agricul- climate disasters. Food and agricul- by cyclone water. When it receded,
tural incomes in the range of 15% ture productions have always been he planted vegetables in 2 acres,
to 18% on an average, and up to victims of climate vagaries in this but only to be later ruined by flash
25% for unirrigated areas. region. In 2019, Thailand suffered floods in August. He planted again.
a USD $657 - $821 million loss due Another flood in October washed
Beyond India, Asia as a region is to prolonged droughts, followed this and the rest of his investments
expected to be one of the hardest by heavy floods, in its rice growing away.9 As a whole, the Bangladesh
hit in the world by global warm- north and northeast regions, causing fish industry suffered a loss of
ing.4 The Intergovernmental Panel a 100,000 tonne drop in rice pro- USD$ 2.89 million from Amphan
on Climate Change (IPCC) warns duction, almost 8% of its export. and USD $56.4 million due to rains
that more frequent and intense heat and floods in 2020.
waves in Asia will increase mortality In Indonesia, the annual loss of
and morbidity in vulnerable groups. agricultural and horticulture crops India’s climate disaster story is quite
While more frequent floods and has become quite common due to similar. According to its Parliamen-
droughts and their negative impact untimely rains and floods. Already tary Standing Committee on Ag-
on rice farming will exacerbate rural this year, in early January, Indonesia riculture, losses due to the climate
poverty in parts of the region. suffered major flooding, devastating crisis are to the tune of 4-9% of
209,884 hectares of agricultural land the agricultural economy each year,
China, which feeds 20% of the in 12 districts. which is an overall GDP loss of
world’s population from only 8% 1.5%.
of the world’s arable land, has been For Bangladeshi farmers, the loss
experiencing an increasingly uneven of crops, homes and livelihoods to Hailstorms followed by heavy rains
distribution of precipitation in the cyclones and floods is not unusual. are quite common to northern India
water supply between the south and However, for them 2020 was partic- and Pakistan, but they are now
north of its territory and is being ularly devastating. Cyclone Amphan also striking drought prone regions
hit more frequently and intensively caused agricultural losses estimated like Maharashtra and Telengana at
by extreme climate events.6 China at USD $72 million in May, but then the peak of their summer season.
produces 18% of the world’s grains, came the longest and worst flood In April 2019, hail struck Latur in

44 | we tell the true afrikan story