How climate change-fuelled drought hit India's sugar production
This shortage contributed to an 8.9% increase in sugar and sweets prices in the United States over the past year. Similarly, rice production in Southeast Asia was severely affected.Indonesia, the region's largest economy, faced steep rice shortages by late 2023, forcing imports from neighboring countries to meet demand. The resulting rice price surge became a key driver of inflation, prompting the Indonesian government to provide rice aid to over 21 million families.
Bullock carts loaded with sugarcane head towards the Saiyadri Sugar Factory during the crushing season, in Karad. (PTI Photo)
advertisementCoffee production also suffered. Vietnam, the world's largest producer of Robusta coffee, experienced a 20% decline in its 2023-24 harvest due to heat, drought, and pest outbreaks, pushing coffee futures to record highs.The drought conditions were intensified by the 2023–2024 El Nio event, which amplified the impacts of climate change across vulnerable regions.UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw described drought as a 'silent killer' that slowly drains resources and devastates lives. The report warns that drought is no longer a distant threat but an escalating crisis demanding urgent global cooperation. It compounds poverty, hunger, energy insecurity, and ecosystem collapse, with ripple effects disrupting economies worldwide.Experts emphasise that drought's growing frequency and severity—driven by climate change—require proactive, coordinated action, including improved early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, and sustainable water management.Without such measures, droughts will continue to threaten food security and livelihoods across the globe.- EndsTrending Reel
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