Erratic rains and floods have damaged Nepal’s farmland, forcing the country to supplement national food supplies by importing staples such as rice and paddy.
What happened?
Harvests across Nepal have been declining for years due to unpredictable rainfall and changing weather conditions.
According to the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development, Nepal’s Madheshi province, known as the country’s “food basket”, experienced “unprecedented monsoon failure” in July, leading to severe drought.
Cereals grown in the region often rely on adequate rainfall during the monsoon season for seeds to germinate and grow. However, the drought plaguing Nepal’s farmlands disrupts key growth stages of the staple food, ultimately leading to lower crop yields.
In October, deadly heavy rains swept across the country, damaging crops that were about to be harvested and causing massive food losses.
According to media reports in the Republic of Nepal, in order to supplement the national food supply, Nepal’s rice and paddy imports increased by 46% from July to November compared with last year.
The total surplus of imported cereals was 185,198 tons at a cost of 10.18 billion rupees, or approximately US$70.5 million.
Why are declining crop yields a concern?
The Earth’s temperature is rising due to human activities, such as burning dirty fossil fuels for energy, causing extreme weather events to become more frequent and intense.
Extreme weather events such as heavy rains or droughts make it difficult for farmers to grow food, often resulting in crop losses, resource waste and increased food insecurity.
This, in turn, disrupts global food supply chains and raises food costs for consumers around the world.
What measures have been taken against crop losses?
Repeated crop losses due to unpredictable conditions and extreme weather events can leave farmers frustrated and financially drained.
While the key to limiting extreme weather events is limiting rising global temperatures, farmers can adopt sustainable agricultural practices that help protect crop yields.
For example, farmers can invest in technology such as automated irrigation systems to keep fields moist while reducing water waste.
Farmers can also plant more weather-tolerant crops or practice crop rotation to protect soil health and maximize crop yields.
Governments can also play a role in strengthening global food security by supporting farmers by providing them with subsidies, farm equipment and crop insurance.
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