Food Security and Climate Change: A Brewing Crisis: Editorial Analysis for UPSC Dt.22 june 2025.

Source Credits:

• The Hindu, Editorial Analysis – June 22, 2025
• Down To Earth, Agriculture & Environment Sections
• The Indian Express, Explained Column – Climate Impact on Wheat, June 2025

Introduction

Climate change is no longer a distant environmental concern but a direct threat to food security in India and globally. Recent editorials highlight that rising temperatures are leading to smaller, lower-quality wheat grains, potentially jeopardizing the availability and affordability of food.

Wheat, a staple food for over 60% of Indians, is especially vulnerable during its grain-filling stage. The editorial calls for urgent reforms in climate-resilient agriculture, irrigation systems, and crop research to mitigate this unfolding crisis.

Impact of Climate Change on Wheat and Food Systems

1. Rising Temperatures Affect Grain Formation

• Research from ICAR and IARI shows that temperatures above 32°C during March–April reduce wheat grain size by 10–15%.
• The grain-filling period is shortened, lowering both yield and nutritional quality.
• India’s March 2024 heatwave caused an estimated 8–10% drop in wheat output, affecting procurement and exports.

2. Reduced Availability and Rising Prices

• Lower output reduces market availability and increases dependency on imports.
• Wheat prices surged by 14% in the last quarter due to lower rabi harvest and increased MSP.
• Urban and rural poor are most affected, increasing food insecurity and malnutrition risk.

3. Threat to India’s Food Security Architecture

• Rising input costs, falling yields, and erratic rainfall affect public distribution under NFSA.
• Buffer stocks with FCI are under stress due to repeated shortfalls and export bans.
• Could strain India’s global food aid programs and worsen regional hunger, especially in South Asia.

Broader Consequences

Policy Recommendations

1. Climate-Resilient Cropping Systems

• Develop heat-tolerant, short-duration wheat varieties.
• Promote system of wheat intensification (SWI) and crop diversification in vulnerable regions.

2. Irrigation and Microclimate Management

• Expand micro-irrigation under PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana.
• Encourage use of shade nets, mulching, and zero tillage to reduce surface heat.

3. Early Warning and Insurance

• Deploy localized Agro-Meteorological Advisory Services (AMAS).
• Strengthen and expand PMFBY to cover heatwave-related yield losses.

4. Strengthening Food Stocks and Distribution

• Improve FCI storage infrastructure and promote decentralized procurement.
• Integrate real-time climate risk with PDS allocation planning.

UPSC Relevance

Prelims:

• Programs: PMKSY, PMFBY, NFSA
• Institutions: ICAR, IARI
• Wheat-growing regions in India

Mains – GS Paper 3:

• Climate change and agriculture
• Food security and inflation control
• Role of technology in sustainable agriculture
• Government initiatives for agri-resilience

Sample Mains Question

Q. Climate change is increasingly becoming a threat to India’s food security. Discuss its impact on wheat production and suggest measures to make Indian agriculture climate-resilient. (10 marks)

Conclusion

India’s food security, once considered robust due to strong procurement systems and minimum support prices, now faces climate-induced fragility. The editorial rightly calls for a paradigm shift in agricultural planning, with urgent attention to research, risk mitigation, and resilience-building. The future of India’s food system hinges not just on productivity, but on its ability to adapt.

Source Credits:

• The Hindu, “Rising heat, falling wheat” – Editorial, June 22, 2025
• Down To Earth, “How India’s grain belt is under stress” – Agriculture Focus
• The Indian Express, “Explained: Climate stress on wheat and what it means for India’s food system”
• How climate change affects India’s wheat production – The Hindu Op-ed (March 18, 2025
• India needs to mitigate the climate change threat to agriculture – Indian Express, June 5, 2025