Food concerns.

THE forecast that Pakistan and the drought-hit regions of northern and central India are facing lower food output because of less-than-normal rainfall in the second half of the year comes as yet another warning that agricultural production is under severe threat due to climate change. The latter manifests itself through surging temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events - droughts, floods, etc. It has increased agricultural production risks, thanks to the heavy reliance of farming on favourable weather conditions. Pakistani farmers across the country have seen these changes severely impact their output over the last decade. The trend has significantly stressed the production of food, including wheat and other crops. Warmer-than-normal weather last year had affected the wheat harvest and forced the government to import the cereal in large quantities to feed the people.

The phenomenon of climate change is not new. Pakistan has been suffering from its impact for a very long time now, with large parts having to cope with drought, abnormal rainfall and devastating floods...