Crop losses in India are rising as unseasonal rainfall, flooding, pests, land degradation and air pollution change farming conditions. For example, in Kerala recent unseasonal rains forced farmers to leave ripe paddy in flooded fields, and without storage the grain and straw rotted, the Thanal Trust reported.
Global and national figures show the scale of the problem. The FAO estimates up to 40 per cent of crops are lost worldwide to pests and disease, while government estimates put losses in India at about 30 per cent. A FAO report also says 1.7 billion people live where yields are falling because of land degradation.
Contamination by fungal toxins is a hidden threat. Studies in Uttar Pradesh found high aflatoxin levels in staples, and experts warn mycotoxins can cause cancer. New technologies—AI, remote sensing and drones—help with early warning, but farmers stress that basic storage and drying are still essential.
Difficult words
- unseasonal — rain or weather at a wrong time
- land degradation — soil and land becoming less healthy
- aflatoxin — a toxic chemical made by some fungi
- mycotoxin — poison made by fungi that can harmmycotoxins
- remote sensing — collecting information from far away sensors
- drone — small unmanned aircraft used for sensingdrones
- contamination — the presence of harmful substances or organisms
- storage — keeping things safely for future use
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Discussion questions
- How would better storage and drying change the situation for farmers after unseasonal rains? Give one or two reasons.
- Do you think technologies like AI, remote sensing and drones can help small farmers where you live? Why or why not?
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