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People in the Himalayas are experiencing a silent crisis as climate change disrupts centuries-old food systems. A comprehensive 20-year review reveals how rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and changing agricultural patterns are pushing communities towards insecurity.
In the vast expanse of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, a disturbing transformation is underway.
Recent studies analysing data from 2000-2023 reveal that 80 per cent of research indicates significant reductions in staple crop productivity including rice, maize, wheat, and millets.
The situation is particularly concerning in the Hindu Kush ranges, where half the population is currently facing malnutrition and where women and children are the most vulnerable.
Traditional farming practices, refined over generations, are becoming less effective due to erratic weather patterns.
Rising temperatures have facilitated the emergence of new weeds and invasive plants, creating unprecedented challenges for farmers and disrupting entire crop production cycles.
The crisis extends beyond agricultural challenges, however, encompassing unchecked development activities and shifting social patterns.
Population pressure has forced farming onto marginal lands, while younger generations increasingly abandon traditional practices.
Nearly half of the studied cases (48 per cent) reported increasing crop damage due to pests and diseases, directly linked to changing climatic conditions.
As resources dwindle, communities find themselves caught in a cycle of vulnerability, impacting not just their food security but also their cultural heritage and social stability.
