'India is going to face a food crisis': Farmers panic over fertiliser shortages amid Iran war
Indian farmers are hoarding fertilisers and warning of a potential food crisis as shortages exacerbated by regional gas and oil disruptions from the Iran war threaten crop yields and food security across the country.
Key Points
- Farmers in Punjab and across India are hoarding fertilisers due to panic over supply shortages
- Disruptions to gas and oil supplies from the Iran war are affecting fertiliser production and availability
- Crop yields and rice stockpiles could be significantly impacted in the coming months
- Similar crisis occurred less than five years ago during Sri Lanka's economic collapse
Full Details
Farmers in India are experiencing panic buying and hoarding of fertilisers despite their limited shelf life, as concerns grow over supply disruptions linked to the ongoing Iran war and its impact on regional gas and oil supplies. Tejveer Singh, a farmer from Ambala in Punjab, told The Guardian that neighbouring farmers have started stockpiling fertiliser due to panic, even though it may expire before use. The ripple effects could be felt for months, affecting what crops farmers are able to plant and how much they yield, potentially leading to stockpiles of essential produce such as rice falling short. India is not alone in facing these challenges—Sri Lanka is also experiencing similar fertiliser shortages. This comes less than five years after India’s farmers faced a similar situation during Sri Lanka's economic crisis, which left the island nation unable to buy imported fertiliser and resulted in devastating profit losses and shortages of essential crops.
Why It Matters
The fertiliser shortage could lead to reduced agricultural output and higher food prices, potentially exacerbating inflation pressures and affecting food security for India's 1.4 billion population.
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