Remediating Climate-Related Food Insecurity with Renewable Energy
- Sampurna Chakravorty
- May 26
- 2 min read
The majority of South Asia’s population resides in rural areas, making farming and agriculture the main source of food for their communities. Climate change presents many side effects, which can impede the growth of crops, thus compromising food security in South Asia. Farmers depend on rain to water their crops, so extreme changes in precipitation and heat waves harm the yield. Changes to the ocean affect fishing industries, and major weather events such as hurricanes and floods simply destroy the crop and livelihoods. Additionally, farmers often lack the credit or financial stability to take measures that would mitigate the damage.
Agrarian industries, besides farming, rely on and impact the climate as well. Climate change lowers the availability of water as well as viable crops. The combined lack of food and water leads to difficulties in maintaining livestock, diminishing their livelihood as well. The rise in ocean temperatures is making fish species extinct, which harms local fishers. The loss of crops, livestock, and other food sources reduces diversity in the local diet and exacerbates malnutrition. Again, this also diminishes the ability for farmers and other agricultural workers to capitalize on their produce, which pushes them and their families further into poverty.
In a time where oil, gas, and the power sources are rising in costs, farmers may be able to utilize green sources of energy to power their agricultural process and avoid exacerbating the climate issue. Small-scale panels are shown to increase yield without the release of greenhouse gases. It is also the role of the government to promote these initiatives as well as financial resources so farmers can shift to greener farming while supporting their families and community.
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