Worsening El Nino threatens Asia with drought, potentially raising food prices globally

…reservoirs, cool overheated cities and supply water for irrigation ahead of the next planting season. Drought may force farmers to delay planting, reduce acreage or switch crops entirely, said Rafisura, with the U.N. “ Agriculture is definitely on the front line ,” she said. Cutbacks in staple crops like rice and palm oil can have global impacts. The world’s top three exporters of rice – India, Vietnam and Thailand – are among the nations most likely to be hit hard by El Nino…

…with this year’s intensifying El Nino, which is forecast to peak in December. The phenomenon may amplify other crises in Southeast Asia, according to Paul Teng, with Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, who said, “ El Nino is only compounding all the other problems that we see. ” Extreme El Nino may threaten global food security During El Nino years, sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean are warmer than usual. This happens every few years and often alters global weather patterns. This…

…dropping inch by inch. As the lake dries, the ruins of one of 11 villages that had been inundated by the reservoir have emerged, as alarm grows over the need for alternative water supplies for the city of 42 million. “ I would have rather not moved. There were plenty of livelihood opportunities here ,” said Hussen, who only uses one name, as he ferried people across the receding reservoir. This is just the beginning, said Erma Yulihastin with Indonesia’s Research Center for Climate and Atmosphere, who warned El…

…here,” said Hussen, who only uses one name, as he ferried people across the receding reservoir. This is just the beginning, said Erma Yulihastin with Indonesia’s Research Center for Climate and Atmosphere, who warned El Nino has only just begun its “super phase.” Southeast Asia’s fisheries brace for drought Less rainfall and hotter temperatures are putting pressure on Southeast Asia’s fisheries, an essential source of protein. It’s a pressing problem along the Mekong, a river…

…to hit Malaysia hardest in November. In Indonesia, farmers rely on rain to dissolve fertilizers into the soil to avoid burning the plants, explained Eddy Martono, chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association. “ If it doesn’t rain, everyone will definitely stop fertilizing ,” which will hurt national production, he said. While the total economic fallout of an extreme El Nino is hard to calculate, losses from past events have reached trillions of dollars, according to HSBC’s Global…