Pollution in India can reduce production by up to 15%, shocking revelation in the report

New Delhi: Climate change, forest fires and pollution are affecting agriculture along with harming health. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has made this claim in its latest report. The report has been released on the occasion of International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. According to the report, the poison in the air is the reason for more than 45 lakh deaths every year across the world. At the same time, it is also causing a huge blow to the economy. According to the report, fine particles of pollution can reduce the production of crops in those areas where the yield is very important for feeding the people. This problem is much more serious in India, Pakistan, China, Central Africa and South East Asia. These have been identified as hot spots of the problem.

There is a risk of crop yield decreasing by 15 percent
Tests conducted in India and China have shown that fine particles of pollution can reduce crop yields by up to 15 percent in polluted areas. They prevent sunlight from reaching the leaves. Along with this, they also close the small pores present on the leaves. These pores help the plants to take in carbon dioxide and release steam.

How is pollution increasing?
The report also states that farming also contributes to many types of fine particulate pollution. These particles increase significantly in the process of burning stubble, use of fertilizers and pesticides, plowing of soil, harvesting and storage etc. To prevent these, the report says that planting trees and bushes on agricultural land will reduce this problem. This will help in storing carbon.

According to WMO Deputy Secretary Ko Barrett, climate change and air quality are interconnected. The trends seen in the first eight months of 2024 are worrying. Intense heat and persistent drought have increased the risk of forest fires and pollution.