Severe Weather Hits India’s Sugar Production, Threatens Exports

IN
Published:

India, the world's second-largest sugar producer, is facing a major decline in sugarcane yields due to extreme weather conditions. Drought followed by excessive rainfall has significantly harmed sugarcane crops, with projections indicating that production may fall below consumption levels. This situation threatens India’s ability to meet domestic demand and curtails export possibilities until the end of the season in September 2025.

B.B. Thombare, president of the West Indian Sugar Mills Association, highlighted the impact of fluctuating weather patterns, which have included a lack of water during summer followed by excessive rain during the monsoon season. A local farmer reported that yields plummeted to 80 tons per hectare in 2024, down from the typical 120 to 130 tons, despite efforts to mitigate the losses. Alongside extreme weather, farmers are also dealing with red rot disease, a fungal infection that further limits crop yields.

Experts believe the adverse weather conditions are exacerbated by climate change, which may lead to increased frequency and severity of droughts and floods. India's carbon dioxide emissions make it one of the top polluters globally, with significant implications for agricultural productivity.

To reduce the risks associated with climate change, India is expected to take action to lower its carbon emissions by four billion tons from 2020 to 2030, particularly by decreasing the reliance on coal power. The shift to renewable energy sources could alleviate some of the extreme weather challenges facing the agricultural sector, including sugarcane production.

Weekly Newsletter

News summary by melangenews

Loading...

More from India

Child Labor and Forced Labor Uncovered in India's Cotton Fields

An investigation reveals alarming instances of child exploitation and forced labor among cotton pickers in India, particularly in the Madhya Pradesh region. According to the NGO Transparentem, which surveyed 90 farms over ten months, nearly half of them employ forced labor, affecting many children. Workers, often indebted to their employers, earn approximately 2.4 USD per day, leading entire families, including children, to harvest cotton to repay loans. The report highlights connections between these farms and major cotton suppliers like Pratibha Syntex and Remei Group, prompting brands such as Inditex and H&M to sever ties and join the Fair Labor Association to monitor conditions. Inditex stated their commitment to improving worker conditions in the sector, highlighting ongoing collaborations with organizations like the International Labour Organization to enforce labor rights. This investigation follows longstanding concerns from the U.S. State Department regarding labor practices in India’s cotton industry, emphasizing that modern slavery persists despite international efforts.
IN

Innovative Watch Saves Over 100,000 Newborns from Hypothermia

An innovative temperature-tracking watch, developed by Ratul Narain, has reportedly saved over 100,000 premature newborns from the threat of hypothermia, a leading cause of neonatal mortality. According to data, India had the highest number of preterm births in 2020, highlighting the urgent need for effective neonatal care. The device, known as Bempu, signals caregivers when a baby's body temperature falls to dangerous levels, helping prevent serious complications. Narain, who was raised in the U.S., dedicated himself to this cause after witnessing the challenges faced by premature infants. His work has gained recognition, being named one of TIME Magazine’s 25 Best Inventions. In interviews, Narain explained that the watch has not only transformed individual cases of neonatal care but has also set a precedent for future healthcare innovations in India. The Bempu watch's impact extends beyond national borders, as its implementation is being explored in various countries to enhance the survival rates of vulnerable newborns.
IN

Scientists Discover 'Dark Oxygen' in Pacific Ocean, Challenging Long-Standing Theories

Researchers have identified a unique phenomenon known as "dark oxygen" produced by certain rocks in the Pacific Ocean, challenging the conventional belief that oxygen generation is solely dependent on photosynthesis. According to the study, these polymetallic nodules, resembling coal piles at ocean depths, can generate oxygen through electrochemical reactions without sunlight. Traditionally, oxygen in the ocean has been understood to arise from marine plankton, algae, and bacteria that require sunlight for photosynthetic processes. This discovery indicates that oxygen can also be produced in environments where sunlight is absent, potentially supporting aerobic life in deep, oxygen-poor regions. The oxygen production occurs through interactions between the rare metal deposits on the ocean floor and saltwater, facilitating the splitting of water molecules (H2O) into hydrogen and oxygen. Researchers believe that this revelation expands our understanding of oxygen generation, potentially reshaping scientific theories regarding deep-sea ecosystems. The findings present a significant breakthrough in marine science, illustrating the complex interactions of geological and biological processes that govern life in the ocean's dark depths.
IN
All India News ->