FAO‑WMO Report Flags Extreme Heat as Major Threat to India’s Food Security and MSP Policy Challenges

Extreme Heat and India’s Food System – Overview The joint FAO ‑ WMO report warns that rising frequency, intensity and duration of extreme heat is now a defining threat to agrifood systems. India, with its heavy reliance on wheat and rice, is especially vulnerable, and existing policy tools such as the MSP regime are amplifying the risk. Key Developments Heat‑related crop losses have risen sharply over the past 50 years, affecting rabi wheat grain‑filling and rice yield. Livestock productivity falls as heat stress reduces milk and egg output; mortality rates climb. Fisheries face hypoxia as rising water temperatures push fish to deeper, less accessible zones. Forests experience higher wildfire incidence, threatening biodiversity and non‑timber forest products. India’s agricultural labour force – about 45 % of total employment – is 20 times more likely to die from heat than the average worker (ILO, 2019). Important Facts • 80 % of global agricultural land is rain‑fed, making it highly exposed to heat‑disrupted rainfall patterns. • By 2030, the ILO projects that 60 % of global working‑hour losses due to heat stress will occur in agriculture. • State‑level bonuses above the MSP for wheat and paddy continue in many Indian states (Department of Expenditure, early 2026). UPSC Relevance The issue cuts across multiple GS papers: GS 3 (Economy & Environment) – climate‑resilient agriculture, food security, and fiscal incentives; GS 2 (Polity) – role of ministries such as NDMA and the Ministry of Labour; and GS 4 (Ethics) – equity concerns for marginal farmers and labourers. Way Forward Realign fiscal incentives : Phase out state bonuses for water‑intensive wheat‑rice monocultures; shift subsidies toward heat‑tolerant millets , pulses and oilseeds. Boost climate‑resilient R&D : Increase public investment in high‑yield, climate‑smart varieties of millets and other alternatives; improve post‑harvest infrastructure to reduce losses. Enforce climate‑responsive labour laws : Convert NDMA heat‑wave advisories into binding regulations; provide thermal shelters, hydration protocols and insurance for farm workers. Integrate blue‑green strategies : Develop thermal shelters for aquaculture; manage forest fuel loads to curb heat‑induced wildfires; link fisheries and forest policies with national food‑security planning. Adopting these measures will move India from a reactive stance to proactive resilience, ensuring that the agrifood system can withstand the growing threat of extreme heat.