23% more Indians at risk of hunger by 2030 due to climate change: Study

New Delhi: A study conducted by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has stated around 23% more Indians are at risk of hunger by 2030. Due to fall in farm production and disruption in food supply chains as result of climate change will result in more Indians suffer from hunger.

The Global Food Policy Report 2022 released by IFPRI on Friday further informed around 7.39 crore Indians would have suffered due to hunger by 2030 without climate change. It added that 9.06 crore citizens or 22.69% more will be at risk if climate change is taken into account.

India’s aggregate food production index in 2030 will also fall from 1.627 during normal situations to 1.549 due to the impact of climate change on agricultural yields.

“Higher temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, sea level rise, and growing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, extreme heat, and cyclones are already reducing agricultural productivity, disrupting food supply chains, and displacing communities,” the report noted.

The report predicted the average temperature across India will rise in the range of 2.4 degrees Celsius to 4.4 degrees Celsius by 2100 and heatwaves during the summer season are projected to triple by that year.